John 8:16
What does John 8:16 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:16 means
Jesus clarifies that when He does judge, His judgment is true. He is never alone; the Father who sent Him is with Him. This unity ensures that His assessments are not private opinions but the very standard of God. He does not act independently or selfishly. The Father’s presence sanctifies His decisions, and their shared will guarantees justice. This claim deepens the offense for His opponents: Jesus places His own judgment on par with God’s. He stands as both revealer and rightful evaluator of human hearts, not because He seeks it for Himself, but because He shares the Father’s authority.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Even if I am judging, my decision is right, because I am not by myself--with me is the Father who sent me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and even if I do judge my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And if I do judge, my judgment is true: because I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And if also I judge, my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who has sent me.
Context
Following the contrast with fleshly judgment, this verse asserts the divine reliability of Jesus’ judgments, rooted in the Father-Son union. Next, Jesus will meet the Pharisees on their own legal ground, citing the Law’s requirement for two witnesses. He will then name Himself and the Father as those two. The flow moves from mission and unity to legal validation. This helps the reader see that Jesus is not evading law but fulfilling its deepest intent, while revealing the relational reality that the Law anticipated—the witness of God to His Son.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 16:7
But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.
- Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Psalms 45:6
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
- Psalms 99:4
The king’s strength also loveth justice; Thou dost establish equity; Thou executest justice and righteousness in Jacob.
- Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.
- Psalms 72:1
Give the king thy judgments, O God, And thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
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