Font Size
John 5:16-47
Holman Christian Standard Bible
John 5:16-47
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Honoring the Father and the Son
16 Therefore, the Jews began persecuting(A) Jesus[a] because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.(B) 17 But Jesus responded to them, “My Father(C) is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him:(D) Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Then Jesus replied, “I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[b] does, the Son also does these things in the same way.(E) 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works(F) than these so that you will be amazed. 21 And just as the Father raises(G) the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to anyone He wants to.(H) 22 The Father,(I) in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father.(J) Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.(K)
Life and Judgment
24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life(L) and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
25 “I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here,(M) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.(N) 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son(O) to have life in Himself. 27 And He has granted Him the right to pass judgment,(P) because He is the Son of Man.(Q) 28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.
30 “I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment(R) is righteous,(S) because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.(T)
Four Witnesses to Jesus
31 “If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.[c] 32 There is Another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony He gives about Me is valid.[d](U) 33 You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth.(V) 34 I don’t receive man’s testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 John[e](W) was a burning and shining lamp,(X) and for a time you were willing to enjoy his light.(Y)
36 “But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish.(Z) These very works I am doing testify about Me that the Father has sent(AA) Me. 37 The Father who sent Me has Himself testified(AB) about Me. You have not heard His voice at any time, and you haven’t seen His form.(AC) 38 You don’t have His word living in you, because you don’t believe the One He sent. 39 You pore over[f] the Scriptures(AD) because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me.(AE) 40 And you are not willing(AF) to come to Me(AG) so that you may have life.
41 “I do not accept glory(AH) from men, 42 but I know you—that you have no love for God(AI) within you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name,(AJ) yet you don’t accept Me.(AK) If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only(AL) God.(AM) 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(AN) on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings,(AO) how will you believe My words?”(AP)
Read full chapter
John 5:16-47
New International Version
John 5:16-47
New International Version
The Authority of the Son
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father(A) is always at his work(B) to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;(C) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.(D)
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;(E) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son(F) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,(G) so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,(H) even so the Son gives life(I) to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,(J) 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.(K)
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me(L) has eternal life(M) and will not be judged(N) but has crossed over from death to life.(O) 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come(P) when the dead will hear(Q) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life(R) in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge(S) because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming(T) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.(U) 30 By myself I can do nothing;(V) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,(W) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(X)
Testimonies About Jesus
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(Y) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(Z) and I know that his testimony about me is true.
33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(AA) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(AB) but I mention it that you may be saved.(AC) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(AD) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(AE) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(AF)—testify that the Father has sent me.(AG) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(AH) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(AI) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(AJ) for you do not believe(AK) the one he sent.(AL) 39 You study[a] the Scriptures(AM) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(AN) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(AO) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(AP) to have life.
41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(AQ) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[b]?(AR)
45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(AS) on whom your hopes are set.(AT) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(AU) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(AV)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.