• John 18:37
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

    • 37 So Pilate said to him: “Well, then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king.+ For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.+ Everyone who is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.”

  • John 18:37
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 37 εἶπεν Said οὖν therefore αὐτῷ to him ὁ the Πειλᾶτος Pilate Οὐκοῦν Not-therefore βασιλεὺς king εἶ are σύ; you? ἀπεκρίθη Answered ὁ the Ἰησοῦς Jesus Σὺ You λέγεις are saying ὅτι that βασιλεύς king εἰμι. I am. ἐγὼ I εἰς into τοῦτο this γεγέννημαι I have been generated καὶ and εἰς into τοῦτο this ἐλήλυθα I have come εἰς into τὸν the κόσμον world ἵνα in order that μαρτυρήσω I should bear witness τῇ to the ἀληθείᾳ· truth; πᾶς everyone ὁ the ὢν being ἐκ out of τῆς the ἀληθείας truth ἀκούει is hearing μου of me τῆς of the φωνῆς. voice.

  • John 18:37
    The Bible in Living English

    • 37 So Pilate said to him “Then you are a king?”

      Jesus answered “As you say; I am a king. I was born for this and have come into the world for this, that I might testify to the truth; everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

  • John 18:37
    American Standard Version

    • 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

  • John 18:37
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 37 Pilate therefore said unto him—And yet thou art not a king? Jesus answered—Thou sayest that a king I am:—I for this have been born, and for this have come into the world,—that I may bear witness unto the truth: Every one who is of the truth hearkeneth unto my voice.

  • John 18:37
    King James Version

    • 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

  • John Study Notes—Chapter 18
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 18:37

      You yourself are saying that I am a king: With this reply, Jesus confirms that he is a king. (Mt 27:11; compare study notes on Mt 26:25, 64.) But Jesus’ kingship differs from what Pilate imagines, since Jesus’ Kingdom is “no part of this world” and thus no threat to Rome.​—Joh 18:33-36.

      bear witness to: As used in the Christian Greek Scriptures, the Greek words rendered “to bear witness” (mar·ty·reʹo) and “witness” (mar·ty·riʹa; marʹtys) are broad in meaning. These related terms are used in the basic sense of testifying to facts from firsthand or personal knowledge, but they may also include the idea of “declaring; confirming; speaking well of.” Not only did Jesus testify to and proclaim truths of which he was convinced but he also lived in such a way that he upheld the truth of his Father’s prophetic word and promises. (2Co 1:20) God’s purpose in connection with the Kingdom and its Messianic Ruler had been foretold in detail. Jesus’ entire earthly life course, culminating in his sacrificial death, fulfilled all prophecies about him, including the shadows, or patterns, contained in the Law covenant. (Col 2:16, 17; Heb 10:1) So by word and deed, it may be said that Jesus ‘bore witness to the truth.’

      the truth: Jesus was referring, not to truth in general, but to the truth regarding God’s purposes. A key element of God’s purpose is that Jesus, the “son of David,” serves as High Priest and as Ruler of God’s Kingdom. (Mt 1:1) Jesus explained that a primary reason for his coming into the world of mankind, his life on earth, and his ministry was to declare the truth about that Kingdom. The angels declared a similar message prior to and at the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem of Judea, the city where David was born.​—Lu 1:32, 33; 2:10-14.