What Does John 5:32 Mean in the King James?
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Jesus’ identity is witnessed beyond his own voice, and the act of witnessing and the testimony itself share one Greek word-family.
THE MEANING
Jesus stands before the reader as one whose identity is testified to by another. He knows this testimony is true: what is true about him is spoken by another and received as knowledge.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that testimony about Jesus rests only on Jesus’ own claim; the verse names another witness.
THE ROOT
μαρτυρεῖ
martyrei
GROWS FROM
μαρτυρ-
martyr-
To testify, to bear witness.
The verb “witnesseth” and the noun “witness” translate forms from the same Greek word-family. The sentence folds the act and its content together: another testifies, and that testimony is true.
ALSO GROWS
martyria: testimony, witness
μαρτυρία
The verse uses this noun for the testimony being borne, joining the witness’s act to what is testified.
martys: witness
μάρτυς
This related noun names the one who bears testimony, keeping the person and the testimony within the same word-family.
martyreō: to bear witness, testify
μαρτυρέω
This is the verb behind “witnesseth,” showing that the verse centers on testimony as an active speaking.
THE PATTERN
Truth is established through testimony that reaches beyond a single voice.
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.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.Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,THE THREAD
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.The next verse repeats the same Greek witness verb and names John as one who bears testimony to the truth. The shared word-family connects the act of witnessing with the truth being testified to.
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