For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

JOHN 5:26KJV
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John 5:26 (KJV)

What does John 5:26 mean?

John 5:26 says that just as God the Father has life in Himself—meaning life that is self-existing and not dependent on anyone else—He has also given the Son (Jesus) to have this same kind of self-existing life in Himself. This verse points to a unique relationship between the Father and the Son, where both possess the fullness of life.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a group of Jewish leaders who are questioning His authority after He healed a man on the Sabbath. By saying the Father has given the Son to have life in Himself, Jesus is explaining that His power to give life comes directly from God, not from any outside source. This statement sets up the idea that Jesus shares in the divine nature and authority of God, which is a key theme in the surrounding verses.

The Greek behind John 5:26

  • ζωή (zōē, G2222): This word means "life," but in this context, it refers to the kind of life that is self-sustaining and comes from God alone, not just ordinary existence.
  • ἐν ἑαυτῷ (en heautō, G1722 + G1438): This phrase means "in Himself," emphasizing that the life Jesus has is not given by another creature or source, but is inherent within Him, just as it is with the Father.
  • δέδωκεν (dedōken, G1325): This word means "has given." The Greek here carries the sense that the Father has granted or enabled the Son to have this life, highlighting a relationship of shared authority and essence, not of independence or rivalry.

Why John 5:26 matters

  • John 5:26 clarifies that Jesus’ authority and ability to give life are not independent from God the Father, but are directly received from Him, countering any idea that Jesus acts apart from God.
  • The verse emphasizes the unique, divine relationship between the Father and the Son, which is central to understanding the claims Jesus makes about Himself in the Gospel of John.
  • This statement helps explain why, in the surrounding passage, Jesus can speak about raising the dead and judging humanity—because He possesses the same life-giving power as the Father.