John 5:26

Green's Literal Translation

For even as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in Himself.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Life comes from the Father himself. So the Father has also allowed the Son to give life.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For as the father hath life in him silfe: so lyke wyse hath he geven to ye sonne to have lyfe in him silfe:

Hebrew Names Version
For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

International Standard Version
For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted the Son to have life in himself.

New American Standard Bible
"For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

New Century Version
Life comes from the Father himself, and he has allowed the Son to have life in himself as well.

Update Bible Version
For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself:

Webster's Bible Translation
For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

English Standard Version
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

World English Bible
For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son also to have life in himself,

Weymouth's New Testament
For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He has also given to the Son to have life in Himself.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For as the fadir hath lijf in hym silf, so he yaf to the sone, to haue lijf in him silf;

English Revised Version
For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:

Berean Standard Bible
For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.

Contemporary English Version
The Father has the power to give life, and he has given that same power to the Son.

Amplified Bible
"For just as the Father has life in Himself [and is self-existent], even so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself [and be self-existent].

American Standard Version
For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:

Bible in Basic English
For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son to have life in himself.

Complete Jewish Bible
For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has given the Son life to have in himself.

Darby Translation
For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself,

Etheridge Translation
For as the Father hath life in his person, [fn] so hath he given also to the Son to have life in his person,

Murdock Translation
For, as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son also, to have life in himself:

King James Version (1611)
For as the Father hath life in himselfe: so hath he giuen to the Sonne to haue life in himselfe:

New Living Translation
The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son.

New Life Bible
The Father has life in Himself. He has given power to the Son to have life in Himself.

New Revised Standard
For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself;

Geneva Bible (1587)
For as the Father hath life in himselfe, so likewise hath he giuen to the Sonne to haue life in himselfe,

George Lamsa Translation
For as the Father has life in himself, even so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, just as, the Father, hath life, in himself, in like manner, unto the Son also, hath he given, life, to have, in himself;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For as the Father hath life in himself, so he hath given to the Son also to have life in himself.

Revised Standard Version
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For as the father hath lyfe in hym selfe: so lykewyse hath he geuen to the sonne, to haue lyfe in hym selfe:

Good News Translation
Just as the Father is himself the source of life, in the same way he has made his Son to be the source of life.

Christian Standard Bible®
For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son

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

Lexham English Bible
For just as the Father has life in himself, thus also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself.

Young's Literal Translation
for, as the Father hath life in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in himself,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For as the father hath life in him self, so likewyse hath he geuen vnto the sonne, to haue life in himself:

Mace New Testament (1729)
for as the father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the son, to have life in himself;

New English Translation
For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself,

New King James Version
For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Only the Father has the power to give life, and he has given that power to the Son.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

Legacy Standard Bible
For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, My Father works until now, and I work. ¹⁸ Because of this, therefore, the Jews lusted the more to kill Him, for not only did He break the sabbath, but also called God His own Father, making Himself equal to God. ¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything from Himself, except what He may see the Father doing; for whatever that One does, these things also the Son does likewise. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows to Him all things which He does. And He will show Him greater works than these in order that you may marvel. ²¹ For even as the Father raises the dead, and gives life, so also the Son gives life to whomever He wills. ²² For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ so that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. The one not honoring the Son does not honor the Father who has sent Him. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, The one who hears My Word, and believes the One who has sent Me, has everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. ²⁵ Truly, truly, I say to you that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones hearing will live. ²⁶ For even as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in Himself.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

hath life: Exodus 3:14, Psalms 36:9, Psalms 90:2, Jeremiah 10:10, Acts 17:25, 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 6:16

so hath: John 1:4, John 4:10, John 7:37, John 7:38, John 8:51, John 11:26, John 14:6, John 14:19, John 17:2, John 17:3, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:4, 1 John 1:1-3, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 21:6, Revelation 22:1, Revelation 22:17

Reciprocal: Psalms 42:2 - living Ecclesiastes 3:17 - God Daniel 4:34 - him John 3:34 - for God John 5:19 - and John 6:57 - I live John 11:25 - the life Acts 3:15 - Prince Acts 14:15 - the living Acts 17:28 - in him Romans 5:10 - we shall 1 Timothy 6:13 - who quickeneth Hebrews 9:27 - but 1 Peter 2:4 - a living 1 Peter 4:6 - to them 2 Peter 1:17 - God 1 John 5:7 - The Father 1 John 5:11 - this

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For as the Father hath life in himself,.... Is the living God, the fountain of life, and is the author of life to all living creatures; or rather has eternal life in his mind, his heart, his counsel, and his covenant, and in his hands, for all his chosen ones, which seems to he the peculiar sense here:

so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; he hath not only made the purpose of it in him, and given the promise of it to him; but even eternal life itself, he has put into his hands, and secured it in him for them, 1 John 5:11, to give it to as many as he has given him: and he does give it to all his sheep, so that not one of them shall perish; which shows that he and his Father are one, though not in person, yet as in affection, will and power, so in nature and essence. The Son has life in himself, essentially, originally, and inderivatively as the Father has, being equally the living God, the fountain of life, and donor of it, as he; and therefore this is not a life which he gives, or communicates to him; but eternal life is what the one gives, and the other receives, according to the economy of salvation settled between them: and hence it is, that all that hear Christ's voice spiritually shall live eternally; for these words are a reason of the former, and confirm the truth of them, as well as show the equality of the Son with the Father, in that he is equal to such a trust, as to have eternal life committed to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

As the Father hath life - God is the source of all life. He is thence called the living God, in opposition to idols which have no life. Acts 14:15; “we preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities (idols) ‘unto the living God,’” Joshua 3:10; 1 Samuel 17:26; Jeremiah 10:10. See also Isaiah 40:18-31.

In himself - This means that life in God, or existence, is not derived from any other being. Our life is derived from God. Genesis 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. Psalms 104:30, Psalms 104:29; “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. Psalms 90:2; “from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” He is unchangeably the same, James 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:

1. It has reference merely “to office.” As Mediator, he may be said to have been appointed by the Father.

2. 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; Acts 4:30; Acts 16:18; but Jesus did it by his own name, authority, and power. He had but to speak, and it was done, Mark 5:41; Luke 7:14; John 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. Hath he given to the Son to have life, &c.] Here our Lord speaks of himself in his character of Messiah, or envoy of God.