John 8:13

13 Then the Pharisees said unto him, Thou dost bear witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.

John 8:13 Meaning and Commentary

John 8:13

The Pharisees therefore said unto him
On account of his declaring himself the light of the world: these were either the same who went out of the temple, filled with remorse of conscience, and were now returned, and bearing him a grudge, came to take some advantage against him, if they could; or they were others of the same complexion, sent by them, to make their observations on him:

thou bearest record of thyself.
The Ethiopic version renders it, "dost thou thyself?" which does not seem so decent and comely; see ( Proverbs 27:2 ) ; though it does not follow, that what a man says of himself is not truth, as these suggest:

thy record is not true;
for John testified of himself, that he was not the Christ, nor Elias, nor that prophet; but the voice of one crying in the wilderness; and this testimony he bore of himself, at the importunity of the Jews themselves, ( John 1:19-23 ) ; and his testimony was true; so was that which Christ bore of himself; but their sense rather seems to be, that it was not firm and authentic, and would not pass in any court of judicature, since no man can be a witness in his own cause.

John 8:13 In-Context

11 And she said, No one, Lord. Then Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.

12 Then Jesus spoke again unto them, saying, I AM the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.

13 Then the Pharisees said unto him, Thou dost bear witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear witness of myself, my witness is true, for I know from where I came and where I go; but ye do not know where I came from and where I go.

15 Ye judge after the flesh, but I judge no one.