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

19So Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who 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, indeed I, am he!” says the Lord, “and there is no other god besides me. I kill and give life, I smash and I heal, and none can resist my power.
• 1 Kings 17:21He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, please let this boy’s breath return to him.”
• 2 Kings 4:32When Elisha arrived at the house, there was the child lying dead on his bed.
• 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill or restore life? Why does he ask me to cure a man of his skin disease? Certainly you must see that he is looking for an excuse to fight me!”
• Acts 26:8Why do you people think it is unbelievable that God raises the dead?
• Romans 4:17(as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed – the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.
• John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies,
• John 17:2just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.
• Luke 7:14Then he came up and touched the bier, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”
• Luke 8:54But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, “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