John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man:

Spoken to
challengers

Jesus is accused of breaking the Sabbath and making himself a god by calling God his Father. The current topic is who testifies for him.

KJV

John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

NIV

John 5:34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.

LISTENERS HEARD

I myself, however? Not from a man this testimony do I get. Indeed, these things I say in order that you yourselves might be kept alive.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Recent Bible translations completely misconstrue this verse, adding lots of ideas that are not in it to "explain" why it is so confusing. However, the reason it seems confused is that much of it is humorous and playful. The point is relatively simple.

This verse starts with an "I myself, however..." which is one of Jesus's catchphrases. He used is constantly during the Sermon on the Mount. It then goes to the phrase "not from a man." The negative here doesn't negate the verb at all, but that phrase. This is funny because Jesus just said that there was testimony from John, who seems to be a man. However, this is a bit of a private joke because Jesus says elsewhere (Matthew 11:14) that John was really a reincarnation of Elijah.

Then Jesus uses the verb translated as "receive" and "accept," which is also a play on words. It has three different meanings here. When applied to "testimony" it means "take" in the way we say a court "takes" evidence. However, it also means "get" both in the sense of "receive" and "understand."

The next clause is introduced by conjunction that has the sense of "instead" because it joins negative phrases with positive ones. The "these things" refers to both what he just said about testimony from John and what he is about to say about John in the next verse.

MY TAKE

A lot of testimony from people is hard to get.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "not" doesn't negate the verb but the phrase "from a man."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "testimony" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "testimony" is the same word translated as "witness" before.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourselves" is not shown in the English translation, but it is needed to capture the pronoun as well as the form of the verb.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
11
  • WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "not" doesn't negate "that" but the phrase "from a man."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "however" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "testimony" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "from" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "human" is not an adjective but a noun "a man."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "mention" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "it" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural, "these."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourselves" is not shown in the English translation, but it is needed to capture the pronoun as well as the form of the verb.
EACH WORD of KJV

But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.

I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

receive  -- -- The word translated as "receive" primarily means "take." However, it means "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." However, here it is a play on words.

not  -- (WP)  The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. It does not negate the verb here, but the phrase, "not from a man."

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.  Here it would have the sense of "this."

testimony - (CW) "Testimony" is from a Greek word that means "testimony" and "evidence." This is confusing here because the KJV has been translating this words as "witness" until here.

from -- The Greek preposition translated as "from" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the genitive, used here, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from."

man: -- The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples." 

but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

these -- The "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. It is often used in the neuter plural to refer to "these things." As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why."

things  - There is no word, "things," in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous adjective.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

say, -- The word translated as "I say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak,"  but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of."

that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."

ye -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It is plural.

missing "yourselves" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourselves."

might -- This helping verb "might" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

saved. -- "Saved" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases.

EACH WORD of NIV

Not -- (WP)  The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. It does not negate the verb here, but the phrase, "not from a man."

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "I" in the Greek source.

I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

missing "however"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "however" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.

accept -- (CW) The word translated as "accept" primarily means "take." However, it means "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing."  It does not have the sense of "accept" in the sense of accepting something instead of rejecting it.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. Here it would have the sense of "this."

testimony - "Testimony" is from a Greek word that means "testimony" and "evidence."

missing "from"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "from" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the genitive, used here, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from."

human -- (WF) The Greek word for "man" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples." This is not an adjective but a noun. The phrase "not from a man" does not modify "testimony."

but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

mention , -- (CW) The word translated as "I say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak,"  but when used with an objective noun or pronoun, the sense is "say of" or "speak of."

it -- (WN) The "it" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. It is often used in the neuter plural to refer to "these things." It is plural here.

that -- The word translated as "that" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," "when," or as a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" or "because."

ye -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It is plural.

missing "yourselves" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourselves."

may -- This helping verb "may" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

saved. -- "Saved" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ἐγὼ [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I." It also means "I at least," "for my part," "indeed," and for myself.

δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). -

οὐ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

παρὰ  [45 verses](prep) "With" is para, has many meanings, which depend on the case of its object and the sense of the verb.With the genitive, the sense is always motion, "from the side of," "from beside," "issuing from", and generally "from." With the dative, the sense is always static, "by the side of," "near," "in the presence of," and "before." With the accusative, its has a number of specialized meanings depending on the character of the verb, with coming/going "near," "beside," with placing "side-by-side," as a metaphor, "like" or "as a parody of, of comparison, "compared with" and many more including "along", "past", "beyond", "parallel (geometry)", "precisely at the moment of (time)," and "throughout (time)."

ἀνθρώπου  [209 verses](noun sg masc gen) "Man" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.

τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

μαρτυρίαν [6 verses](noun sg fem acc ) "Witness" is from martyria, which means "testimony," and "evidence." - "Witness" is from a Greek word that means "testimony" and "evidence."

λαμβάνω [54 verse] (1st sg pres ind act) "Receive" is lambano means to "take," "take hold of," "grasp," "seize," "catch," "overtake," "find out," "detect," "take as,"  in Logic, "assume," "take for granted," "understand," "undertake," "take in," "hold," "get," "receive [things]," "receive hospitably," "receive in marriage," "receive as produce," "profit," "admit," "initiate," "take hold of," "lay hold on," "seize and keep hold of," "obtain possession of," "lay hands upon," "find fault with," "censure," "to apprehend with the senses," and "to take hold of." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."

ἀλλὰ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."

ταῦτα [96 verses](adj pl neut acc) "These things" "These things" is tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these," "this," "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why."

λέγω [264 verses](1st sg pres ind act) "I say"is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." When used with an object is has the sense of "call by name."  It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep."

ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when,"  but when beginning a phrase "that," "in order that," "when," and "because."

ὑμεῖς [92 verses](pron 2nd pl nom) "You" is hymeis (humeis), which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you."

σωθῆτε [25 verse](2nd pl aor subj pass) "Might be saved" is sozo (soizo), which means "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue."

Wordplay

The "take" refers to "taking evidence" in court, but it also means to "get" something as we use "get" to mean "understand."

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