John 8 · Verse 17

John 8:17

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
John 8:17, King James Version

John 8:17 in other translations

BSBEven in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
WEBIt’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
ASVYea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true.
YLTand also in your law it hath been written, that the testimony of two men are true;
DARBYAnd in your law too it is written that the testimony of two men is true:
BBEEven in your law it is said that the witness of two men is true.
WebsterIt is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

What does John 8:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:13-19

13-19. bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true--How does He meet this specious cavil? Not by disputing the wholesome human maxim that "self-praise is no praise," but by affirming that He was an exception to the rule, or rather, that it had no application to Him.

Read the full comment on John 8:13-19 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. In your law. De 17:6, 19:15. Comp. Mt 18:16. This related to cases in which the life of an individual was involved. Jesus says that if, in such a case, the testimony of two men were sufficient to establish a fact, his own testimony and that of his Father ought to be esteemed ample evidence in the case of religious doctrine.

Two men.. If two men could confirm a case, the evidence of Jesus and of God ought not to be deemed insufficient.

Is true. In Deuteronomy, "established." This means the same thing. It is confirmed; is worthy of belief.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 8:17-20
If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God, who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and grace, know not the Father that sent him. The time of our departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer, than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and better there than in my own. To all God's purposes there is a time.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 8:17 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
νόμῳnomōlawG3551
δὲdealsoG1161
τῷtō<the>G3588
ὑμετέρῳhumeterōof youG4771
γέγραπταιgegraptaiit has been writtenG1125
ὅτιhotithatG3754
δύοduoof twoG1417
ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōnmenG444
ἡhētheG3588
μαρτυρίαmarturiatestimonyG3141
ἀληθήςalēthēstrueG227
ἐστιν.estinis.G1510

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

Cross references for John 8:17

  • Deuteronomy 19:15

    One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

  • Deuteronomy 17:6

    At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

  • Hebrews 10:28

    He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

  • Matthew 18:16

    But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

  • Galatians 3:24

    Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:1

    This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

  • Galatians 4:21

    Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

  • Revelation 11:3

    And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

  • 1 Kings 21:10

    And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

  • 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.

  • John 10:34

    Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

  • John 15:25

    But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
also.
10:34; 15:25; Ga 3:24; 4:21
that.
De 17:6; 19:15; 1Ki 21:10; Mt 18:16; 2Co 13:1; Heb 10:28; 1Jo 5:9
Re 11:3

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

Context

  • John 8:16

    And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

  • John 8:17

    It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

  • John 8:18

    I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

Read all of John 8

John 8:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y en vuestra ley está escrito que el testimonio de dos hombres es verdadero.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il est écrit aussi dans votre loi, que le témoignage de deux hommes est vrai.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber auch in eurem Gesetz steht geschrieben, daß das Zeugnis zweier Menschen wahr ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et in lege vestra scriptum est, quia duorum hominum testimonium verum est.