If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

1 JOHN 5:9KJV
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1 John 5:9 (KJV)

What does 1 John 5:9 mean?

1 John 5:9 says that if people are willing to accept what other humans say as true, then what God says is even more trustworthy and important—especially because God has given clear testimony about His Son. The verse highlights that God’s own witness about Jesus is the highest authority.

The apostle John is writing to early Christians, encouraging them to trust God’s message about Jesus Christ. In the surrounding verses, John talks about different kinds of testimony—what people say, what God says, and how God has made His truth known. Here, John points out that God’s testimony about Jesus is not just another opinion; it is the ultimate truth that believers can rely on.

The Greek behind 1 John 5:9

  • μαρτυρία (martyria, “witness”): This word appears several times in the verse and means testimony or evidence. John uses it to emphasize that God’s testimony about Jesus is not just a claim but a solid, trustworthy declaration.
  • μείζων (meizōn, “greater”): This word means greater or more important. John uses it to stress that God’s witness carries more weight than any human testimony.
  • μεμαρτύρηκεν (memartyrēken, “testified”): This verb means to bear witness or to give evidence. John uses it to show that God has actively given testimony about His Son, not just passively allowed it to be said.

Why 1 John 5:9 matters

  • 1 John 5:9 clarifies that God’s testimony about Jesus is not on the same level as human opinions or reports; it stands above them all.
  • The verse helps readers see the seriousness of God’s declaration about who Jesus is, building confidence in the truth of the Christian message.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme in 1 John about believing in Jesus as the Son of God, showing that faith is grounded in God’s own trustworthy word.

Where else these words appear

“witness” Greek G3141 · used in 33 verses

  • Mark 14:55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
  • John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
  • 1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

“greater” Greek G3187 · used in 42 verses

  • Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
  • Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
  • John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

“testified” Greek G3140 · used in 75 verses

  • Matthew 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
  • John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
  • 2 Corinthians 8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;