John 8:13

13 Therefore the Pharisees said, Thou bearest witnessing of thyself; thy witnessing 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 She said, No man, Lord. Jesus said to her, Neither I shall condemn thee; go thou, and now after do not thou sin no more [+and now afterward, do not thou do sin/do not thou sin].

12 Therefore again Jesus spake to them, and said [saying], I am the light of the world; he that followeth me, walketh not in darknesses, but shall have the light of life.

13 Therefore the Pharisees said, Thou bearest witnessing of thyself; thy witnessing is not true.

14 Jesus answered, and said to them, And if I bear witnessing of myself, my witnessing is true; for I know from whence I came, and whither I go. But ye know not from whence I came, nor whither I go.

15 For ye deem after the flesh, but I deem no man; [Forsooth ye deem after the flesh, I deem not any man;]