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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 5:47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/5-47.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/43_Jhn_05_47.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 5:47 - The Witness of Scripture" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?" /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad7.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/5-46.htm" title="John 5:46">◄</a> John 5:47 <a href="/john/6-1.htm" title="John 6:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/john/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/john/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And unless you believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if you don&#8217t believe his writings, how will you believe My words?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But if you don't believe what Moses wrote, how can you believe what I say? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />If you don't believe what Moses wrote, how will you ever believe what I say?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But since you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />But if you disbelieve his writings, how are you to believe my words?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />but if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My sayings?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And unless you believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> but if his writings ye believe not, how shall ye believe my sayings?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But if you do not believe by his writings, how will you believe by my words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />If you do not believe his writings, how then can you believe my words?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” <div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>For if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />But if ye believe not his writings, how will ye believe my words?<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />but if you don't believe what he has writ, how should you believe what I say?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />But if you disbelieve his writings, how are you to believe my words?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>But, if ye believe not his writings, how will ye believe My words?"<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>but if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/5-47.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=1714" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/5.htm">The Witness of Scripture</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">46</span>If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. <span class="reftext">47</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">since</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: pisteuete (V-PIA-2P) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">you do not believe</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">what</a> <a href="/greek/1565.htm" title="1565: ekeinou (DPro-GMS) -- That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.">he</a> <a href="/greek/1121.htm" title="1121: grammasin (N-DNP) -- From grapho; a writing, i.e. A letter, note, epistle, book, etc. plural learning.">wrote,</a> <a href="/greek/4459.htm" title="4459: pōs (Adv) -- Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!">how</a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: pisteusete (V-FIA-2P) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">will you believe</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">what</a> <a href="/greek/1699.htm" title="1699: emois (PPro-DN1P) -- My, mine. From the oblique cases of ego; my.">I</a> <a href="/greek/4487.htm" title="4487: rhēmasin (N-DNP) -- From rheo; an utterance,; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.">say?”</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-12.htm">John 3:12</a></span><br />If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-31.htm">Luke 16:31</a></span><br />Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-45.htm">John 1:45</a></span><br />Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-45.htm">John 8:45-46</a></span><br />But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me! / Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-48.htm">John 12:48</a></span><br />There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-19.htm">John 7:19</a></span><br />Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-3.htm">Romans 3:3</a></span><br />What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-12.htm">Hebrews 3:12</a></span><br />See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/28-24.htm">Acts 28:24</a></span><br />Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-4.htm">2 Corinthians 4:4</a></span><br />The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/5-10.htm">1 John 5:10</a></span><br />Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-25.htm">Matthew 21:25</a></span><br />What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/10-16.htm">Romans 10:16</a></span><br />But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15</a></span><br />The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/31-26.htm">Deuteronomy 31:26-27</a></span><br />“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you. / For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are already rebelling against the LORD while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after my death!</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/16-29.htm">Luke 16:29,31</a></b></br> Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/5-46.htm">Belief</a> <a href="/john/5-46.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-1.htm">Disbelieve</a> <a href="/luke/24-11.htm">Sayings</a> <a href="/john/4-50.htm">Words</a> <a href="/john/5-46.htm">Writings</a> <a href="/john/5-46.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/7-5.htm">Belief</a> <a href="/john/6-29.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/john/20-27.htm">Disbelieve</a> <a href="/john/6-63.htm">Sayings</a> <a href="/john/6-41.htm">Words</a> <a href="/john/6-31.htm">Writings</a> <a href="/john/8-6.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">John 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-1.htm">Jesus on the Sabbath day cures him who was diseased thirty-eight years.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-10.htm">The Jews therefore object, and persecute him for it.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-17.htm">He answers for himself, and reproves them, showing by the testimony of his Father,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-31.htm">of John,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-36.htm">of his works,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">39. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-39.htm">and of the Scriptures, who he is.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But since you do not believe what he wrote</b><br>This phrase refers to the writings of Moses, which are foundational to the Jewish faith and include the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah. Moses is a central figure in Judaism, and his writings are considered authoritative. Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders who prided themselves on their adherence to the Law of Moses. The implication is that their disbelief in Moses' writings, which testify about the coming Messiah, indicates a deeper spiritual blindness. This connects to other scriptures where Jesus emphasizes the importance of the Law and the Prophets as pointing to Him (<a href="/luke/24-27.htm">Luke 24:27</a>, <a href="/john/1-45.htm">John 1:45</a>).<p><b>how will you believe what I say?</b><br>Here, Jesus challenges the Jewish leaders' ability to accept His teachings if they cannot accept the foundational truths of their own scriptures. This highlights the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, with Jesus fulfilling the prophecies and promises found in the Old Testament. The inability to believe Moses' writings suggests a hardened heart, which is a recurring theme in the Bible (<a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a>, <a href="/matthew/13-14.htm">Matthew 13:14-15</a>). Jesus' words also underscore His authority and identity as the Messiah, as He places His teachings on par with the revered writings of Moses. This statement serves as a call to examine the scriptures with an open heart to recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders who are questioning His authority and teachings.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Moses is implied as the one whose writings the Jewish leaders claim to follow. Jesus refers to Moses' writings as a foundation for belief in Him.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jewish_leaders.htm">Jewish Leaders</a></b><br>The audience to whom Jesus is speaking. They are skeptical of Jesus' claims and authority, despite their professed adherence to the Law of Moses.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_law_of_moses.htm">The Law of Moses</a></b><br>The writings of Moses, which include the first five books of the Old Testament, are foundational to Jewish belief and practice.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The likely setting for this discourse, as Jesus often engaged with Jewish leaders in and around the city.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_belief_in_scripture.htm">The Importance of Belief in Scripture</a></b><br>Jesus emphasizes the necessity of believing in the writings of Moses to understand and accept His teachings. This underscores the continuity and fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New Testament.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/scripture_as_a_unified_testimony.htm">Scripture as a Unified Testimony</a></b><br>The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, presents a unified testimony about Jesus Christ. Believers are encouraged to study the whole counsel of God to fully grasp His redemptive plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_faith_in_understanding.htm">The Role of Faith in Understanding</a></b><br>Faith is essential for understanding and accepting the truths of Scripture. Intellectual knowledge alone is insufficient without a heart of belief.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_selective_belief.htm">The Danger of Selective Belief</a></b><br>The Jewish leaders' failure to believe Moses' writings led to their inability to accept Jesus. This warns against the danger of selective belief in Scripture, where one accepts parts while rejecting others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_examine_our_beliefs.htm">The Call to Examine Our Beliefs</a></b><br>Believers are called to examine their own beliefs and ensure they align with the entirety of Scripture, allowing it to challenge and shape their understanding.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_the_torah_describe_moses'_death.htm">If Moses wrote the Torah, why does it describe his own death in Deuteronomy 34?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_character_show_your_faith.htm">How should we respond to persecution for our faith?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_did_jesus_mean_by_'seeks_a_sign'.htm">How can your joy be made complete?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_fearing_god_avoid_extremes.htm">What does 'put away childish things' mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(47) The emphasis of the contrast here is not between "writings" and "words," but between "his" and "My." It is a repetition of the thought of the previous verse, with an advance in time. They had not believed Moses, and therefore had not believed Him. They do not believe, for they do not read the spiritual meaning of the writings of Moses even now. What ground of hope is left? His words, revealing the deeper truths of the kingdom of God, will fall upon their ears as so many unmeaning sounds. (Comp. Note on <a href="/john/3-12.htm" title="If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?">John 3:12</a>.)<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/5-47.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">since</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰ</span> <span class="translit">(ei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> </span><span class="str2">If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you do not believe</span><br /><span class="grk">πιστεύετε</span> <span class="translit">(pisteuete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">what</span><br /><span class="grk">τοῖς</span> <span class="translit">(tois)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Dative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐκείνου</span> <span class="translit">(ekeinou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1565.htm">Strong's 1565: </a> </span><span class="str2">That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wrote,</span><br /><span class="grk">γράμμασιν</span> <span class="translit">(grammasin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">From grapho; a writing, i.e. A letter, note, epistle, book, etc. plural learning.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">how</span><br /><span class="grk">πῶς</span> <span class="translit">(pōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4459.htm">Strong's 4459: </a> </span><span class="str2">Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will you believe</span><br /><span class="grk">πιστεύσετε</span> <span class="translit">(pisteusete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">what</span><br /><span class="grk">τοῖς</span> <span class="translit">(tois)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Dative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐμοῖς</span> <span class="translit">(emois)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Neuter 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1699.htm">Strong's 1699: </a> </span><span class="str2">My, mine. From the oblique cases of ego; my.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">say?”</span><br /><span class="grk">ῥήμασιν</span> <span class="translit">(rhēmasin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4487.htm">Strong's 4487: </a> </span><span class="str2">From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/5-47.htm">John 5:47 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/5-47.htm">NT Gospels: John 5:47 But if you don't believe his writings (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/5-46.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 5:46"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 5:46" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/6-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 6:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 6:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>