Devine Scripture

John 5:26

What does John 5:26 mean?

A plain-English look at John 5:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 5:26 means

Jesus explains the source of His life-giving power: “As the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself.” The Father is self-existent, the fountain of life. The Son shares this divine attribute, not as a rival but as the One to whom the Father has granted it in the economy of redemption. This affirms both the Son’s deity and His filial relation. He is not a mere channel; He possesses life inherently and so can bestow it. The statement lifts the discussion from Sabbath regulations to the mystery of the Godhead, showing that the One who healed acts from the fullness of divine life.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son to have life in himself.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for, as the Father hath life in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in himself,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For as the Father hath life in himself, so he hath given to the Son also to have life in himself.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself,

Context

Following the promise of present spiritual resurrection (verse 25), verse 26 gives the theological ground: the Son, like the Father, has life in Himself. This prepares for verse 27, which adds the authority to execute judgment. Together, these verses anchor Jesus’ claims in shared divine prerogatives. The immediate narrative conflict about Sabbath thus becomes an occasion for high Christology. The next movement (verses 28–29) applies these truths to the future resurrection of all, and verse 30 reaffirms the Son’s dependence on the Father’s will, maintaining unity and obedience within the Godhead even as the Son exercises life-giving and judicial authority.

v.25Verily, 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.

v.26This passage

v.27and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

Cross references

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

  • John 6:57

    As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.

  • John 14:6

    Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  • John 1:4

    In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

  • Psalms 90:2

    Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

  • 1 Timothy 6:16

    who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.

  • Acts 17:25

    neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

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