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.
• 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.
• 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

16Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 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. 19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20“You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying 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 do not accept glory from human beings,
• John 8:49“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
• Galatians 6:12Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
• Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
• 1 Peter 4:11If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
• John 3:26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
• John 11:4When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
• John 12:28Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
• John 13:31When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.
• John 17:4I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.
• Exodus 32:10Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
• Numbers 11:29But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
• Proverbs 25:27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
• Matthew 6:9“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘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

• 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