Devine Scripture

John 5:42

What does John 5:42 mean?

A plain-English look at John 5:42 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 5:42 means

“But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.” Jesus reads their hearts. Their rejection of Him is not merely intellectual; it reveals absence of love for God. Love for God would produce recognition and reception of the One He sent. This shocking verdict unmasks piety that lacks affection for the Lord. Orthodoxy without love becomes opposition to God’s Son. Jesus’ knowledge here is pastoral and judicial; He speaks truth to pierce and, perhaps, to heal. The problem beneath all problems is a heart turned from God, which explains why evidence and Scripture have not led them to Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But I have knowledge of you that you have no love for God in your hearts.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but I have known you, that the love of God ye have not in yourselves.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but I know you, that ye have not the love ofGod in you.

Context

Building on His disavowal of human glory (verse 41), Jesus exposes the inner cause of unbelief: the lack of God’s love in them. This prepares for verse 43, where He contrasts their rejection of Him with their readiness to receive another who comes in his own name. Verse 44 will then question how belief is possible for those seeking glory from one another rather than from the only God. The discourse is now addressing heart motivations, not just arguments. This sets up the final judicial turn (verses 45–47), where Moses, whom they trust, becomes their accuser for failing to believe what he wrote about Christ.

v.41I receive not glory from men.

v.42This passage

v.43I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Cross references

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

  • John 15:23

    He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

  • John 2:25

    and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.

  • Luke 16:15

    And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

  • John 5:44

    How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?

  • 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.

  • 1 John 4:20

    If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.

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