John 5:35

³³ You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

³⁴ Even though I do not accept human testimony, I say these things so that you may be saved.

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.

³⁶ But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works I am doing—testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.

³⁷ And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.
KJV: He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
WEB: He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
ASV: He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.
DARBY: *He* was the burning and shining lamp, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
BLB: He was the lamp burning and shining, and you⁺ were willing to exult for an hour in his light.

ÅB: Han var det brennende og skinnende lys, men dere ville bare en tid fryde dere i hans lys.
OTB: Johannes var en lampe som brant og ga lys, og dere valgte for en tid å glede dere over hans lys.
B1930: Han var det brennende og skinnende lys, men I vilde bare en tid fryde eder i hans lys.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Peter 1:19
We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Read in context
John 1:7–8
He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
Read in context
Matthew 11:11
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Read in context
Matthew 3:5–7
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
Read in context
Luke 1:76–77
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
Read in context
Mark 6:20
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
Read in context
Luke 1:15–17
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
Read in context
Luke 7:28
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Read in context