John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John:

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 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

NIV

John 5:36 I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.

LISTENERS HEARD

I myself, however, have that testimony, better than that of John because those works, the ones he has given to me, this Father, in order that I should complete them, the same works that I do, testify concerning me because t the Father has sent me.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

This is a very common theme for Jesus: that actions speak louder than words. verse is so convoluted that it seems as if Jesus was having fun with his challengers, challenging them to follow his reasoning. The idea of mysterious evidence was introduced in John 5:32. The suggestion that it was the testimony of John was made in John 5:33. The point of John 5:34 was to say that Christ was not suggesting human testimony. Here, he points to his actions rather than the words of others. Note, however, he is shifting the argument so that the proof relates to who sent him, not just who testifies for him.

In Greek, the word translated as "witness" actually means "evidence" or "testimony."  This is how it is translated in more recent translations of John. The problem with translating it as "witness" is that it makes us think of a person instead of a statement or piece of physical evidence. This confuses this whole series of verses for the English reader.

MY TAKE

Actions speak louder than words because the power that enables action has a source.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself" is not shown in the English translation, but it is needed to capture the pronoun as well as the form of the verb.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "witness" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" before "bear witness" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "should" needed from the form of the verb is not shown in the English translation.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "to" indicates an infinitive, but the verb is an active verb, "I should finish."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "them" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
10
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "myself" is not shown in the English translation, but it is needed to capture the pronoun as well as the form of the verb.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "witness" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "weightier" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" before "bear witness" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "should" needed from the form of the verb is not shown in the English translation.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "to" indicates an infinitive, but the verb is an active verb, "I should finish."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "them" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "about" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "me" is not shown in the English translation.
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.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

-- 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."

have -- The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "have means to do,"  "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English. 

greater -- "Greater" is an adjective which is the comparative form of the word meaning "big" or "great." It means "bigger," "higher," "longer," "greater" and simply, "superior."

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. 

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

than --   This word "than"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or  "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.

that -- The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

of --   This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

John: -- --  "John" is the Greek word translated as the English proper name. 

for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

the  - -  The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

works -- The Greek word translated as "works" means "deeds," "actions," and "things" in the sense of "every thing."

which -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

hath -- This helping verb "hath" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

given -- The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "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."

to -- (WF) This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English. However, this is an active verb in the first-person, subjective form.

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if" or a "when."

finish, - - As a verb, the word translated as "finish" means "to make perfect", "to make complete", "make perfect", "to bring to consummation," and "to bring fruit to maturity." It would be in the form where the subject acts on themselves, "you might make yourself perfect."

missing "them"  -- (MW) The untranslated word"his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

same -- The word translated as "same" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  The word means "the same" when used as an adjective.

works -- The Greek word translated as "works" means "deeds," "actions," and "things" in the sense of "every thing."

that -- The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.

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

do, -- The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  It is not as broad a word as the English "do," which covers all actions, productive or not. 

bear witness --  "Bear witness" is the Greek verb that means "to give testimony" and "to bear witness." It has the sense of being true testimony. It is the verb form of the Greek word for "testimony" and "proof," which is the source of our word "martyr," and its funny spelling.

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "about" when referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it. This is not the common "of" from the possessive, genitive form of a word.

me, -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This is the form taken by the preposition.

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

hath -- This helping verb "hath" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

sent -- The "sent" here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle."

me. -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "but"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "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.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

-- 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."

have -- The word translated as "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "have means to do,"  "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English.

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. 

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

weightier -- (CW) "Weightier is an adjective that is the comparative form of the word meaning "big" or "great." It means "bigger," "higher," "longer," "greater" and simply, "superior."

than --   This word "than"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession. However, it can also mean "belonging to," "part of," "which is," "than" (in comparisons), or  "for," "concerning" or "about" with transitive verbs.

that -- The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

of --   This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

John: -- --  "John" is the Greek word translated as the English proper name.

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

the  - -  The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

works -- The Greek word translated as "works" means "deeds," "actions," and "things" in the sense of "every thing."

that-- The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

has -- This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

given -- The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."

me -- The "me" is in the indirect object form on the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me," though the form has other uses in Greek.

missing "that"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "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."

to -- (WF) This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English. However, this is an active verb in the first-person, subjective form.

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if" or a "when."

finish, - - As a verb, the word translated as "finish" means "to make perfect", "to make complete", "make perfect", "to bring to consummation," and "to bring fruit to maturity." It would be in the form where the subject acts on themselves, "you might make yourself perfect."

missing "them"  -- (MW) The untranslated word"his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

very -- The word translated as "very " is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  The word means "the same" when used as an adjective.

works -- The Greek word translated as "works" means "deeds," "actions," and "things" in the sense of "every thing."

that -- The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.

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

am - -- This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb.

doing, -- The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  It is not as broad a word as the English "do," which covers all actions, productive or not.

testify --  "Testify " is the Greek verb that means "to give testimony" and "to bear witness." It has the sense of being true testimony. It is the verb form of the Greek word for "testimony" and "proof," which is the source of our word "martyr," and its funny spelling.

missing "about"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  means "about" when referring to a subject, it means "about," "concerning," "on account of," and "in regard to." This is the way Jesus usually uses it. This is not the common "of" from the possessive, genitive form of a word.

missing "me"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This is the form taken by the preposition.

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

has-- This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

sent -- The "sent" here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch." It is the source of our word "apostle."

me. -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

 

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")

ἔχω [181 verses] (1st sg pres ind act) "Have" is echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to have due to one," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to bear," "to carry," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do." In aorist, "acquire," "get,"

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

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

μείζω [22 verses](adj sg fem acc comp ) "Greater" is meizon which means "bigger," "higher," "longer," and "greater" and is the comparative form of megas, which means "big" and "great." The superlative form "greatest" is megistos, μέγιστος.

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg fem gen) "That"is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

Ἰωάνου [17 verses](noun sg masc gen)e "Of John" is from Ioannes, which is the Greek form of the name "John."

τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἔργα [31 verses] (noun pl neut nom) "Works" is ergon, which means "works," "tasks," "deeds," "actions," "thing," and "matter."

[294 verses](pron pl neut nom) "which" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

δέδωκέν[147 verses](3rd sg perf ind act) "Hath given" is didomi, which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe."

μοί, [96 verses](pron 1st sg masc/fem dat) "Me" is moi (emoi) , which means "I," "me," and "my."

[821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."

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."

τελειώσω [5 verses] (1st sg aor subj act) "To finish" is  teleioo, which is a verb that means "to make perfect", "to complete", "to bring to consummation," and "to bring fruit to maturity."

αὐτά [720 verses](adj pl neut nom/acc) Untranslated is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

αὐτά [720 verses](adj pl neut nom/acc) Untranslated is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

ἔργα [31 verses] (noun pl neut nom) "The works" is ergon, which means "works," "tasks," "deeds," "actions," "thing," and "matter."

[294 verses](pron pl neut nom) "That" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.

ποιῶ [168 verses](1st sg pres ind act) "I do" is poieo, which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to perform," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."

μαρτυρεῖ [16 verses] (3rd sg pres ind act) "Bear witness" is martyreo, which means "to bear witness," "to give evidence," "give a good report," "testify to," and "acknowledge the value of." It is the basis for our word "martyr."

περὶ [73 verses](prep)  "As touching" is peri, which means "round about (Place)," "around," "about," "concerning," "on account of," "in regard to," "before," "above," "beyond," and "all around."

ἐμοῦ [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.

ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

[821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."

με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means  "me."

ἀπέσταλκεν [60 verses] (3rd sg perf ind act) "Hath sent" is apostello, which means "to send off," "to send away," or "to dispatch."

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