John 10 · Verse 38

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 10:38, King James Version

John 10:38 in other translations

BSBBut if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
WEBBut if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
ASVBut if I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.
YLTand if I do, even if me ye may not believe, the works believe, that ye may know and may believe that in me is the Father, and I in Him.'
DARBYbut if I do, even if ye believe not me, believe the works, that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him.
BBEBut if I am doing them, then have belief in the works even if you have no belief in me; so that you may see clearly and be certain that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
WebsterBut 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.

What does John 10:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 10:37-39

37-39. though ye believe not me, believe the works--There was in Christ's words, independently of any miracles, a self-evidencing truth, majesty and grace, which those who had any spiritual susceptibility were unable to resist (Joh 7:46; 8:30). But, for those who wanted this, "the works" were a mighty help. When these failed, the case was desperate indeed. that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I…

Read the full comment on John 10:37-39 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38. Believe the works. Though you do not credit me, yet consider my works, for they prove that I came from God. No one could do them unless he was sent of God.

Father is in me, &c. Most intimately connected. See Jn 5:36. This expression denotes most intimate union--such as can exist in no other case. See Mt 11:27. Jn 17:21.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 Believe the works - Though ye do not now credit what I have said to you, yet consider my works, and then ye will see that these works prove that I am in the Father and the Father in me; and, consequently, that I and the Father are one. This seems to be the force of our Lord's argument; and every man must see and feel that it is conclusive. There was no possibility of weakening the force of this reasoning but by asserting that these miracles were not wrought by the power of God; and then they must have proved that not only a man, but a bad man, such as they said Jesus was, could work these miracles. As this was impossible, then the argument of Christ had a complete triumph.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 10:31-38

Christ's works of power and mercy proclaim him to be over all, God blessed for evermore, that all may know and believe He is in the Father, and the Father in Him. Whom the Father sends, he sanctifies. The holy God will reward, and therefore will employ, none but such as he makes holy. The Father was in the Son, so that by Divine power he wrought his miracles; the Son was so in the Father, that he knew the whole of…

Read the full comment on John 10:31-38 →

John 10:38 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
δὲdehoweverG1161
ποιῶ,poiōI do,G4160
κἂνkaneven ifG2532
ἐμοὶemoiMe myselfG1473
μὴmēnotG3361
πιστεύητε,pisteuēteyou shall believe,G4100
τοῖςtoisin theG3588
ἔργοιςergoisworksG2041
πιστεύετεpisteuetedo believeG4100
ἵναinaso thatG2443
γνῶτεgnōteyou may knowG1097
καὶkaiandG2532
γινώσκητεginōskētemay understandG1097
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐνeninG1722
ἐμοὶemoiMe myself [is]G1473
ὁhotheG3588
πατὴρpatērFatherG3962
κἀγὼkagōand I myselfG1473
ἐνeninG1722
πατρί.¶patriFather.G3962

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

Cross references for John 10:38

  • John 14:20

    At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

  • John 10:30

    I and my Father are one.

  • John 10:25

    Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

  • John 14:9-11

    Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

  • John 17:21-23

    That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

  • Acts 2:22

    Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

  • John 3:2

    The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

  • John 17:11

    And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

  • John 5:36

    But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

  • Acts 4:8-12

    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
believe the.
3:2; 5:36; Ac 2:22; 4:8-12
that ye.
30; 14:9-11,20; 17:11,21-23

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

Context

  • John 10:37

    If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

  • 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 10:39

    Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

Read all of John 10

John 10:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas si las hago, aunque á mí no creáis, creed á las obras; para que conozcáis y creáis que el Padre está en mí, y yo en el Padre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais si je les fais, alors même que vous ne me croiriez pas, croyez les œuvres, afin que vous connaissiez et que vous croyiez que le Père est en moi, et moi en lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		wenn ich sie aber tue, so glaubet den Werken, wenn ihr auch mir nicht glaubet, auf daß ihr erkennet und glaubet, daß der Vater in mir ist und ich in ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si autem facio: etsi mihi non vultis credere, operibus credite, ut cognoscatis, et credatis quia Pater in me est, et ego in Patre.