John 7:18
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.
John 7:18 in other translations
| BSB | He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood. |
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| WEB | He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. |
| ASV | He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. |
| YLT | ‘He who is speaking from himself his own glory doth seek, but he who is seeking the glory of him who sent him, this one is true, and unrighteousness is not in him; |
| DARBY | He that speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but he that seeks the glory of him that has sent him, he is true, and unrighteousness is not in him. |
| BBE | The man whose words come from himself is looking for glory for himself, but he who is looking for the glory of him who sent him--that man is true and there is no evil in him. |
| Webster | He that speaketh from himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. |
What does John 7:18 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 7:16-18
16-18. doctrine ... not mine, &c.--that is, from Myself unauthorized; I am here by commission.
Barnes' Notes
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 honour God, they ought to have supposed that he was sent by him.
No unrighteousness. This word here means, evidently, there is no falsehood, no deception in him. He is not an impostor. It is used in the same sense in 2Thes 2:10-12. It is true that there was no unrighteousness, no sin in Jesus Christ, but that is not the truth taught here. It is that he was not an impostor, and the evidence of this was that he sought not his own glory, but the honour of God. This evidence was furnished,
1st. In his retiring, unobtrusive disposition; in his not seeking the applause of men.
2nd. In his teaching such doctrines as tended to exalt God and humble man.
3rd. In his ascribing all glory and praise to God.
(l) "but he that seeketh" Prov 25:27
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 7:14-24
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…
John 7:18 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 7:18
- John 5:41
I receive not honour from men.
- Philippians 2:3-5
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
- 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
- John 13:31-32
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
- John 12:28
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
- John 8:49-50
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
- John 17:4-5
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
- John 3:26-30
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. …
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
- Matthew 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
- 1 Peter 4:11
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
- Proverbs 25:27
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5:41; 8:49,50; 1Co 10:31-33; Ga 6:12-14; Php 2:3-5; 1Th 2:6
1Pe 4:11
seeketh his glory.
3:26-30; 11:4; 12:28; 13:31,32; 17:4,5; Ex 32:10-13; Nu 11:29
Pr 25:27; Mt 6:9
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- John 7:17
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
- John 7:18
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.
- John 7:19
Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
John 7:18 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | El que habla de sí mismo, su propia gloria busca; mas el que busca la gloria del que le envió, éste es verdadero, y no hay en él injusticia. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Celui qui parle de par lui-même cherche sa propre gloire; mais celui qui cherche la gloire de celui qui l’a envoyé, celui-là est vrai, et il n’y a point d’injustice en lui. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wer aus sich selbst redet, sucht seine eigene Ehre; wer aber die Ehre dessen sucht, der ihn gesandt hat, dieser ist wahrhaftig, und Ungerechtigkeit ist nicht in ihm. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Qui a semetipso loquitur, gloriam propriam quærit; qui autem quærit gloriam ejus qui misit eum, hic verax est, et injustitia in illo non est. |