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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 3:32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/3-32.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/43_Jhn_03_32.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 3:32 - John's Testimony about Jesus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/3-32.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/3-32.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 32</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.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/3-31.htm" title="John 3:31">◄</a> John 3:32 <a href="/john/3-33.htm" title="John 3:33">►</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">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/3.htm">New International Version</a> He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. <a href="/nlt/john/3.htm">New Living Translation</a> He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! <a href="/esv/john/3.htm">English Standard Version</a> He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. <a href="/bsb/john/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. <a href="/blb/john/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> What He has seen and heard, this He testifies, but no one receives His testimony. <a href="/kjv/john/3.htm">King James Bible</a> And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. <a href="/nkjv/john/3.htm">New King James Version</a> And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. <a href="/nasb_/john/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> What He has seen and heard, of this He testifies; and no one accepts His testimony. <a href="/nasb/john/3.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. <a href="/nasb77/john/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “What He has seen and heard, of that He bears witness; and no man receives His witness. <a href="/lsb/john/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> What He has seen and heard, of that He bears witness; and no one receives His witness. <a href="/amp/john/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a> What He has [actually] seen and heard, of that He testifies; and yet no one accepts His testimony [as true]. <a href="/csb/john/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He testifies to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. <a href="/hcsb/john/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. <a href="/asv/john/3.htm">American Standard Version</a> What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness. <a href="/cev/john/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> He speaks about what he has seen and heard, and yet no one believes him. <a href="/erv/john/3.htm">English Revised Version</a> What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness. <a href="/gwt/john/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> and tells what he has seen and heard. Yet, no one accepts what he says. <a href="/gnt/john/3.htm">Good News Translation</a> He tells what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his message. <a href="/isv/john/3.htm">International Standard Version</a> He testifies about what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. <a href="/msb/john/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. <a href="/net/john/3.htm">NET Bible</a> He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. <a href="/nheb/john/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. <a href="/wbt/john/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. <a href="/wey/john/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> What He has seen and heard, to that He bears witness; but His testimony no one receives. <a href="/web/john/3.htm">World English Bible</a> What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And what He has seen and heard—this He testifies, and none receives His testimony; <a href="/blb/john/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> What He has seen and heard, this He testifies, but no one receives His testimony. <a href="/ylt/john/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'And what he hath seen and heard this he doth testify, and his testimony none receiveth; <a href="/slt/john/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And what he saw and heard, this be testifies: and none receives his testimony.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiveth his testimony. <a href="/cpdv/john/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And what he has seen and heard, about this he testifies. And no one accepts his testimony. <a href="/nabre/john/3.htm">New American Bible</a> He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. <a href="/nrsvce/john/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he testifies of what he has seen and heard, and yet no man accepts his testimony. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/3.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And whatever he has seen and heard he testifies, and no one is receiving his testimony.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/3.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> and what he has seen and heard, this he testifies; and no one receives his testimony. <a href="/godbey/john/3.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> the one being of the earth is of the earth, and speaks of the earth. The one coming from heaven witnesses what He has seen and heard, and no one receives His testimony. <a href="/haweis/john/3.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; though no man receiveth his testimony. <a href="/mace/john/3.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; but his testimony doth no man receive. <a href="/wey/john/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> What He has seen and heard, to that He bears witness; but His testimony no one receives. <a href="/worrell/john/3.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> What He hath seen, and what He heard, of this He bears testimony; and no man receives His testimony. <a href="/worsley/john/3.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> but He that cometh from heaven, is above all: and what He hath seen and heard, this He testifieth: and yet scarce any one receiveth his testimony. <a href="/parallel/john/3-32.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=872" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/3.htm">John's Testimony about Jesus</a> …31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all. 32<a href="/greek/3140.htm" title="3140: martyrei (V-PIA-3S) -- To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.">He testifies</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: touto (DPro-ANS) -- This; he, she, it. ">to</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: ho (RelPro-ANS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">what</a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: heōraken (V-RIA-3S) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">He has seen</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/191.htm" title="191: ēkousen (V-AIA-3S) -- To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.">heard,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">yet</a> <a href="/greek/3762.htm" title="3762: oudeis (Adj-NMS) -- No one, none, nothing. ">no one</a> <a href="/greek/2983.htm" title="2983: lambanei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. ">accepts</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3141.htm" title="3141: martyrian (N-AFS) -- Witness, evidence, testimony, reputation. From martus; evidence given.">testimony.</a> 33Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/1-11.htm">John 1:11</a> He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. <a href="/john/8-26.htm">John 8:26</a> “I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.” <a href="/john/15-15.htm">John 15:15</a> No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. <a href="/john/5-19.htm">John 5:19-20</a> So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does. / The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these. <a href="/john/12-49.htm">John 12:49-50</a> I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. / And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.” <a href="/john/14-24.htm">John 14:24</a> Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me. <a href="/john/17-8.htm">John 17:8</a> For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. <a href="/1_john/5-9.htm">1 John 5:9-10</a> Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. / 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. <a href="/matthew/11-27.htm">Matthew 11:27</a> All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. <a href="/luke/10-22.htm">Luke 10:22</a> All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” <a href="/hebrews/2-3.htm">Hebrews 2:3</a> how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, <a href="/1_corinthians/2-14.htm">1 Corinthians 2:14</a> The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. <a href="/isaiah/53-1.htm">Isaiah 53:1</a> Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? <a href="/jeremiah/6-10.htm">Jeremiah 6:10</a> To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. <a href="/ezekiel/3-7.htm">Ezekiel 3:7</a> But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony.what.<a href="/john/3-11.htm">John 3:11</a> Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.<a href="/john/5-20.htm">John 5:20</a> For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.<a href="/john/8-26.htm">John 8:26</a> I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.and no.<a href="/john/3-26.htm">John 3:26,33</a> And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him… <a href="/john/1-11.htm">John 1:11</a> He came unto his own, and his own received him not.<a href="/isaiah/50-2.htm">Isaiah 50:2</a> Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/malachi/2-13.htm">Accepts</a> <a href="/luke/18-7.htm">Beareth</a> <a href="/john/1-15.htm">Bears</a> <a href="/john/3-29.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/john/3-6.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/john/1-40.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/luke/15-2.htm">Receives</a> <a href="/luke/15-2.htm">Receiveth</a> <a href="/john/1-15.htm">Testifies</a> <a href="/hosea/7-10.htm">Testifieth</a> <a href="/john/3-28.htm">Testify</a> <a href="/john/3-28.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/john/3-21.htm">True.</a> <a href="/john/3-28.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/13-20.htm">Accepts</a> <a href="/john/5-32.htm">Beareth</a> <a href="/john/5-32.htm">Bears</a> <a href="/john/4-1.htm">Ears</a> <a href="/john/3-34.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/john/4-1.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/john/3-33.htm">Receives</a> <a href="/john/4-36.htm">Receiveth</a> <a href="/john/5-32.htm">Testifies</a> <a href="/john/5-32.htm">Testifieth</a> <a href="/john/5-31.htm">Testify</a> <a href="/john/3-33.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/john/3-33.htm">True.</a> <a href="/john/3-33.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">John 3</div>1. <a href="/john/3-1.htm">Jesus teaches Nicodemus the necessity of being born again,</a> 14. <a href="/john/3-14.htm">of faith in his death,</a> 16. <a href="/john/3-16.htm">the great love of God toward the world,</a> 18. <a href="/john/3-18.htm">and the condemnation for unbelief.</a> 22. <a href="/john/3-22.htm">Jesus baptizes in Judea.</a> 23. <a href="/john/3-23.htm">The baptism, witness, and doctrine of John concerning Jesus.</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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/3.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/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>He testifies to what He has seen and heard This phrase emphasizes the authority and authenticity of Jesus' testimony. In the context of the Gospel of John, Jesus is portrayed as the divine Word who became flesh (<a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>). His testimony is based on firsthand knowledge of heavenly realities, as He comes from above (<a href="/john/3-31.htm">John 3:31</a>). This aligns with the Jewish understanding of a prophet, who speaks the words of God, but Jesus surpasses all prophets as He is the Son of God. The phrase also connects to <a href="/john/1-18.htm">John 1:18</a>, where it is stated that no one has seen God except the Son, who has made Him known. Jesus' testimony is unique because it is not derived from human sources but from His divine nature and pre-existence with the Father.yet no one accepts His testimony This highlights the theme of unbelief that runs throughout the Gospel of John. Despite the clarity and truth of Jesus' message, many reject it, fulfilling the prophecy of <a href="/isaiah/53.htm">Isaiah 53:1</a>, "Who has believed our message?" This rejection is not due to a lack of evidence but rather a spiritual blindness and hardness of heart (<a href="/john/12-37.htm">John 12:37-40</a>). The phrase also reflects the broader cultural and historical context of Jesus' ministry, where He faced opposition from religious leaders and misunderstanding from the crowds. The rejection of Jesus' testimony is a recurring theme, seen in <a href="/john/1-11.htm">John 1:11</a>, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." This rejection serves to highlight the contrast between those who are of the world and those who are born of God, who do accept His testimony and receive eternal life (<a href="/john/1-12.htm">John 1:12-13</a>, <a href="/john/3-36.htm">John 3:36</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The central figure in this passage, who is the one testifying to what He has seen and heard from the Father. 2. <a href="/topical/j/john_the_baptist.htm">John the Baptist</a> The speaker in this context, who is explaining the role and testimony of Jesus. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_disciples.htm">The Disciples</a> Those who are learning from both John the Baptist and Jesus, witnessing the unfolding of Jesus' ministry. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_jewish_leaders.htm">The Jewish Leaders</a> Often skeptical of Jesus' testimony, representing those who do not accept His message. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_heavenly_realm.htm">The Heavenly Realm</a> The source of Jesus' testimony, as He speaks of what He has seen and heard from God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_authority_of_jesus'_testimony.htm">The Authority of Jesus' Testimony</a> Jesus speaks with authority because He has firsthand knowledge of the Father and the heavenly realm. His testimony is not secondhand or speculative. <a href="/topical/t/the_rejection_of_truth.htm">The Rejection of Truth</a> Despite the truth and authority of Jesus' testimony, many choose to reject it. This highlights the human tendency to resist divine truth. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_acceptance.htm">The Importance of Acceptance</a> Accepting Jesus' testimony is crucial for salvation. Believers are called to trust in His words and the truth He reveals. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_witnesses.htm">The Role of Witnesses</a> Just as Jesus testifies to what He has seen and heard, believers are called to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel in their lives. <a href="/topical/t/the_challenge_of_faith.htm">The Challenge of Faith</a> Faith involves accepting truths that may not be immediately visible or understandable, trusting in the testimony of Jesus as the Son of God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 3</a> <a href="/q/why_do_gospel_accounts_of_jesus'_baptism_differ.htm">Why do the Gospel accounts of Jesus' baptism by John differ significantly?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_john_skip_key_gospel_events.htm">Why does John omit key events like Jesus' baptism and transfiguration found in other Gospels?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_blasphemy_defy_god's_mercy.htm">Mark 3:29: How does the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit align with or contradict the broader biblical teaching of a merciful and forgiving God?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_god_reveal_himself_in_the_bible.htm">If faith is required for salvation, why does the Bible contain so many stories where God reveals Himself directly?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(32) And what he hath seen and heard.--This is the opposite of the third point, the speaking of the earth in the last verse. Divine in origin, divine in nature, He is divine in teaching. That teaching, too, is a witness of things seen and heard. (Comp. Notes on <a href="/context/john/6-11.htm" title="And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.">John 6:11-12</a>.) It was a message from the Father's home, brought by the Son Himself. His own message was but that of a servant who did not fully know its meaning.No man receiveth his testimony.--These words are shown by those which immediately follow to go in their pathos beyond the strict limit of the facts present to his own mind. Yet he may well have said "no man." Of the crowds that thronged to his own baptism, of those who were then thronging to the baptism of Jesus, how many were there who were receiving like testimony of the things seen and heard? (Comp. again <a href="/john/3-11.htm" title="Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness.">John 3:11</a>.) How great the first promise, how bitter the last disappointment, of the Baptist's life! These words of intense feeling are not to be measured by the cold standard of a formal exactness. And still it may be that the sadness of his tone arises from the fact that of those to whom he speaks, and at the time when he speaks, there was literally no one receiving this testimony, but all were seeking to make the earthly teacher a rival of the divine. The tense is present; those in the next verse are past.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 32. - That which he hath seen and heard, this he testifieth; or, beareth witness to. His pre-existent glory with the Father makes him the adequate Witness to the heavenly things (ἐπουράνια) of which he hath authoritatively spoken; i.e. the eternal love of the Father, the purpose of the Son being sent into the world from the heart of God, and its ultimate issues - eternal life to the believer, and condemnation to those who love the darkness and do not believe. Westcott, who regards these words as the free reflections of the evangelist, thinks that reference is being made to the continued testimony of the Church as the voice of Christ; but the spirit of the passage is obscured by this interpretation. The living present vocal testimony of Christ is being throughout contrasted with that of John. And no man receiveth his witness. This seems in direct antagonism to the language of the disciples, "All men come to him;" and to John's own language, "He must increase." Westcott regards it, again, as the melancholy reflection of the aged apostle towards the close of the century. This seems to me to be an inadequate explanation. The reception of the witness of Christ had moved the whole world when John wrote his Gospel; and it would be inconsistent with the tone of exhilaration with which the evangelist closes his work. The forerunner may, however, have used this strong expression in purposed contrast to the jealous language of his own followers. "No man" - in comparison with the multitudes who ought to have already accepted him as the Son of God, as the heavenly Bridegroom. The concourse who crowded to the baptism of Jesus for a little moment did not blind the Baptist to the persistent and malignant opposition which awaited Jesus. "His joy (ver. 29) and his grief (ver. 32) both formed a noble contrast to the jealousy of his own disciples" (Meyer). <a href="/commentaries/john/3-32.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>He testifies μαρτυρεῖ (martyrei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3140.htm">Strong's 3140: </a> To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify. to τοῦτο (touto) Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. what ὃ (ho) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. He has seen ἑώρακεν (heōraken) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. heard, ἤκουσεν (ēkousen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_191.htm">Strong's 191: </a> To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear. yet καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. no one οὐδεὶς (oudeis) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3762.htm">Strong's 3762: </a> No one, none, nothing. accepts λαμβάνει (lambanei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2983.htm">Strong's 2983: </a> (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. testimony. μαρτυρίαν (martyrian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3141.htm">Strong's 3141: </a> Witness, evidence, testimony, reputation. From martus; evidence given. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/3-32.htm">John 3:32 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/3-32.htm">NT Gospels: John 3:32 What he has seen and heard (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/3-31.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 3:31"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 3:31" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/3-33.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 3:33"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 3:33" /></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>