Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. They discuss the nature of man's origin. Nicodemus asked how anyone is able to know these things himself.
John 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
John 3:11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
Ameni, Amen, I tell you that, what we know, we pass on, and, what we have watched, we witness, and you do not get this testimony of ours.
The debate about whether or not consciousness comes from the physical brain still goes on today. Since the first two statements about speaking and testifying are in the present tense, it seems the "we" refers to himself and Nicodemus in this discussion. However, the "we" referring to what they "have seen or observed" (the past perfect tense, something completed in the past) may refer even more generally to what every one has seen in their own lives. Jesus is making the point that his viewpoint is not unique, that others also can observe humanity's spiritual nature and physical nature come from two different sources, matter, and spirit, or, in more modern terms, matter and information.
While the initial "you" in the "verily" phrase is single, but the last "you" from the verb "receive/accept" is plural, referring apparently to all teachers of Israel.
Matter creates what is physical, but only information can create life.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, (MW) We speak(CW) that we do know, and testify that we have seen(CW); and ye receive not our (MW) witness.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "speak" is not the common word usually translated as "speak."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common word usually translated as "seen."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "witness" is not shown in the English translation.
Very(CW) truly I tell you, (MW) we speak(CW) of(IW) what we know, and we testify to what we have seen(CW), but still(IW) you people(IW) do not accept(CW) our (MW) testimony.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "very" is not the word usually translated as "very."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "speak" is not the common word usually translated as "speak."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "of" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "to" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common word usually translated as "seen."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "still" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "people" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "accept" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "witness" is not shown in the English translation.
Verily, verily, -- The word translated as "verily" is from the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap." See this article discussing this "amen phrase."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.
say -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.
unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object.
you, -- The word for "you" is the indirect object form of the singular, second-person pronoun in the form of an indirect object, which usually requires a preposition in English, like "to you."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
We -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
speak -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "speak" is not the ordinary "to say" or "to speak" in Greek. This word means both "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "pass on" or "relay" information because that captures both someone gossiping and an oracle does. The word is somewhat self-effacing.
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.
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
know, -- The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know." What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
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.
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.
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.
seen; -- (CW) "Seen" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Jesus uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones, like the one above. Jesus seems to use this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
ye-- -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
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."
not -- 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.
our -- The "our" is the plural possessive first-person pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of ours."
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."
Very, -- (CW) The word translated as "very" is from the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap." See this article discussing this "amen phrase." It is not the word meaning "very."
truly , -- The word translated as "truly " is from the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap." See this article discussing this "amen phrase."
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.
tell -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.
you, -- The word for "you" is the indirect object form of the singular, second-person pronoun in the form of an indirect object, which usually requires a preposition in English, like "to you."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
We -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
speak -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "speak" is not the ordinary "to say" or "to speak" in Greek. This word means both "idle chatter," "gossip," and "the proclamations of an oracle." Jesus uses it to capture the idea of "pass on" or "relay" information because that captures both someone gossiping and an oracle does. The word is somewhat self-effacing.
of -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "of" in the Greek source.
what . -- The word translated as "what" 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.
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
know, -- The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know." What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
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.
to -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "to" in the Greek source.
what . -- The word translated as "what" 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.
we -- This is from the first-person, plural form of the verb.
have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.
seen; -- (CW) "Seen" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Jesus uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones, like the one above. Jesus seems to use this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.
but -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "but" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
still -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "still" in the Greek source.
you -- -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
people -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "people" in the Greek source.
do -- This helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
not -- 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.
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 mean "accept."
our -- The "our" is the plural possessive first-person pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of ours."
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."
Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν [88 verses](exclaim) "Verily" is amen, which is the Hebrew, meaning "truly," "of a truth," and "so be it." It has no history in Greek of this meaning before the NT. However, this is also the infinitive form of the Greek verb amao, which means "to reap" or "to cut."
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." 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."
σοὶ [81 verses](pron 2nd sg dat) "You" is from soi which is the singular, second person pronoun, "you".
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" is from hoti (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."
ὃ [294 verses](pron sg neut nom/acc) This" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
οἴδαμεν [38 verses] (1st pl perf ind act) "Know" is oida which has the sense of "to know." This listing is not a root word, but the past perfect tense of eido, which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know." That which "has been seen" is that which is "known." This is a somewhat legalistic idea because the truth can only be established by eyewitnesses. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew."
λαλοῦμεν [49 verses](1st pl pres ind act) "We speak" is laleo, which means "to talk," "to speak" "to prattle", "to chat," and [for oracles] "to proclaim." It also means "chatter" as the opposite of articulate speech.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
ὃ [294 verses](pron sg neut nom/acc) This" is hos, which means "this," "that," "he," "she," "which," "what," "who," "whosoever," "where," "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
ἑωράκαμεν [20 verses](1st pl perf ind act) "We have seen" is horao, which means "to see with the eyes", "to look," and "to observe."
μαρτυροῦμεν [16 verses](1st pl pres ind act) "Testify" is from 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."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg masc dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
μαρτυρίαν [6 verses](noun sg fem acc ) "Witness" is from martyria, which means "testimony," and "evidence."
ἡμῶν [16 verses](pro 1st pl gen) "Our" is from hemon, which is the plural possessive (genitive) form of the first personal pronoun.
οὐ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is from οὐ ou which is 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.
λαμβάνετε [54 verse](2nd pl pres ind act) "Receive" is lambano means "to take", "to receive", "to apprehend with the senses", "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean seized with emotion.
There is a contrast between normal and legalistic vocabulary in "talking about what we have seen" and "giving testimony about what we observed."