# John 5.19-20

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 17. But Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">My Father worketh even until now, and I work.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.</span>
>
> **19. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.</span>**
>
> 21. <span class="rl-speech">For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;</span> (John 5:17-22, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 17. But Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”</span> 18. For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
>
> **19. Jesus therefore answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.</span>**
>
> 21. <span class="rl-speech">For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,</span> (John 5:17-22, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 17. But Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.</span>
>
> **19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.**
>
> 21. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (John 5:17-22, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 17. And Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">'My Father till now doth work, and I work;'</span> 18. because of this, then, were the Jews seeking the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the sabbath, but he also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
>
> **19. Jesus therefore responded and said to them, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything of himself, if he may not see the Father doing anything; for whatever things He may do, these also the Son in like manner doth;</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">for the Father doth love the Son, and doth shew to him all things that He himself doth; and greater works than these He will shew him, that ye may wonder.</span>**
>
> 21. <span class="rl-speech">'For, as the Father doth raise the dead, and doth make alive, so also the Son doth make alive whom he willeth;</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">for neither doth the Father judge any one, but all the judgment He hath given to the Son,</span> (John 5:17-22, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G2424 - Iesous](/codex/g2424-iesous/), *Iesous* (Strong's G2424). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1.18](/codex/matthew-1-18/).
- [G3956 - pas](/codex/g3956-pas/), *pas* (Strong's G3956). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Matthew 2.1-6](/codex/matthew-2-1-6/), [Matthew 2.16](/codex/matthew-2-16/).
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), *pater* (Strong's G3962). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.48](/codex/matthew-5-48/), [Matthew 6.25-26](/codex/matthew-6-25-26/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).
- [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), *huios* (Strong's G5207). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.20](/codex/matthew-1-20/), [Matthew 1.21](/codex/matthew-1-21/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Anointing Implies Subordination Objection Defeater](/codex/anointing-implies-subordination-objection-defeater/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/)
- [Quran Confirms Jesus is God Argument](/codex/quran-confirms-jesus-is-god-argument/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/)

**Concepts:**

- [Christian Muslim Defender](/codex/christian-muslim-defender/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 5](/codex/john-5/)
- [Trinity vs Oneness vs Modalism vs Arianism](/codex/trinity-vs-oneness-vs-modalism-vs-arianism/), via [John 5.19-23](/codex/john-5-19-23/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0026 - agape](/codex/g0026-agape/), via [John 5.20](/codex/john-5-20/)
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), via [John 5.19-23](/codex/john-5-19-23/)
- [H0001 - ab](/codex/h0001-ab/), via [John 5.18-23](/codex/john-5-18-23/)
- [H6213 - asah](/codex/h6213-asah/), via [John 5.17-19](/codex/john-5-17-19/), [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/)
- [H8085 - shama](/codex/h8085-shama/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/)

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