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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
• 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.

Context of John 5:21

19Jesus said to the Jews, “I can guarantee this truth: The Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing. Indeed, the Son does exactly what the Father does. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. The Father will show him even greater things to do than these things so that you will be amazed. In the same way that the Father brings back the dead and gives them life, the Son gives life to anyone he chooses. 22“The Father doesn’t judge anyone. He has entrusted judgment entirely to the Son 23so that everyone will honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t 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 32:39See, I am the only God. There are no others. I kill, and I make alive. I wound, and I heal, and no one can rescue you from my power.
• 1 Kings 17:21Then Elijah stretched himself over the boy three times and called to the Lord, “Lord my God, please make this child’s life return to him.”
• 2 Kings 4:32When Elisha came to the house, the dead boy was lying on Elisha’s bed.
• 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟. He asked, “Am I God? Can I kill someone and then bring him back to life? This man sends someone to me so that I can cure his skin disease! All of you should realize and understand that he’s trying to pick a fight with me.”
• Acts 26:8Why do all of you refuse to believe that God can bring dead people back to life?
• Romans 4:17as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.
• John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die.
• John 17:2After all, you’ve given him authority over all humanity so that he can give eternal life to all those you gave to him.
• Luke 7:14He went up to the open coffin, took hold of it, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, “Young man, I’m telling you to come back to life!”
• Luke 8:54But Jesus took her hand and called out, “Child, get up!”

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