John 5:26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 5:26 in other translations
| BSB | For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. |
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| WEB | For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. |
| ASV | For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: |
| YLT | for, as the Father hath life in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in himself, |
| DARBY | For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself, |
| BBE | For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son to have life in himself. |
| Webster | For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; |
What does John 5:26 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 5:25-29
25-29. The hour cometh--in its whole fulness, at Pentecost. and now is--in its beginnings. the dead--the spiritually dead, as is clear from Joh 5:28. Here He rises from the calmer phrase "hearing his word" (Joh 5:24), to the grander expression, "hearing the voice of the Son of God," to signify that as it finds men in a dead condition, so it carries with it a resurrection-power. shall live--in the sense of Joh 5:24.
Barnes' Notes
In himself. This means that life in God, or existence, is not derived from any other being. Our life is derived from God. Gen 2:7: God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul"--that is, a living being. All other creatures derive their life from him. Ps 104:29, 30: "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust." But God is underived. He always existed as he is. Ps 90:2 "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." He is unchangeably the same, Jas 1:17. It cannot be said that he is self-existent, because that is an absurdity; no being can originate or create himself; but he is not dependent on any other for life. Of course, no being can take away his existence; and of course, also, no being can take away his happiness. He has in himself infinite sources of happiness, and no other being, no change in his universe can destroy that happiness.
So. In a manner like his. It corresponds to the first "as," implying that one is the same as the other; life in the one is the same, and possessed in the same manner, as in the other.
Hath he given. This shows that the power or authority here spoken of was given or committed to the Lord Jesus. This evidently does not refer to the manner in which the second person of the Trinity exists, for the power and authority of which Christ here speaks is that which he exercises as Mediator. It is the power of raising the dead and judging the world. In regard to his divine nature, it is not affirmed here that it is in any manner derived; nor does the fact that God is said to have given him this power prove that he was inferior in his nature or that his existence was derived. For,
1st. It has reference merely to office. As Mediator, he may be said to have been appointed by the Father.
2nd. Appointment to office does not prove that the one who is appointed is inferior in nature to him who appoints him. A son may be appointed to a particular work by a parent, and yet, in regard to talents and every other qualification, may be equal or superior to the father. He sustains the relation of a son, and in this relation there is an official inferiority. General Washington was not inferior in nature and talents to the men who commissioned him. He simply derived authority from them to do what he was otherwise fully able to do. So the Son, as Mediator, is subject to the Father; yet this proves nothing about his nature.
To have life. That is, the right or authority of imparting life to others, whether dead in their graves or in their sins.
In himself. There is much that is remarkable in this expression. It is IN him as it is IN God. He has the control of it, and can exercise it as he will. The prophets and apostles are never represented as having such power in themselves. They were dependent; they performed miracles in the name of God and of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:6, 4:30, 16:18); but Jesus did it by his own name, authority, and power. He had but to speak, and it was done, Mk 5:41, Lk 7:14, Jn 11:43. This wonderful commission he bore from God to raise up the dead as he pleased; to convert sinners when and where he chose; and finally to raise up all the dead, and pronounce on them an eternal doom according to the deeds done in the body. None could do this but he who had the power of creation--equal in omnipotence to the Father, and the power of searching all hearts--equal in omniscience to God.
(x) "life in himself" 1Cor 15:45
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 5:24-29
Our Lord declared his authority and character, as the Messiah. The time was come when the dead should hear his voice, as the Son of God, and live. Our Lord first refers to his raising those who were dead in sin, to newness of life, by the power of the Spirit, and then to his raising the dead in their graves. The office of Judge of all men, can only be exercised by one who has all knowledge, and almighty power. May…
John 5:26 in the original Greek
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Cross references for John 5:26
- John 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
- John 1:4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
- John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Exodus 3:14
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
- John 17:2-3
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
- 1 Corinthians 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
- 1 Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- Psalms 36:9
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
- Jeremiah 10:10
But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
- 1 John 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
- Acts 17:25
Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 5:25
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.
- John 5:26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
- John 5:27
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
John 5:26 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque como el Padre tiene vida en sí mismo, así dió también al Hijo que tuviese vida en sí mismo: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Car comme le Père a la vie en lui-même, ainsi il a donné au Fils aussi d’avoir la vie en lui-même; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn gleichwie der Vater Leben in sich selbst hat, also hat er auch dem Sohne gegeben, Leben zu haben in sich selbst; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Sicut enim Pater habet vitam in semetipso, sic dedit et Filio habere vitam in semetipso: |