Devine Scripture

John 12:44

What does John 12:44 mean?

A plain-English look at John 12:44 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 12:44 means

Jesus raises His voice to make a final public appeal. Faith in Him is not isolated trust in a mere man; it is faith in the One who sent Him. He positions Himself as the true envoy of the Father. To believe in Jesus, then, is to align oneself with God’s own message and mission. The stakes are high: to reject Him is to reject the Sender. This clarifies that Christianity is not personality cult but the appointed means by which the Father makes Himself known and accessible. Jesus speaks with urgency, inviting the crowd to a God-centered faith through Him.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then Jesus said with a loud voice, He who has faith in me, has faith not in me, but in him who sent me.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jesus cried and said, `He who is believing in me, doth not believe in me, but in Him who sent me;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But Jesus cried and said: He that believeth in me doth not believe in me, but in him that sent me.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me;

Context

After describing rulers who feared man’s praise, John records Jesus’ emphatic declaration about belief. Immediately, Jesus will add that seeing Him is seeing the Father who sent Him. He will affirm His identity as the world’s light so that believers need not remain in darkness. He will then explain His saving purpose in this coming and the future judgment by His word, grounding everything in the Father’s command that He faithfully speaks.

v.43for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.

v.44This passage

v.45And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 9:37

    Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

  • Proverbs 8:1

    Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

  • John 11:43

    And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

  • John 7:28

    Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

  • Isaiah 55:1

    Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

  • Proverbs 1:20

    Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

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