John 5:25
What does John 5:25 mean?
A plain-English look at John 5:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 5:25 means
“The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.” Jesus speaks of a present reality—spiritually dead people now receive life at His word—and also hints at the future, when literal graves will yield to His call (clarified in verses 28–29). His voice is life-giving. Hearing here means more than sound; it means receptive faith. The title “Son of God” underlines His authority. This verse interprets His miracles as signs of a greater resurrection at work whenever the gospel is believed. New life starts now under His word, proving that the Son acts with the Father’s life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Truly I say to you, The time is coming, it has even now come, when the voice of the Son of God will come to the ears of the dead, and those hearing it will have life.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Verily, verily, I say to you--There cometh an hour, and it now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard shall live;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Amen, amen, I say unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Verily, verily, I say unto you, that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son ofGod, and they that have heard shall live.
Context
Building on verse 24’s promise of present eternal life to believers, Jesus describes an “hour” already present when the dead hear His voice and live—spiritual resurrection. This anticipates and is distinct from the future bodily resurrection described in verses 28–29. The connection is secured by verses 26–27, where Jesus grounds His life-giving and judging roles in divine prerogatives shared with the Father. Thus the discourse weaves together present salvation and future consummation, all hinging on the authority of the Son’s voice. The audience is pressed to respond now, because the same voice that saves today will summon all from the tombs later.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 15:32
But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
- John 17:1
These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee:
- Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
- John 4:21
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
- John 8:47
He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.
- John 5:21
For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore John 5
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on John 5.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Bible Reading
The Bible encourages us to read, study, and meditate on God’s Word to grow in faith and wisdom.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Deity of Christ
The Bible consistently reveals Jesus Christ as truly God, possessing divine attributes, titles, and authority.
Topic
Bible Verses About Eternal Life
Eternal life, a gift from God, is knowing Him and Jesus Christ, and living forever in His presence.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Losing a Loved One
When you can't stop imagining the worst — verses to put your loved one back in God's hands.
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Death
When you're afraid to die — what scripture promises about the last enemy.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Grief After Losing Someone You Love
When the room is empty — verses that grieve with you, not around you.