• John 5:39
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 39 ἐραυνᾶτε YOU are searching τὰς the γραφάς, Scriptures, ὅτι because ὑμεῖς YOU δοκεῖτε are thinking ἐν in αὐταῖς them ζωὴν life αἰώνιον everlasting ἔχειν· to be having; καὶ and ἐκεῖναί those εἰσιν are αἱ the (ones) μαρτυροῦσαι bearing witness περὶ about ἐμοῦ· me;

  • John Study Notes—Chapter 5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 5:39

      the Scriptures: This expression is often used to refer to the inspired Hebrew writings as a whole. The Jews who were carefully searching the Scriptures could easily have discerned that Jesus was the Messiah by comparing his life and teachings with what the Scriptures foretold. But these Jews refused to make a sincere examination of the abundant Scriptural evidence that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Although they thought that they could have everlasting life by means of the Scriptures, they refused to accept Jesus as the one whom the Scriptures pointed to as the true means to gain life.​—De 18:15; Lu 11:52; Joh 7:47, 48.

      these: That is, the Scriptures mentioned in the first part of the verse. These Scriptures contained Messianic prophecies that pointed to Jesus as the one through whom his listeners could gain “everlasting life.”