16And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus — because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. [5:17] But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." [5:18] For this reason, therefore, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him — not only because he was habitually breaking the Sabbath, but also because he was calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God. [5:19] Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you: the Son can do nothing from himself, except what he sees the Father doing — for whatever that one does, these things the Son likewise does. [5:20] For the Father has fond affection for the Son and shows him everything he himself is doing, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. [5:21] For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he wills. [5:22] For neither does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, [5:23] so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. [5:24] Amen, amen, I say to you: the one who hears my word and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. [5:25] Amen, amen, I say to you: the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. [5:26] For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son to have life in himself. [5:27] And he gave him authority — both the right and the power — to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. [5:28] Do not be astonished at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice [5:29] and come out — those who did good to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced evil to a resurrection of judgment. [5:30] I can do nothing from myself. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
JHN 5:16-30
The Father and the Son
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish society, Sabbath observance was a cornerstone of communal identity, governed by strict halakhic interpretations. Jesus’ actions—healing on the Sabbath—directly challenged these norms, appearing to 'loose' the Sabbath’s binding restrictions. This act was not merely a breach of custom but a claim to authority that rivaled the Torah itself. By declaring that His Father was 'working' and that He too was working, Jesus invoked a familial relationship with God, suggesting a unique, intimate bond that transcended human understanding. For His Jewish audience, this was blasphemous, as it equated Jesus with God, undermining the monotheistic framework central to Second Temple Judaism. The accusation that Jesus was 'making Himself equal to God' would have been deeply offensive, as it violated the honor-shame economy and the hierarchical structure of divine-human relationships. Jesus’ response, emphasizing His dependence on the Father’s will, further highlighted His claim to divine agency, intensifying the conflict with religious authorities.
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How other translations render this
JHN 5:16
- KJV
- And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
- BSB
- Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him.
- Koinōnos
- And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus — because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
JHN 5:17
- KJV
- But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
- BSB
- But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.”
- Koinōnos
- But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working.
JHN 5:18
- KJV
- Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
- BSB
- Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
- Koinōnos
- For this reason, therefore, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him — not only because he was habitually breaking the Sabbath, but also because he was calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
JHN 5:19
- KJV
- Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
- BSB
- So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you: the Son can do nothing from himself, except what he sees the Father doing — for whatever that one does, these things the Son likewise does.
JHN 5:20
- KJV
- For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
- BSB
- The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.
- Koinōnos
- For the Father has fond affection for the Son and shows him everything he himself is doing, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.
JHN 5:21
- KJV
- For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
- BSB
- For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.
- Koinōnos
- For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he wills.
JHN 5:22
- KJV
- For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
- BSB
- Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
- Koinōnos
- For neither does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
JHN 5:23
- KJV
- That 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.
- BSB
- so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
- Koinōnos
- so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
JHN 5:24
- KJV
- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
- BSB
- Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
- Koinōnos
- Amen, amen, I say to you: the one who hears my word and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
JHN 5:25
- KJV
- Verily, 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.
- BSB
- Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
- Koinōnos
- Amen, amen, I say to you: the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
JHN 5:26
- KJV
- For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
- BSB
- For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.
- Koinōnos
- For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son to have life in himself.
JHN 5:27
- KJV
- And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
- BSB
- And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
- Koinōnos
- And he gave him authority — both the right and the power — to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
JHN 5:28
- KJV
- Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
- BSB
- Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
- Koinōnos
- Do not be astonished at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice
JHN 5:29
- KJV
- And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
- BSB
- and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
- Koinōnos
- and come out — those who did good to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced evil to a resurrection of judgment.
JHN 5:30
- KJV
- I 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.
- BSB
- I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
- Koinōnos
- I can do nothing from myself. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 5:18
- was He breaking:The word translated 'was He breaking' implies not just a single act of breaking, but a continuous or habitual action of violating the Sabbath law.
- His own:The term 'His own' emphasizes a personal, private, and exclusive relationship, highlighting that God is uniquely and intimately Jesus's Father.
JHN 5:20
- loves:The word translated 'loves' here describes a deep affection and fondness, often associated with friendship and personal attachment, rather than a more general or divine love.
JHN 5:27
- authority:The word 'authority' here encompasses both the right to act and the power or ability to carry out that action, implying a delegated and legitimate power.