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Selected Verse: John 8:14 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Joh 8:14	King James	Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
for I know whence I came, and whither I go, &c.--(See on Joh 7:28).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

for I know whence I came, and whither I go, &c.--(See on Joh 7:28).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Jesus answered ... - To this objection Jesus replied by saying, first, that the case was such that his testimony alone ought to be received; and, secondly, that he had the evidence given him by his Father. Though, in common life, in courts, and in mere human transactions, it was true that a man ought not to give evidence in his own case, yet in this instance, such was the nature of the case that his word was worthy to be believed. My record - My evidence, my testimony. Is true - Is worthy to be believed. For I know whence I came ...but ye ... - I know by what authority I act; I know by whom I am sent, and what commands were given me; but you cannot determine this, for you do not know these unless I bear witness of them to you. We are to remember that Jesus came not of himself Joh 6:38; that he came not to do his own will, but the will of his Father. He came as a witness of those things which he had seen and known Joh 3:11, and no man could judge of those things for no man had seen them. As he came from heaven; as he knew his Father's will; as he had seen the eternal world, and known the counsels of his Father, so his testimony was worthy of confidence. As they had not seen and known these things, they were not qualified to judge. An ambassador from a foreign court knows the will and purposes of the sovereign who sent him, and is competent to bear witness of it. The court to which he is sent has no way of judging but by his testimony, and he is therefore competent to testify in the case. All that can be demanded is that he give his credentials that he is appointed, and this Jesus had done both by the nature of his doctrine and his miracles.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Jesus answered ... - To this objection Jesus replied by saying, first, that the case was such that his testimony alone ought to be received; and, secondly, that he had the evidence given him by his Father. Though, in common life, in courts, and in mere human transactions, it was true that a man ought not to give evidence in his own case, yet in this instance, such was the nature of the case that his word was worthy to be believed.

My record - My evidence, my testimony.

Is true - Is worthy to be believed.

For I know whence I came ...but ye ... - I know by what authority I act; I know by whom I am sent, and what commands were given me; but you cannot determine this, for you do not know these unless I bear witness of them to you. We are to remember that Jesus came not of himself Joh 6:38; that he came not to do his own will, but the will of his Father. He came as a witness of those things which he had seen and known Joh 3:11, and no man could judge of those things for no man had seen them. As he came from heaven; as he knew his Father's will; as he had seen the eternal world, and known the counsels of his Father, so his testimony was worthy of confidence. As they had not seen and known these things, they were not qualified to judge. An ambassador from a foreign court knows the will and purposes of the sovereign who sent him, and is competent to bear witness of it. The court to which he is sent has no way of judging but by his testimony, and he is therefore competent to testify in the case. All that can be demanded is that he give his credentials that he is appointed, and this Jesus had done both by the nature of his doctrine and his miracles.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Though (κἂν) Literally, even if. I know (οἷδα) With a clear inward consciousness. See on Joh 2:24. Whence I came and whither I go Two essential facts of testimony, viz., origin and destiny. "The question was one about His own personal consciousness, of which only Himself could bear witness" (Lange). "If the sun or the day could speak, and should say: 'I am the sun!' and it were replied, 'No, thou mayest be the night, for thou bearest witness of thyself!' how would that sound? Argue it away if thou canst" ("Berlenburg Bible," cited by Stier, "Words of the Lord Jesus"). And whither I go The best texts read, ἢ, or.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Though (κἂν)

Literally, even if.

I know (οἷδα)

With a clear inward consciousness. See on Joh 2:24.

Whence I came and whither I go

Two essential facts of testimony, viz., origin and destiny. "The question was one about His own personal consciousness, of which only Himself could bear witness" (Lange). "If the sun or the day could speak, and should say: 'I am the sun!' and it were replied, 'No, thou mayest be the night, for thou bearest witness of thyself!' how would that sound? Argue it away if thou canst" ("Berlenburg Bible," cited by Stier, "Words of the Lord Jesus").

And whither I go

The best texts read, ἢ, or.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
I know whence I came - I came from God, and am going to God, and can neither do nor say any thing but what leads to and glorifies him.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

I know whence I came - I came from God, and am going to God, and can neither do nor say any thing but what leads to and glorifies him.

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