John 5:23
What does John 5:23 mean?
A plain-English look at John 5:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 5:23 means
The Father gives judgment to the Son “that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.” The aim is worship. To refuse the Son is to dishonor the Father who sent Him. Jesus makes exclusive claims: reverence for God cannot bypass or diminish Him. Honor to the Son matches honor to the Father, because the Son shares the Father’s nature and carries His mission. This verse sets a clear line: true devotion to God is Christ-centered. It confronts pious unbelief—knowing Scripture and observing rituals but refusing Jesus. The standard of judgment thus becomes one’s response to the Son, who embodies and reveals the Father perfectly.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So that all men may give honour to the Son even as they give honour to the Father. He who gives no honour to the Son gives no honour to the Father who sent him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862that all may honour the Son according as they honour the Father; he who is not honouring the Son, doth not honour the Father who sent him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752That all men may honour the Son, as they honour the Father. He who honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father who hath sent him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who honours not the Son, honours not the Father who has sent him.
Context
Flowing from verses 21–22, which assert the Son’s authority to give life and judge, verse 23 explains the divine purpose: the Son must be honored as the Father. This sharpens the controversy: the leaders, who think they honor God, dishonor Him by rejecting His Son. The next verses (24–26) apply this truth pastorally, offering life to those who hear and believe, and grounding the Son’s life-giving power in His shared divine life with the Father. Then the discourse widens to the eschatological scene (verses 27–29), showing that the honor due the Son will be vindicated at the resurrection and judgment.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 3:4
But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,
- John 17:10
and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them.
- John 15:23
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
- Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.
- 1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Psalms 146:3
Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
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