John 5:21

KJV

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} as {G5618} the Father {G3962} raiseth up {G1453} the dead {G3498}, and {G2532} quickeneth {G2227} them; even {G2532} so {G3779} the Son {G5207} quickeneth {G2227} whom {G3739} he will {G2309}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Just as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, so too the Son makes alive anyone he wants.

Berean Standard Bible

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.

American Standard Version

For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 5:21 presents a profound declaration by Jesus concerning His co-equal divine authority and power with God the Father, specifically His ability to raise the dead and impart life. This statement is a pivotal part of Jesus' defense against Jewish leaders who accused Him of Sabbath-breaking and, more significantly, of blasphemy by claiming equality with God. The verse underscores Jesus' inherent divine prerogative to give life, both physical and spiritual, according to His sovereign will, mirroring the Father's ultimate power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a lengthy discourse in [John chapter 5](/john/5 "John 5 - Jesus' Authority and Life-Giving Power"). The immediate narrative begins with Jesus healing a paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, an act that immediately draws the ire of the Jewish authorities ([John 5:1-9](/john/5-1-9 "John 5:1-9 - Healing at Bethesda")). When confronted, Jesus defends His actions by stating, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" ([John 5:17](/john/5-17 "John 5:17 - Jesus' Defense of His Work")). This declaration, implying active work on the Sabbath and, crucially, equality with God, escalates the conflict, leading the Jewish leaders to seek His death ([John 5:18](/john/5-18 "John 5:18 - Jewish Leaders Seek to Kill Jesus")). [John 5:21](/john/5-21 "John 5:21 - The Son's Life-Giving Power") then serves as a powerful elaboration on the nature of this equality, specifically regarding the ultimate power over life and death, setting the stage for Jesus' further claims about judgment and resurrection in the subsequent verses ([John 5:22-30](/john/5-22-30 "John 5:22-30 - Jesus' Authority to Judge")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jewish leaders' outrage stemmed from two primary issues: Jesus' perceived violation of the Sabbath and His claim to divine equality. Sabbath observance was a cornerstone of Jewish law and identity, with strict interpretations prohibiting work. Healing was often considered "work" by the Pharisees, though Jesus consistently challenged their rigid application. More profoundly, Jesus' assertion of working like the Father and possessing the power to "quicken" (give life) was understood as a direct claim to deity. In Jewish monotheistic belief, the power to raise the dead and impart life was an exclusive attribute of Yahweh. For any human to claim such power was considered blasphemy, punishable by death. Jesus' use of "Father" and "Son" was not merely a familial metaphor but a profound theological statement of shared essence and authority within a culture that understood such titles to convey identity and prerogative.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes in John's Gospel. Firstly, it emphatically asserts the **Divine Authority of Jesus**, demonstrating His co-equal power with God the Father. Just as the Father possesses the inherent power to raise the dead and give life, so does the Son, challenging the traditional Jewish understanding of God's unique sovereignty and revealing Jesus' true identity. Secondly, it highlights Jesus' absolute **Power Over Life and Death**, encompassing both physical resurrection and the impartation of spiritual life. This power is not merely delegated but is an inherent divine attribute, foundational to understanding Jesus' role as the source of eternal life, as explored throughout [John's Gospel](/john/1 "John 1 - The Word Became Flesh"). Thirdly, the phrase "whom he will" underscores the **Sovereignty of the Son** in this life-giving act. This is not an arbitrary power but reflects a unified, deliberate, and divine will with the Father, demonstrating Jesus' independent and authoritative choice in bestowing life, whether in spiritual regeneration ([John 3:3-8](/john/3-3-8 "John 3:3-8 - Born Again")) or future bodily resurrection ([John 6:39-40](/john/6-39-40 "John 6:39-40 - The Promise of Resurrection")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Father (Greek, _patḗr'_):** This term, used here for God, signifies the ultimate source of life and authority. Jesus' repeated reference to God as "My Father" throughout John's Gospel emphasizes His unique relationship and divine origin, establishing a familial and essential equality rather than mere metaphorical kinship. The Father is presented as the supreme life-giver, and Jesus' claim to share this power is a direct assertion of His own deity.
* **raiseth up (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This verb means "to waken," "to rouse," or "to raise (from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death)." In this context, it specifically refers to bringing the dead back to life, whether physically or figuratively. Its use highlights the active, powerful intervention required to overcome the state of death. The Father performs this act, and Jesus claims the same capability, demonstrating a shared, active power over the ultimate human limitation.
* **quickeneth (Greek, _zōopoiéō'_):** Derived from words meaning "life" (ζῶον) and "to make" (ποιέω), this verb literally means "to make alive," "to give life," or "to vitalize." It implies bringing something from a state of death, non-existence, or spiritual inertness into vibrant life. Its repetition in the verse underscores the core message: both Father and Son are active agents in imparting life, signifying their shared divine nature as the ultimate source of all life, both physical and spiritual.
* **will (Greek, _thélō'_):** This verb denotes a deliberate choice, a subjective impulse, or a wish. It implies an active determination rather than passive acquiescence. The phrase "whom he will" emphasizes the Son's sovereign freedom and intentionality in bestowing life. This is not an arbitrary act but a purposeful exercise of divine will, perfectly aligned with the Father's will, demonstrating Jesus' full autonomy and authority in this life-giving power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For as the Father raiseth up the dead":** This clause establishes the foundational premise by referencing a universally accepted truth within Jewish theology: God the Father is the ultimate source of life and has the power to resurrect the dead. This power is seen as an exclusive divine prerogative, setting the stage for Jesus' audacious claim to share it.
* **"and quickeneth [them]":** This expands on the Father's power, clarifying that He not only raises from death but also imparts life, vitalizing those who were dead. This "quickening" implies a bringing forth of new existence, whether physical or spiritual, from a state of non-life.
* **"even so the Son quickeneth whom he will":** This climactic declaration asserts Jesus' co-equality with the Father. The phrase "even so" (Greek, _hoútō_) signifies an exact correspondence and equivalence in action and authority. Just as the Father exercises sovereign power over life and death, so does the Son. The crucial addition "whom he will" emphasizes that the Son's life-giving power is not a delegated or secondary authority but an inherent, sovereign, and intentional act, demonstrating His independent divine will and absolute control over who receives life.

#### Literary Devices
John 5:21 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological truth. The primary device is **Analogy/Comparison**, indicated by the phrase "For as... even so." This structure directly equates the actions and authority of the Father with those of the Son regarding the power over life and death. It's a powerful rhetorical move that asserts Jesus' divine equality without explicitly stating "I am God." Furthermore, the verse demonstrates **Divine Prerogative**, as Jesus claims a power (raising the dead and giving life) that was understood to belong exclusively to God. This claim is not merely a statement of ability but an assertion of His divine nature and identity. Finally, the phrase "whom he will" highlights the **Sovereignty** of the Son, emphasizing His deliberate and unconstrained exercise of this life-giving power, reinforcing His divine autonomy and authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 5:21 is a cornerstone declaration of Jesus' divine nature and His essential unity with the Father. It reveals that the power over life and death, traditionally understood as an exclusive attribute of God, is fully shared by the Son. This verse lays the groundwork for understanding Jesus not merely as a prophet or a miracle worker, but as the very source of life, both physical and spiritual. It underscores the profound theological truth that salvation, resurrection, and spiritual regeneration flow directly from the sovereign will and power of the Son, acting in perfect accord with the Father. This shared life-giving power is central to the Christian understanding of redemption and eternal life.

* [John 6:40](/john/6-40 "John 6:40 - Resurrection at the Last Day")
* [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit Gives Life")
* [Ephesians 2:5](/ephesians/2-5 "Ephesians 2:5 - Made Alive with Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 5:21 offers profound comfort and challenges us to a deeper understanding of who Jesus truly is. For those who believe, it provides unwavering hope in the face of death and despair. Knowing that Jesus possesses the ultimate power to "quicken" the dead means that physical death is not the end for His followers; rather, it is a transition to eternal life, secured by His resurrection power. More immediately, this verse speaks to our spiritual condition. Before Christ, we were spiritually dead in our sins, but He has the power to impart new, vibrant life, transforming us from within. This "quickening" is the essence of regeneration, making us alive to God. Therefore, our response should be one of complete trust and surrender to His sovereign will. We can rest assured that His choices regarding life and salvation are perfect, wise, and rooted in His divine love. This verse calls us to worship Jesus not just as a good teacher or prophet, but as the divine Son, the very embodiment of life, who holds the keys to death and Hades.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' claim to "quicken whom he will" challenge or affirm your understanding of His divine nature and authority?**
* **In what ways have you experienced Jesus' "quickening" power in your own life, both spiritually and perhaps even physically?**
* **How does the assurance of Jesus' power over death impact your fears or anxieties about the future, both for yourself and for loved ones?**
* **What does it mean to trust in Jesus' sovereign will when it comes to the giving of life, especially in situations where life seems to be taken or withheld?**

### FAQ
**Does "quickeneth" refer only to physical resurrection, or does it also mean spiritual life?**
Answer: The term "quickeneth" (Greek, _zōopoiéō_) in [John 5:21](/john/5-21 "John 5:21 - The Son's Life-Giving Power") encompasses both physical resurrection and the impartation of spiritual life. While the immediate context of "raising up the dead" might suggest physical resurrection, John's Gospel frequently uses "life" (Greek, _zoē_) to refer to eternal, spiritual life that begins in the present and extends into eternity. Jesus' discourse in [John 5](/john/5 "John 5 - Jesus' Authority and Life-Giving Power") transitions from physical healing to His authority over spiritual life and future judgment. For example, in [John 5:24](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Hearing Jesus' Word and Having Eternal Life"), Jesus speaks of those who hear His word and believe having "everlasting life" and passing "from death unto life," clearly referring to a spiritual transformation. Therefore, "quickeneth" implies both the spiritual regeneration of believers now and the future bodily resurrection of the dead.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 5:21 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus Himself being the embodiment and source of all life. This verse is not merely a statement of shared power but a profound revelation that the life-giving power of God the Father is fully manifest in the Son. Jesus is not just one who *can* give life, but He *is* "the resurrection, and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). His own resurrection from the dead ([Matthew 28:6](/matthew/28-6 "Matthew 28:6 - He is Not Here, For He is Risen")) serves as the supreme demonstration of this power, proving His divine authority over death. Furthermore, this "quickening" extends beyond physical resurrection to the spiritual new birth experienced by believers. As [Colossians 2:13](/colossians/2-13 "Colossians 2:13 - Made Alive with Christ") declares, "And you, being dead in your sins... hath he quickened together with him." Through His atoning work on the cross and the power of His Spirit, Jesus imparts spiritual life to those who were spiritually dead, transforming them into new creations ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). Thus, John 5:21 points directly to Jesus as the divine Lord of life, who sovereignly bestows eternal life to all who believe in Him, fulfilling the Father's ultimate plan of redemption.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Deuteronomy 32:39

¶ See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.

John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Luke 7:14

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare [him] stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Luke 7:15

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Acts 26:8

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

John 17:2

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.