John 7:17

Updated Bible Version

If any man wills to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from myself.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If anyone wants to do his will,

King James Version (1611)
If any man will doe his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speake of my selfe.

King James Version
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

English Standard Version
If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

New American Standard Bible
"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself.

New Century Version
If people choose to do what God wants, they will know that my teaching comes from God and not from me.

Amplified Bible
"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

Legacy Standard Bible
If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God or I speak from Myself.

Berean Standard Bible
If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.

Contemporary English Version
If you really want to obey God, you will know if what I teach comes from God or from me.

Complete Jewish Bible
If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether my teaching is from God or I speak on my own.

Darby Translation
If any one desire to practise his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God, or [that] I speak from myself.

Easy-to-Read Version
People who really want to do what God wants will know that my teaching comes from God. They will know that this teaching is not my own.

Geneva Bible (1587)
If any man will doe his will, he shall knowe of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speake of my selfe.

George Lamsa Translation
He who wills to do his will, he will understand if my teaching is from God, or if I am just speaking of my own accord.

Good News Translation
Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know whether what I teach comes from God or whether I speak on my own authority.

Lexham English Bible
If anyone wants to do his will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or I am speaking from myself.

Literal Translation
If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God, or I speak from Myself.

American Standard Version
If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself.

Bible in Basic English
If any man is ready to do God's pleasure he will have knowledge of the teaching and of where it comes from--from God or from myself.

Hebrew Names Version
If anyone desires to do his will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I speak from myself.

International Standard Version
If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether this teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.John 8:43;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Whosoever willeth to do his will understandeth my doctrine, if it be from Aloha, or (if) from the will of myself I speak.

Murdock Translation
He that wisheth to do his pleasure, will understand my doctrine, whether it is from God, or whether I speak from my own pleasure.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yf any man wyll do his wyll, he shall knowe of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speake of my selfe.

English Revised Version
If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God, or whether I speak from myself.

World English Bible
If anyone desires to do his will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I speak from myself.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
If any man be willing to do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Weymouth's New Testament
If any one is willing to do His will, he shall know about the teaching, whether it is from God or originates with me.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If ony man wole do his wille, he schal knowe of the techyng, whethir it be of God, or Y speke of my silf.

Webster's Bible Translation
If any man will do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God, or [whether] I speak from myself.

New English Translation
If anyone wants to do God's will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority.

New King James Version
If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

New Living Translation
Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.

New Life Bible
If anyone will do what God wants, he will know if My teaching is from God, or if I am speaking of Myself.

New Revised Standard
Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If any one intend, his will, to do, he shall get to know concerning the teaching - whether it is, of God, or, I, from myself, am speaking,

Douay-Rheims Bible
If any man will do the will of him, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Revised Standard Version
if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If eny man will do his will he shall knowe of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe.

Young's Literal Translation
if any one may will to do His will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is of God, or -- I do speak from myself.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf eny man wyl do his will, he shal knowe, whether this doctryne be of God, or whether I speake of my self.

Mace New Testament (1729)
if any man is inclin'd to do his will, he shall know whether the doctrine be from God, or whether I speak from my self.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Anyone who rides for God will be able to tell if my teaching is from him or it is merely my own.

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. ¹⁵ The Jews therefore marveled, saying, How does this man know letters, having never learned? ¹⁶ Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me. ¹⁷ If any man wills to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from myself. ¹⁸ He that speaks from himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. ¹⁹ Has not Moses given you the law? And [yet] none of you does the law. Why do you seek to kill me? ²⁰ The multitude answered, You have a demon: who seeks to kill you? ²¹ Jesus answered and said to them, I did one work, and you all marvel because thereof. ²² Moses has given you circumcision- not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers- and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. ²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are you angry with me, because I made a man every bit whole on the Sabbath?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

John 1:46-49, John 8:31, John 8:32, John 8:43, John 8:47, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 25:9, Psalms 25:12, Psalms 119:10, Psalms 119:101, Psalms 119:102, Isaiah 35:8, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 31:34, Hosea 6:3, Micah 4:2, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 6:22, Luke 8:15, Acts 10:1-6, Acts 11:13, Acts 11:14, Acts 17:11, Philippians 3:15, Philippians 3:16

Reciprocal: Numbers 9:8 - I will 1 Kings 10:3 - told her Psalms 24:5 - receive Psalms 25:14 - secret Psalms 50:23 - to him Psalms 85:9 - Surely Psalms 119:34 - Give me Psalms 119:166 - and done Proverbs 4:2 - good Proverbs 8:9 - General Proverbs 11:3 - The integrity Proverbs 17:24 - before Proverbs 28:5 - General Isaiah 2:3 - he will teach Isaiah 56:1 - Keep Isaiah 59:21 - my words Jeremiah 50:5 - ask Daniel 12:10 - but the wise Matthew 6:10 - Thy will Matthew 7:21 - that Matthew 13:11 - Because Mark 3:35 - do Mark 4:2 - in his Mark 4:8 - fell John 2:9 - but John 3:19 - because John 8:12 - shall have John 9:31 - and doeth John 9:37 - Thou John 17:7 - they John 18:37 - Every Acts 10:6 - he shall Acts 17:12 - many Acts 18:26 - expounded 1 Corinthians 2:15 - judgeth 2 Corinthians 6:8 - as Ephesians 5:17 - understanding Colossians 1:9 - of his 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - this 1 Timothy 4:6 - good doctrine Hebrews 10:36 - after Hebrews 13:21 - to do 1 Peter 4:2 - the will 1 John 2:17 - but 2 John 1:9 - the doctrine

Cross-References

Genesis 7:4
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will destroy from off the face of the ground.

Genesis 7:12
And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If any man will do his will,.... Meaning, not one that perfectly fulfils the law, which is the good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God; for there is no man that does this, or can do it; nor is it so said here, "if any man do his will", but "if any man will do" it; that is, is desirous of doing it; who has it wrought in him both to will and do, of the good pleasure of God, by his grace and Spirit; with whom to will is present, though, he has not power to perform, and so is a spiritual man; and who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, which is one branch of the will of God; and who depends upon the Spirit and grace of God, and acts from a principle of love to God, and in the exercise of faith on Christ:

he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself; not a man of mere natural knowledge and learning, or a man of theory and speculation, is a judge of doctrine; but he that leans not to his own understanding, and implores the assistance of the Divine Spirit, and who is for reducing doctrine into practice: he knows by the efficacy of the doctrine upon his heart, and the influence it has on his life and conversation; by its coming not in word only, but in power; and by its working effectually in him, whether it is divine or human, of God or of man.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If any man will do his will - Literally, if any man wills or is willing to do the will of God. If there is a disposition in anyone to do that will, though he should not be able perfectly to keep His commandments. To do the will of God is to obey His commandments; to yield our hearts and lives to His requirements. A disposition to do His will is a readiness to yield our intellects, our feelings, and all that we have entirely to Him, to be governed according to His pleasure.

He shall know - He shall have evidence, in the very attempt to do the will of God, of the truth of the doctrine. This evidence is internal, and to the individual it is satisfactory and conclusive. It is of two kinds.

1. He will find that the doctrines which Jesus taught are such as commend themselves to his reason and conscience, and such as are consistent with all that we know of the perfections of God. His doctrines commend themselves to us as fitted to make us pure and happy, and of course they are such as must be from God.

2. An honest desire to obey God will lead a man to embrace the great doctrines of the Bible. He will find that his heart is depraved and inclined to evil, and he will see and feel the truth of the doctrine of depravity; he will find that he is a sinner and needs to be born again; he will learn his own weakness, and see his need of a Saviour, of an atonement, and of pardoning mercy; he will feel that he is polluted, and needs the purifying influence of the Holy Spirit.

Thus, we may learn:

1. That an honest effort to obey God is the easiest way to become acquainted with the doctrines of the Bible.
2. Those who make such an effort will not cavil at any of the doctrines of the Scriptures.
3. This is evidence of the truth of revelation which every person can apply to his own case.
4. It is such evidence as to lead to certainty. No one who has ever made an honest effort to live a pious life, and to do all the will of God, has ever had any doubt of the truth of the Saviour’s doctrines, or any doubt that his religion is true and is suited to the nature of man. They only doubt the truth of religion who wish to live in sin.
5. We see the goodness of God in giving us evidence of his truth that may be within every man’s reach. It does not require great learning to be a Christian, and to be convinced of the truth of the Bible. It requires an honest heart, and a willingness to obey God.

Whether it be of God - Whether it be divine.

Or whether I speak of myself - Of myself without being commissioned or directed by God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 7:17. If any man wilt do his will, c.] I will give you a sure rule by which ye may judge of my doctrine: If you really wish to do the will of God, begin the practice of it and take my doctrine, and apply it to all that you know God requires of man; and if you find one of my precepts contrary to the nature, perfections, and glory of God, or to the present or eternal welfare of men, then ye shall be at liberty to assert that my doctrine is human and erroneous, and God has not sent me. But if, on the contrary, ye find that the sum and substance of my preaching is, That men shall love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbour as themselves; and that this doctrine must bring glory to God in the highest, while it produces peace and good will among men; then acknowledge that God has visited you, and receive me as the Messiah promised to your fathers.