But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

JOHN 5:47KJV
Know the Bible

John 5:47 (KJV)

What does John 5:47 mean?

John 5:47 says that if people do not believe the writings of Moses, they will not be able to believe the words of Jesus. The verse points out a direct link between accepting what Moses wrote and being able to trust what Jesus says.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to Jewish leaders who knew the writings of Moses well but were rejecting Jesus’ message. Jesus is showing that the same truth runs through both Moses’ writings and his own words. He challenges them by saying that disbelief in Moses’ writings makes it impossible to truly accept what Jesus is teaching, since both point to the same God and purpose.

The Greek behind John 5:47

  • The word for "writings" is γραφή (graphē), which often means sacred writings or scriptures. Here, it refers specifically to the books attributed to Moses, showing Jesus is talking about foundational Jewish texts.
  • The word for "believe" is πιστεύω (pisteuō), which means to trust or have faith in. Jesus repeats this word to connect belief in Moses’ writings directly with belief in his own words, stressing the unity of their message.
  • The phrase "my words" uses the Greek ῥῆμα (rhēma), which means spoken words or sayings. Jesus is highlighting the authority and importance of what he is personally saying, not just written tradition.

Why John 5:47 matters

  • John 5:47 clears up the idea that belief in Jesus is separate from belief in the Hebrew Scriptures; Jesus claims they are deeply connected.
  • The verse emphasizes that rejecting the foundation (Moses’ writings) undermines the ability to understand or accept what Jesus teaches.
  • In the wider passage, this statement is part of Jesus’ defense of his authority and mission, showing that his message is not a break from the past but a fulfillment of it.

Where else these words appear

“writings” Greek G1121 · used in 14 verses

  • Luke 16:6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
  • Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
  • Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

“words” Greek G4487 · used in 67 verses

  • Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • Luke 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
  • Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

“my” Greek G1699 · used in 68 verses

  • Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
  • John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

“how” Greek G4459 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Luke 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
  • Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.