John 8:18
What does John 8:18 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:18 means
Jesus names the two witnesses: Himself and the Father who sent Him. His self-witness is not mere self-promotion; it is the testimony of the One who perfectly knows and reveals the Father. The Father’s witness appears in Scripture, in Jesus’ works, and in the Spirit’s confirmation to believing hearts. Together, these fulfill and surpass the legal standard. The issue is not the lack of witnesses but the hardness of the hearers. Jesus stands in perfect agreement with the Father; to reject Jesus is to contradict God’s own attestation about His Son.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I give witness about myself and the Father who sent me gives witness about me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I am <FI>one<Fi> who is testifying of myself, and the Father who sent me doth testify of me.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I am one that give testimony of myself: and the Father that sent me giveth testimony of me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I am [one] who bear witness concerning myself, and the Father who has sent me bears witness concerning me.
Context
This statement completes Jesus’ legal answer. Immediately, the opponents press, “Where is thy Father?” revealing their earthly-mindedness and ignorance. The flow shifts from legal form to relational knowledge—do they know the Father at all? The next verse will state bluntly that to know Jesus is to know the Father, and their ignorance of Jesus proves their ignorance of God. This transition sets the stage for increasing tension, as Jesus’ claims expose a profound spiritual blindness among His challengers.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 1:17
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,
- John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.
- John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.
- John 10:30
I and the Father are one.
- John 8:38
I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father.
- John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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