John 5:21

John 5:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
• New International Version (NIV)For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.

Context of John 5:21

19So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23that 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.

John 5:21 word by word

ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ἐγείρει τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ ζῳοποιεῖ, οὕτως καὶ ὁ υἱὸς οὓς θέλει ζῳοποιεῖ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• raiseth upἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
• the deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• quickenethζωοποιέωzōopoieō · to make aliveG2227
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• the Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309

Cross-references for John 5:21

• Deuteronomy 32:39"'See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
• 1 Kings 17:21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again."
• 2 Kings 4:32When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed.
• 2 Kings 5:7And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me."
• Acts 26:8Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
• Romans 4:17as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
• John 11:25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
• John 17:2since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
• Luke 7:14Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."
• Luke 8:54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise."

Commentaries on John 5:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21As the Father raised up the dead - This he did in the case of the widow's son at Sarepta, 1 Kings 17:22, by the ministry of the Prophet Elijah. And again, in the case of the Shunamite's son, 2 Kings 4:32-35, by the ministry of the Prophet Elisha. The Son quickeneth whom he will - He raiseth from death to life whomsoever he pleases. So he did, for he raised the ruler's daughter, Mark 5:35-42; the widow's son at Nain, Luke 7:11-15; and Lazarus, at Bethany…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21As the Father raiseth up the dead - God has power to raise the dead. By his power it had been done in at least two instances - by the prophet Elijah, in the case of the son of the widow of Sarepta 1 Kings 17:22, and by the prophet Elisha, in the case of the Shunamite‘s son, 2 Kings 4:32-35. The Jews did not doubt that God had power to raise the dead. Jesus here expressly affirms it, and says he has the same power. Quickeneth them - Gives them “life.” This…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-23Verses 17-23 The Divine power of the miracle proved Jesus to be the Son of God, and he declared that he worked with, and like unto his Father, as he saw good. These ancient enemies of Christ understood him, and became more violent, charging him not only with sabbath-breaking, but blasphemy, in calling God his own Father, and making himself equal with God. But all things now, and at the final judgment, are committed to the Son, purposely that all men might…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Most Jews firmly believed in resurrection but viewed it as something God alone could accomplish. Jesus claimed that he gives life.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321-23. raiseth the dead and quickeneth them--one act in two stages. This is His absolute prerogative as God. so the Son quickeneth them--that is, raiseth up and quickeneth. whom he will--not only doing the same divine act, but doing it as the result of His own will, even as the Father does it. This statement is of immense importance in relation to the miracles of Christ, distinguishing them from similar miracles of prophets and apostles, who as human…Read the comment

Topics related to John 5:21

• God
• Jesus Continued
• Power
• Quickening
• Resurrection

In the dictionaries

• Folk
• Judgment
• Lest
• Light
• Son of God
• Step
• Trouble
• Troubling
• Witness
• Authority in Religion

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