OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 5:31

5:31

If I testify about Myself: The Greek word that the BSB translates as testify means “to tell what one has witnessed.” See the notes on 1:7a and 3:32a, where the same word is used. The word can refer to giving evidence in a legal trial, though that is not its meaning here. Jesus was just talking about his telling people about himself.

Yet the legal situation is still relevant here. Jewish law did not allow people to testify about themselves. Two or more witnesses were necessary before a judge could properly judge someone.The IVP Background Commentary says, “Here Jesus cites the Old Testament principle, central to later Jewish law…, that two witnesses are necessary to prove a (capital) case (Deut 17:6; 19:15).” So people might not believe what Jesus said about himself if no one else said the same thing. It may be helpful to emphasize this point. For example:

If I alone testify about Myself (NASB)

In some languages it may not be natural to use legal terms in this context. If that is true in your language, here are other ways to translate this clause:

If I speak for myself (CEV)

If only I tell people about myself (NCV)

My testimony is not valid: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as My testimony is not valid means “what I say cannot be considered acceptable and reliable.” It indicates that the testimony of a person about himself, or that of one witness, cannot be accepted as legal evidence. It is not valid (acceptable) evidence in a court of law, even if it is true. Jesus did not mean that he would tell a lie.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. (NLT)

what I say is not to be accepted as real proof (GNT)

Translate this clause in a way so that people will not think that Jesus would tell a lie.

My testimony: The Greek word that the BSB translates as testimony refers to a public statement about something or someone that one knows. See the note on 1:19a, where the same word is used. It is the noun form of the verb translated as “testify” in the previous clause.