John 5 · Verse 19

John 5:19

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19, King James Version

John 5:19 in other translations

BSB	So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
WEB	Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
ASV	Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.
YLT	Jesus therefore responded and said to them, ‘Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything of himself, if he may not see the Father doing anything; for whatever things He may do, these also the Son in like manner doth;
DARBY	Jesus therefore answered and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself save whatever he sees the Father doing: for whatever things he does, these things also the Son does in like manner.
BBE	So Jesus made answer and said, Truly I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything himself; he is able to do only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does the Son does it in the same way.
Webster	Then answered Jesus, and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing by himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for whatever things he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

What does John 5:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 5:19-20

19-20. the Son can do nothing of himself--that is, apart from and in rivalry of the Father, as they supposed. The meaning is, "The Son can have no separate interest or action from the Father." for what things, &c.--On the contrary, "whatever the Father doeth that same doeth the Son," likewise--"in the like manner." What claim to absolute equality with the Father could exceed this: not only to do "the same things," but to do them as the Father does them?

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 19. The Son can do nothing of himself. Jesus, having stated the extent of his authority, proceeds here to show its source and nature, and to prove to them that what he had said was true. The first explanation which he gives is in these words: The Son--whom he had just impliedly affirmed to be equal with God-- did nothing of himself; that is, nothing without the appointment of the Father; nothing contrary to the Father, as he immediately explains it. When it is said that he CAN do nothing OF HIMSELF, it is meant that such is the union subsisting between the Father and the Son that he can do nothing independently or separate from the Father. Such is the nature of this union that he can do nothing which has not the concurrence of the Father, and which he does not command. In all things he must, from the necessity of his nature, act in accordance with the nature and will of God. Such is the intimacy of the union, that the fact that he does anything is proof that it is by the concurring agency of God. There is no separate action--no separate existence; but, alike in being and in action, there is the most perfect oneness between him and the Father. Comp. Jn 10:30; 17:21.

What he seeth the Father do. In the works of creation and providence, in making laws, and in the government of the universe. There is a peculiar force in the word seeth here. No man can see God acting in his works; but the word here implies that the Son sees him act, as we see our fellow-men act, and that he has a knowledge of him, therefore, which no mere mortal could possess.

What things soever. In the works of creation and of providence, and in the government of the worlds. The word is without limit--ALL that the Father does the Son likewise does. This is as high an assertion as possible of his being equal with God. If one does all that another does or can do, then there must be equality. If the Son does all that the Father does, then, like him, he must be almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, and infinite in every perfection; or, in other words, he must be God. If he had this power, then he had authority, also, to do on the Sabbath-day what God did.

(q) "The Son can do nothing of himself" Jn 5:30

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 19 The Son can do nothing of himself - Because of his inseparable union with the Father: nor can the Father do any thing of himself, because of his infinite unity with the Son. What things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son - God does nothing but what Christ does. What God does is the work of God, and proper to no creature - Jesus does whatsoever God does, and therefore is no created being. The Son can do nothing but what he sees the Father do: now, any intelligent creature may do what God cannot do: he may err - he may sin. If Jesus can do nothing but what God does, then he is no creature - he can neither sin nor err, nor act imperfectly. The conclusion from our Lord's argument is: If I have broken the Sabbath, so has God also; for I can do nothing but what I see him doing. He is ever governing and preserving; I am ever employed in saving.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 5:17-23

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…

Read the full comment on John 5:17-23 →

John 5:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀπεκρίνατοapekrinatoAnsweredG611

οὖνounthereforeG3767

ὁho<the>G3588

ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424

καὶkaiandG2532

ἔλεγενelegenwas sayingG3004

αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846

ἀμὴνamēnAmenG281

λέγωlegōI sayG3004

ὑμῖν·huminto you;G4771

οὐounotG3756

δύναταιdunataiis ableG1410

ὁhotheG3588

υἱὸςhuiosSonG5207

ποιεῖνpoieinto doG4160

ἀφ᾽aph᾽ofG575

ἑαυτοῦhe'autouHimselfG1438

οὐδέν,oudenno [thing],G3762

ἐὰνeanonlyG1437

μήmēunlessG3361

τιtianythingG5100

βλέπῃblepēHe shall seeG991

τὸνtontheG3588

πατέραpateraFatherG3962

ποιοῦντα.poiountadoing.G4160

ἃhawhateverG3739

γὰρgarforG1063

ἂνanmaybeG302

ἐκεῖνοςekeinosHeG1565

ποιῇ,poiēashall do,G4160

ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778

καὶkaialsoG2532

ὁhotheG3588

υἱὸςhuiosSonG5207

ὁμοίωςhomoiōslikewiseG3668

ποιεῖ.poieidoes.G4160

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 5:19

John 12:49
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 8:28
Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 10:18
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 5:28-30
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
John 14:16-23
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. …
Luke 21:15
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 5:21
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
John 5:24-26
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 2:19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Verily.
24,25; 3:3
The Son.
30; 8:28; 9:4; 12:49; 14:10,20
for.
14:16-23; Ge 1:1,26; Isa 44:24; Col 1:16
Compare.
22
with.
Ps 50:6; 2Co 5:10; Joh 2:19; 10:18
with.
Ac 2:24; Ro 6:4; 1Co 15:12; 1Pe 3:18
and.
21,25,26
with.
Eph 1:18,19; 2:5
and.
28,29; 11:25,26
with.
Ro 8:11; 2Co 4:14; Php 3:21; 1Th 4:14; Ps 27:14; 138:3; Isa 45:24
with.
2Co 12:9,10; Eph 3:16; Php 4:13; Col 1:11; Ex 4:11; Pr 2:6
with.
Lu 21:15; Jer 17:10
with.
Re 2:23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

John 5:18
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
John 5:19
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
John 5:20
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Read all of John 5

John 5:19 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Respondió entonces Jesús, y díjoles: De cierto, de cierto os digo: No puede el Hijo hacer nada de sí mismo, sino lo que viere hacer al Padre: porque todo lo que él hace, esto también hace el Hijo juntamente.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Jésus donc répondit et leur dit: En vérité, en vérité, je vous dis: Le Fils ne peut rien faire de lui-même, à moins qu’il ne voie faire une chose au Père, car quelque chose que celui-ci fasse, cela, le Fils aussi de même le fait.
German Elberfelder 1871	Da antwortete Jesus und sprach zu ihnen: Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: Der Sohn kann nichts von sich selbst tun, außer was er den Vater tun sieht; denn was irgend er tut, das tut auch der Sohn gleicherweise.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Amen, amen dico vobis: non potest Filius a se facere quidquam, nisi quod viderit Patrem facientem: quæcumque enim ille fecerit, hæc et Filius similiter facit.