John 8:13

13 "You are giving testimony about yourself," said the Pharisees; "your testimony 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 "No one, Sir," she replied. "And *I* do not condemn you either," said Jesus; "go, and from this time do not sin any more."]

12 Once more Jesus addressed them. "I am the Light of the world," He said; "the man who follows me shall certainly not walk in the dark, but shall have the light of Life."

13 "You are giving testimony about yourself," said the Pharisees; "your testimony is not true."

14 "Even if I am giving testimony about myself," replied Jesus, "my testimony is true; for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you know neither of these two things.

15 You judge according to appearances: I am judging no one.