John 5:38

John 5:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
• New International Version (NIV)nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

Context of John 5:38

36But the testimony which I have is far greater than the testimony of John; for the works that the Father has given Me to finish—the very same works [that is, the miracles and proofs of My deity] that I am [now] doing—testify about Me, [by providing evidence] that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form [His majesty and greatness—what He is like]. You do not have His word (Scripture) abiding in you [actually living in your hearts and minds], because you do not believe in Him whom He has sent. 39You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me; 40and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

John 5:38 word by word

καὶ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔχετε ἐν ὑμῖν μένοντα, ὅτι ὃν ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖνος, τούτῳ ὑμεῖς οὐ πιστεύετε.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• ye haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• notοὐou · noG3756
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• abidingμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• heἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• hath sentἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
• himοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100

Cross-references for John 5:38

• John 5:42but I know you and recognize that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.
• John 8:37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart].
• John 15:7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.
• Deuteronomy 6:6These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind.
• Joshua 1:8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.
• Psalms 119:11Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
• Proverbs 2:1My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you,
• Proverbs 7:1My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you [so they are readily available to guide you].
• Colossians 3:16Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
• James 1:21So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.
• 1 John 2:14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the word of God remains [always] in you, and you have been victorious over the evil one [by accepting Jesus as Savior].
• John 5:43I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [because your minds are closed]; but if another comes in his own name and with no authority or power except his own, you will receive him and give your approval to an imposter.
• John 1:11He came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish nation] did not receive and welcome Him.
• John 3:18Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].
• John 12:44But Jesus loudly declared, “The one who believes and trusts in Me does not believe [only] in Me but [also believes] in Him who sent Me.
• Isaiah 49:7This is what the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, Israel’s Holy One says, To the thoroughly despised One, To the One hated by the nation To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes shall also bow down, Because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”

Commentaries on John 5:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Ye have not his word abiding in you - Though ye believe the Scriptures to be of God, yet ye do not let them take hold of your hearts - his word is in your mouth, but not in your mind. What a miserable lot! to read the Scriptures as the true sayings of God, and yet to get no salvation from them! Thy word, says David, ( Psalm 119:11;), have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. This, these Jews had not done. Reader, hast thou?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38His word abiding in you - His law does not abide in you - that is, you do not regard or obey it. This was the “third” thing that he charged them with. 1.They had not obeyed the command of God. 2.They had not regarded his manifestations, either in the times of the old dispensation, or now through the Messiah. 3.They did not yield to what he had said in the revelation of the Old Testament. For whom he hath sent - God had foretold that the Messiah would…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-38Verses 30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-40God's law requires more than one witness in a trial (Deuteronomy 17:6). A single person’s word is not enough to prove a case. Jesus recognized this principle. He said that his own testimony needed support from others. So he presented several witnesses who confirmed who he was. These witnesses supported his claims and showed that his message was true.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 36-3836-38. I have greater witness--rather, "The witness which I have is greater." the works ... bear witness of me--not simply as miracles nor even as a miracle of mercy, but these miracles, as He did them, with a will and a power, a majesty and a grace manifestly His own.Read the comment

Topics related to John 5:38

• Jesus Continued
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Folk
• Judgment
• Lest
• Light
• Step
• Trouble
• Troubling
• Witness
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of

Commentaries on John 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings