John 8:14
What does John 8:14 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:14 means
Jesus replies that even if He testifies about Himself, His testimony is true because He knows where He came from and where He is going—divine origin and destiny. Their ignorance of His origin and mission explains their doubts. He speaks from perfect self-knowledge and communion with the Father. Human courts need corroboration because human witnesses are limited and flawed. Jesus, however, bears a unique authority as the One sent from God and returning to God. His words carry the reliability of heaven. The problem is not the insufficiency of His testimony but their blindness to its source and aim.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus said in answer, Even if I give witness about myself, my witness is true, because I have knowledge of where I came from and where I am going; but you have no knowledge of where I come from or of where I am going.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus answered and said to them, `And if I testify of myself--my testimony is true, because I have known whence I came, and whither I go, and ye--ye have not known whence I come, or whither I go.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus answered and said to them: Although I give testimony of myself, my testimony is true: for I know whence I came and whither I go.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I bear witness concerning myself, my witness is true, because I know whence I came and whither I go: but ye know not whence I come and whither I go.
Context
This response begins Jesus’ defense against the Pharisees’ legal challenge. He shifts the ground from human procedure to divine reality: His heavenly origin validates His words. In the next verses He will contrast their fleshly judgment with His true, united judgment with the Father, then appeal explicitly to their Law’s two-witness requirement. The flow moves from identity (whence and whither) to judgment and witness. Understanding this progression helps the reader see that the issue is not mere technical compliance but recognition of the Father-Son relationship underpinning all Jesus says.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.
- John 10:36
say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
- John 7:27
Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when the Christ cometh, no one knoweth whence he is.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11
I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.
- Nehemiah 5:14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
- John 13:3
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God,
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