John 5:30
What does John 5:30 mean?
A plain-English look at John 5:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 5:30 means
Jesus reiterates, “I can of myself do nothing.” His judgment is as He hears from the Father, and thus it is righteous. He seeks not His own will but the will of Him who sent Him. This safeguards both divine equality and filial obedience. The Son’s authority is never self-willed tyranny; it is perfect agreement with the Father’s purposes. For hearers, this means His verdicts are utterly trustworthy. It also circles back to the Sabbath issue: His works arise from the Father’s will. The humility of the Son in judgment contrasts sharply with the self-seeking glory of His opponents, which He will expose later in the discourse.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Of myself I am unable to do anything: as the voice comes to me so I give a decision: and my decision is right because I have no desire to do what is pleasing to myself, but only what is pleasing to him who sent me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`I am not able of myself to do anything; according as I hear I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who sent me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I cannot of myself do any thing. As I hear, so I judge. And my judgment is just: because I seek not my own will. but the will of him that sent me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I cannot do anything of myself; as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my will, but the will of him that has sent me.
Context
After announcing future resurrection and separation (verses 28–29), Jesus emphasizes His dependence on the Father in judgment. This reassures that the awesome claims just made operate within perfect divine unity and righteousness. The next segment (verses 31–47) addresses the matter of testimony. Since legal standards require corroboration, Jesus moves from asserting authority to citing witnesses: John the Baptist (verses 33–35), His works (verse 36), the Father (verse 37), and the Scriptures, especially Moses (verses 39–47). The flow thus shifts from doctrinal claims to evidential support, confronting unbelief not only with truth but with multiple lines of corroboration.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 11:3
And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;
- John 8:28
Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.
- Hosea 10:7
As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water.
- John 8:50
But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
- Psalms 40:7
Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me:
- John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.
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