1 John 5 · Verse 9

1 John 5:9

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

1 John 5:9, King James Version

1 John 5:9 in other translations

BSB	Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.
WEB	If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son.
ASV	If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son.
YLT	If the testimony of men we receive, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that He hath testified concerning His Son.
DARBY	If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. For this is the witness of God which he has witnessed concerning his Son.
BBE	If we take the witness of men to be true, the witness of God is greater: because this is the witness which God has given about his Son.
Webster	If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: for this is the testimony of God which he hath testified of his Son.

What does 1 John 5:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. If, &c.--We do accept (and rightly so) the witness of veracious men, fallible though they be; much more ought we to accept the infallible witness of God (the Father). "The testimony of the Father is, as it were, the basis of the testimony of the Word and of the Holy Spirit; just as the testimony of the Spirit is, as it were, the basis of the testimony of the water and the blood" [Bengel]. for--This principle applies in the present case, FOR, &c. which--in the oldest manuscripts, "because He hath given testimony concerning His Son." What that testimony is we find above in 1Jo 5:1, 5, "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God"; and below in 1Jo 5:10, 11.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. If we receive the witness of men. As we are accustomed to do, and as we must do in courts of justice, and in the ordinary daily transactions of life. We are constantly acting on the belief that what others say is true; that what the members of our families, and our neighbours say is true; that what is reported by travellers is true; that what we read in books, and what is sworn to in courts of justice, is true. We could not get along a single day if we did not act on this belief; nor are we accustomed to call it in question, unless we have reason to suspect that it is false. The mind is so made that it must credit the testimony borne by others; and if this should cease even for a single day, the affairs of the world would come to a pause.

The witness of God is greater. Is more worthy of belief; as God is more true, and wise, and good than men. Men may be deceived, and may undesignedly bear witness to that when is not true--God never can be; men may, for sinister and base purposes, intend to deceive--God never can; men may act from partial observation, from rumours unworthy of credence--God never can; men may desire to excite admiration by the marvellous--God never can; men have deceived--God never has; and though, from these causes, there are many instances where we are not certain that the testimony borne by men is true, yet we are always certain that that which is borne by God is not false. The only question on which the mind ever hesitates is, whether we actually have his testimony, or certainly know what he bears witness to; when that is ascertained, the human mind is so made that it cannot believe that God would deliberately deceive a world. Heb 6:18. Comp. Tit 1:2.

For this is the witness of God, etc. The testimony above referred to--that borne by the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. Who that saw his baptism, and heard the voice from heaven, (Mt 3:16,17,) could doubt that he was the Son of God? Who that saw his death on the cross, and that witnessed the amazing scenes which occurred there, could fail to join with the Roman centurion in saying that this was the Son of God? Who that has felt the influences of the Eternal Spirit on his heart, ever doubted that Jesus was the Son of God? Comp. 1Cor 12:3. Any one of these is sufficient to convince the soul of this; all combined bear on the same point, and confirm it from age to age.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 If we receive the witness of men - Which all are obliged to do, and which is deemed a sufficient testimony to truth in numberless cases; the witness of God is greater - he can neither be deceived nor deceive, but man may deceive and be deceived.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 5:9-12

Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined to do so. The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and his need of such a Saviour. He has seen the suitableness of such a Saviour to all his spiritual wants and circumstances. He has found and felt the power of the word and doctrine of Christ, humbling, healing, quickening, and comforting his soul. He has a new disposition, and new delights, and is not the man that he formerly was. Yet he finds still a conflict with himself, with sin, with the flesh, the world, and wicked powers. But he finds such strength from faith in Christ, that he can overcome the world, and travel on towards a better. Such assurance has the gospel believer: he has a witness in himself, which puts the matter out of doubt with him, except in hours of darkness or conflict; but he cannot be argued out of his belief in the leading truths of the gospel. Here is what makes the unbeliever's sin so awful; the sin of unbelief. He gives God the lie; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. It is in vain for a man to plead that he believes the testimony of God in other things, while he rejects it in this. He that refuses to trust and honour Christ as the Son of God, who disdains to submit to his teaching as Prophet, to rely on his atonement and intercession as High Priest, or to obey him as King, is dead in sin, under condemnation; nor will any outward morality, learning, forms, notions, or confidences avail him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 John 5:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487

τὴνtēntheG3588

μαρτυρίανmarturiantestimonyG3141

τῶνtōn<the>G3588

ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōnof menG444

λαμβάνομεν,lambanomenwe receive,G2983

ἡhētheG3588

μαρτυρίαmarturiatestimonyG3141

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

μείζωνmeizōngreaterG3173

ἐστίν,estinis,G1510

ὅτιhotiForG3754

αὕτηhautēthisG3778

ἐστὶνestinisG1510

ἡhētheG3588

μαρτυρίαmarturiatestimonyG3141

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

ὅτιhotithatG3754

μεμαρτύρηκενmemarturēkenHe has testifiedG3140

περὶpericoncerningG4012

τοῦtoutheG3588

υἱοῦhuiouSonG5207

αὐτοῦ.autouof Him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 John 5:9

Matthew 3:16-17
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Acts 17:31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
John 8:17-19
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
1 John 5:10
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Hebrews 2:4
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
John 3:32-33
And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 10:38
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
John 5:31-37
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. …
Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

we.
10; Joh 3:32,33; 5:31-36,39; 8:17-19; 10:38; Ac 5:32; 17:31
Heb 2:4; 6:18
for.
Mt 3:16,17; 17:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 John 5:8
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:9
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1 John 5:10
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Read all of 1 John 5

1 John 5:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Si recibimos el testimonio de los hombres, el testimonio de Dios es mayor; porque éste es el testimonio de Dios, que ha testificado de su Hijo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Si nous recevons le témoignage des hommes, le témoignage de Dieu est plus grand; car c’est ici le témoignage de Dieu qu’il a rendu au sujet de son Fils.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wenn wir das Zeugnis der Menschen annehmen, das Zeugnis Gottes ist größer; denn dies ist das Zeugnis Gottes, welches er gezeugt hat über seinen Sohn.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Si testimonium hominum accipimus, testimonium Dei majus est: quoniam hoc est testimonium Dei, quod majus est, quoniam testificatus est de Filio suo.