English Standard Version
John 7:18
18The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
John 7:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.
Context of John 7:18
16So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" 20The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?"
Read all of John 7John 7:18 word by word
ὁ ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ λαλῶν τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἰδίαν ζητεῖ· ὁ δὲ ζητῶν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ πέμψαντος αὐτόν, οὗτος ἀληθής ἐστιν, καὶ ἀδικία ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- He that speakethὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- He that speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- seekethζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
- his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
- gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
- butδέde · thenG1161
- hisπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- the sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- trueἀληθήςalēthēs · trueG227
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- noοὐou · noG3756
- unrighteousnessἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
Cross-references for John 7:18
- John 5:41I do not receive glory from people.
- John 8:49Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- Galatians 6:12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
- Philippians 2:3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
- 1 Peter 4:11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- John 3:26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."
- John 11:4But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
- John 12:28Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."
- John 13:31When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
- John 17:4I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
- Exodus 32:10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you."
- Numbers 11:29But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"
- Proverbs 25:27It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.
- Matthew 6:9Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Commentaries on John 7:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18He that speaketh of himself, etc. - I will give you another rule, whereby you shall know whether I am from God or not: If I speak so as to procure my own glory, to gratify vanity, or to secure and promote my secular interests, then reject me as a deceiver and as a false prophet. But if I act only to promote the glory of God, to induce all men to love and obey him; if I propose nothing but what leads to the perfection of his law, and the accomplishment of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18That speaketh of himself - This does not mean about or concerning himself, but he that speaks by his own authority, without being sent by God, as mere human teachers do. Seeketh his own glory - His own praise, or seeks for reputation and applause. This is the case with mere human teachers, and as Jesus in his discourses manifestly sought to honor God, they ought to have supposed that he was sent by him. No unrighteousness - This word here means…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-24Verses 14-24 Every faithful minister may humbly adopt Christ's words. His doctrine is not his own finding out, but is from God's word, through the teaching of his Spirit. And amidst the disputes which disturb the world, if any man, of any nation, seeks to do the will of God, he shall know whether the doctrine is of God, or whether men speak of themselves. Only those who hate the truth shall be given up to errors which will be fatal. Surely it was as…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-52This chapter describes Jesus at the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus used parts of the feast to reveal his true identity to his fellow Jews and to show that he had fulfilled the feast's essential meaning (see 7:37–39; 8:12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1816-18. doctrine ... not mine, &c.--that is, from Myself unauthorized; I am here by commission.Read the comment
Topics related to John 7:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 7
- 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
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries