John 7:18

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of John 7:18

16Jesus responded to them, “What I teach doesn’t come from me but from the one who sent me. 17Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts. Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn’t have dishonest motives. 19Didn’t Moses give you his teachings? Yet, none of you does what Moses taught you. So why do you want to kill me?” 20The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who wants to kill you?”

John 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 5:41“I don’t accept praise from humans.
• John 8:49Jesus answered, “I’m not possessed. I honor my Father, but you dishonor me.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God.
• Galatians 6:12These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ.
• Philippians 2:3Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6We didn’t seek praise from people, from you or from anyone else,
• 1 Peter 4:11Whoever speaks must speak God’s words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength God supplies so that in every way God receives glory through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.
• John 3:26So they went to John and asked him, “Rabbi, do you remember the man you spoke so favorably about when he was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? Well, he’s baptizing, and everyone is going to him!”
• John 11:4When Jesus heard the message, he said, “His sickness won’t result in death. Instead, this sickness will bring glory to God so that the Son of God will receive glory through it.”
• John 12:28Father, give glory to your name.” A voice from heaven said, “I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again.”
• John 13:31When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “The Son of Man is now glorified, and because of him God is glorified.
• John 17:4On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you gave me to do.
• Exodus 32:10Now leave me alone. I’m so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I’ll make you into a great nation.”
• Numbers 11:29But Moses asked him, “Do you think you need to stand up for me? I wish all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them.”
• Proverbs 25:27Eating too much honey is not good, and searching for honor is not honorable.
• Matthew 6:9“This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy.

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

• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Division
• Judge
• Thither
• Glory
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Law in the New Testament
• Temple

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