John 5:26

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} as {G5618} the Father {G3962} hath {G2192} life {G2222} in {G1722} himself {G1438}; so {G2532}{G3779} hath he given {G1325} to the Son {G5207} to have {G2192} life {G2222} in {G1722} himself {G1438};

Complete Jewish Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
A profound declaration by Jesus concerning His inherent divine nature and co-equality with the Father, asserting that just as the Father possesses life as an intrinsic aspect of His being, so too has He bestowed upon the Son the capacity to possess life within Himself, thereby establishing the Son as the ultimate source and giver of life, mirroring the Father's own self-existent vitality.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Jesus' extensive discourse in [John 5](/john/5 "Jesus Heals on the Sabbath and Claims Divine Authority"), delivered in response to the Jewish leaders' persecution for healing a man on the Sabbath ([John 5:1-9](/john/5-1-9 "Healing at the Pool of Bethesda")) and, more critically, for claiming God as His own Father, thereby making Himself equal with God ([John 5:18](/john/5-18 "Jesus Claims Equality with God")). The preceding verses ([John 5:19-25](/john/5-19-25 "The Son's Authority and Life-Giving Power")) establish the Son's complete dependence on and perfect unity with the Father, emphasizing that the Son does nothing on His own initiative but only what He sees the Father doing, and that the Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son. Verse 26, therefore, serves as a foundational theological statement underpinning Jesus' subsequent claims regarding His authority to raise the dead and execute judgment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jewish leaders' persecution of Jesus stemmed from their strict interpretation of Sabbath laws and, more significantly, their understanding of monotheism. For Jesus to claim equality with God, or to call God "His own Father" in a unique, ontological sense, was perceived as blasphemy, punishable by death ([John 5:18](/john/5-18 "Jesus' Claim of Equality")). In Jewish thought, "life" (Hebrew: *chayyim*) was ultimately from God alone, the "living God." The concept of a being possessing "life in himself" would have been understood as an attribute belonging exclusively to Yahweh. Jesus' assertion in [John 5:26](/john/5-26 "The Son Has Life in Himself") directly challenges these deeply held beliefs by attributing a divine, self-existent quality of life to Himself, a claim that would have been shocking and provocative to His Jewish audience, further fueling their opposition.

* **Key Themes:** [John 5:26](/john/5-26 "The Son Has Life in Himself") contributes significantly to several major themes within John's Gospel. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Jesus' Divinity and Co-equality with the Father**. By possessing "life in himself," Jesus shares an attribute unique to God, echoing the prologue's declaration that "the Word was God" ([John 1:1](/john/1-1 "The Word Was God")). Secondly, it highlights Jesus as the **Source of Life**, a recurring motif in John, where Jesus identifies Himself as "the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")) and promises "eternal life" to those who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God's Love and Eternal Life")). Thirdly, the verse underscores the **Unity and Harmony within the Godhead**, demonstrating that the Father's "giving" to the Son is not a transfer of a finite commodity but an expression of shared divine essence and perfect cooperation, where the Son perfectly mirrors the Father's nature and will ([John 5:19](/john/5-19 "The Son Does What He Sees the Father Doing")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **life (Greek, _zōē'_):** This term (G2222) refers to life in its fullest sense—not merely biological existence (*bios*), but divine, eternal, and spiritual life. In this context, it signifies self-existent, inherent vitality, an attribute belonging to God alone. Jesus' possession of *zōē* "in himself" means He is the uncreated, ultimate source of all life, both physical and spiritual, and not merely a recipient of it.
* **given (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** While "given" (G1325) might suggest a subordinate status, in the context of the divine relationship, it denotes the Father's eternal, loving communication of His own essence and authority to the Son within the Godhead. It speaks of an eternal relationship and shared nature rather than a temporal imparting of something previously lacking. The Father has eternally *constituted* the Son to possess this self-existent life, not merely granted it at a point in time.
* **in himself (Greek, _en heautoû'_):** The preposition "in" (G1722, _en_) combined with the reflexive pronoun "himself" (G1438, _heautoû_) powerfully emphasizes the intrinsic, independent, and non-derived nature of the life possessed by both the Father and the Son. It means life is not external to them, nor is it dependent on anything else; it is an essential part of their divine being. This phrase is crucial for understanding Jesus' claim to co-equality and self-existence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For as the Father hath life in himself;":** This clause establishes the foundational premise: God the Father possesses life inherently, as an uncreated, self-existent being. Life is not something He acquired or received; it is an essential attribute of His divine nature. He is the ultimate source and fount of all life. The "as" (G5618, _hōsper_) introduces a direct comparison, setting up the parallel with the Son.
* **"so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;":** This clause reveals the profound truth about the Son. Just as the Father possesses life intrinsically, so too has the Father eternally "given" or ordained the Son to possess this same inherent, self-existent life. This is not a delegation of a lesser power, but a declaration of shared divine essence and co-equality. The Son's possession of "life in himself" means He is equally the uncreated, independent, and ultimate source of life, mirroring the Father's divine attribute.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Parallelism** to draw a direct comparison between the Father and the Son, emphasizing their shared divine attribute of self-existent life. The structure "as X, so Y" highlights the perfect correspondence and unity between the two persons of the Godhead. This parallelism serves as a form of **Emphasis**, underscoring the profound and radical claim Jesus is making about His own divinity. Furthermore, the phrase "life in himself" acts as a powerful **Theological Statement**, asserting a unique, non-derived quality of existence that, in Jewish thought, belonged only to God. By applying this same phrase to Himself, Jesus implicitly claims full deity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the Trinitarian nature of God and the full deity of Jesus Christ. It asserts that the Son shares the very essence of the Father, particularly the attribute of self-existent life, which is unique to God. This means Jesus is not merely a prophet, a good teacher, or a created being, but God incarnate, possessing the inherent power to give and sustain life. His ability to impart eternal life to believers flows directly from this intrinsic divine attribute. The "giving" by the Father to the Son speaks not of a transfer to a subordinate, but of the eternal, relational dynamic within the Godhead, where the Son perfectly reflects and embodies the Father's divine nature and authority.

* [John 1:4](/john/1-4 "In Him Was Life")
* [John 10:28](/john/10-28 "Jesus Gives Eternal Life")
* [1 John 5:11-12](/1_john/5-11-12 "God Has Given Us Eternal Life in His Son")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound truth that Jesus has "life in himself" offers immense spiritual comfort and a solid foundation for our faith. It means that our salvation, our hope for resurrection, and our eternal future are rooted in a being who is not dependent on anything or anyone else for His existence or power. He is the ultimate source of life, not merely a conduit. This truth assures us that He is fully capable of fulfilling all His promises, including the promise of eternal life to those who believe in Him. It also calls us to a deeper worship and reverence for Christ, recognizing Him as God in the flesh, worthy of all adoration and trust. Our spiritual vitality is directly connected to our relationship with Him, the One who is Life itself.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding Jesus' inherent "life in himself" deepen your trust in His ability to grant eternal life?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge or affirm your understanding of Jesus' divinity?**
* **How should the truth of Jesus as the source of life impact your daily living and priorities?**

### FAQ
**Does "hath he given to the Son" imply that the Son is somehow lesser than the Father, or that His life is derived?**

Answer: No, the phrase "hath he given to the Son" (G1325, _dídōmi_) does not imply a lesser status or a derived life in the sense of the Son receiving something He previously lacked. In the context of the divine relationship within the Trinity, this "giving" signifies the eternal, ontological relationship between the Father and the Son, where the Father eternally constitutes the Son to possess the same self-existent life that He Himself has. It speaks to the Son's perfect co-equality and unity with the Father, where the Son is the perfect image and expression of the Father's divine essence. The Son's life is not borrowed or contingent, but intrinsic, just as the Father's is. This concept highlights the divine order and the Son's perfect obedience and oneness with the Father, rather than any subordination in nature. Jesus consistently emphasizes His unity with the Father, stating, "I and the Father are one" ([John 10:30](/john/10-30 "Jesus and the Father Are One")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 5:26](/john/5-26 "The Son Has Life in Himself") finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus' role as the Giver of eternal life and the Conqueror of death. Because the Father has eternally constituted the Son to have "life in himself," Jesus possesses the inherent, uncreated power to impart spiritual life to humanity. This is not merely a theoretical theological statement but the very foundation of the Gospel. Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life")). His self-existent life enables Him to lay down His life and take it up again ([John 10:18](/john/10-18 "Jesus Has Authority to Lay Down and Take Up His Life")), securing redemption and resurrection for all who believe. He is not just a path to life, but "the way, and the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")), embodying the very essence of life that He offers. Therefore, our hope for eternal life is firmly grounded in the reality that Christ Himself is the divine, self-existent source of all life, who shares the Father's very nature and power.

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

John 11:26

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 1:4

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Exodus 3:14

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

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.

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Jeremiah 10:10

But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.