John 5 16

John 5:16 kjv

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

John 5:16 nkjv

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

John 5:16 niv

So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.

John 5:16 esv

And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

John 5:16 nlt

So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.

John 5 verses

John 5 16 Meaning

First John 5:16 instructs believers on prayer concerning fellow Christians who sin. It differentiates between a "sin not leading to death" and a "sin leading to death." For the former, believers are commanded to intercede, asking God for life for the one who has sinned, signifying God's grace and restoration for stumbling saints. For the latter, the passage states that the Apostle John does not recommend prayer, implying a state of unredeemable spiritual rebellion or apostasy that has sealed the individual's eternal fate.

John 5 16 Context

First John is an epistle written to believers to give them assurance of salvation, to correct false teachings, and to promote righteous living and love for one another. The immediate context of 1 John 5:16-17 follows John's assertion of confidence in prayer for things asked "according to His will" (1 John 5:14-15), which itself follows his central theme that believers, by virtue of their faith in Christ, possess "eternal life" (1 John 5:13).

Chapter 5 emphasizes faith in Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God (1 John 5:1, 5, 10-13), highlighting that those who are born of God overcome the world and live by His commands (1 John 5:2-4). Within this assurance of eternal life and the believer's overcoming nature, John addresses the reality of sin. The verse implies that even genuine believers may sin, necessitating intercession. Crucially, it stands against the backdrop of individuals who claimed to be believers but whose persistent sinfulness or ultimate rejection of Christ proved they were not truly "of us" (1 John 2:19), embodying the "sin leading to death." Thus, the passage distinguishes between the temporary moral failings of a true Christian and the apostasy of one who ultimately demonstrates a hardened heart against God's truth.

John 5 16 Word analysis

• If anyone: Greek ean tis (ἐάν τις). Signifies a hypothetical but possible scenario concerning any fellow believer.
• sees: Greek idē (ἴδῃ), from horaō (ὁράω). To perceive, understand, observe. Implies personal observation or knowledge of the sin.
• his brother: Greek ton adelphon autou (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ). Refers to a fellow Christian, a member of the family of God, indicating a relationship of shared faith.
• committing: Greek hamartanonta (ἁμαρτάνοντα), a present participle. Indicates an ongoing action or a state of sin, not necessarily a single instance.
• a sin not leading to death: Greek hamartian mē pros thanaton (ἁμαρτίαν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον). This phrase defines a sin that does not sever one's relationship with God permanently and is capable of forgiveness and repentance. It refers to the ordinary failings of genuine believers who stumble but are not apostate or permanently alienated from God. This type of sin is pardonable and common among even the redeemed.
• he shall ask: Greek aitēsei (αἰτήσει). A strong command or injunction for prayer, emphasizing that this is the believer's responsibility and privilege. It denotes making a request or pleading.
• and God will give him life: Greek kai dōsei autō zōēn (καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ ζωὴν). This speaks to divine intervention. "Life" here refers to spiritual vitality and fellowship with God, a restoration from the spiritual effects of sin, not necessarily physical life. It implies forgiveness and renewed communion.
• for those who commit sin not leading to death: Greek tois hamartanousin mē pros thanaton (τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσιν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον). Reiterates the focus on a specific category of sin, clarifying that the 'life' is given for those engaged in this type of transgression.
• There is sin leading to death: Greek esti hamartia pros thanaton (ἔστιν ἁμαρτία πρὸς θάνατον). A stark declaration of the existence of another category of sin. This implies a sin that signifies a hardened, irreversible rejection of God and Christ, rendering repentance impossible from a human perspective. It is widely interpreted as apostasy or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—a decisive turning away from saving truth previously embraced.
• I do not say that one should pray for that: Greek ouch peri ekeinēs legō hina erotēsē (οὐ περὶ ἐκείνης λέγω ἵνα ἐρωτήσῃ). A deliberate prohibition against prayer for this specific "sin leading to death." This is not a limitation on God's power to save, but rather an acknowledgment of the state of the one committing the sin—their heart has become completely resistant to the Holy Spirit's drawing, making repentance (which is God's gift) unattainable for them. It acknowledges God's judicial determination regarding such an individual.

John 5 16 Bonus section

While 1 John 5:16 delineates "sin leading to death," it's vital to recognize that John elsewhere emphasizes the marks of a true believer are not found in practicing sin (hamartian poiei – 1 John 3:4; hamartian prassōn – 1 John 3:9). A child of God "does not keep on sinning" (ouch hamartian poiei – 1 John 3:9), meaning sin is not their consistent way of life. The "sin not leading to death" is a stumble by one who genuinely abides in Christ and does not characterize their life's direction, contrasting with those who make a lifestyle of sin. The ultimate identification of the "sin leading to death" in an individual is reserved for God, reminding us of His sovereignty over salvation and judgment. Our human role is primarily one of fervent prayer and ongoing outreach to those around us, holding to the hope of repentance as long as there is life, yet acknowledging divine boundaries for extreme cases of willful, final rejection.

John 5 16 Commentary

1 John 5:16 offers profound insight into the nature of sin, God's grace, and the efficacy and boundaries of intercessory prayer. John categorizes sin into two forms: "not leading to death" and "leading to death." The "sin not leading to death" describes the daily failings and occasional transgressions of genuine believers. While serious, these sins do not sever the saving relationship with God because Christ is the believer's advocate (1 John 2:1), and repentance and forgiveness are readily available (1 John 1:9). For these sins, intercessory prayer is enjoined, demonstrating brotherly love and contributing to the spiritual restoration of the sinning believer. When a believer prays for a brother caught in such sin, God's promise is to grant "life" – implying spiritual restoration, renewal of fellowship, and ongoing forgiveness, in keeping with His will (1 John 5:14-15). This underscores God's mercy and desire for His children's restoration, validating the church's role in mutual care.

The "sin leading to death," however, is a qualitatively different offense. It is not about a specific, egregious act, but a final, irreversible posture of heart and will against God, commonly understood as ultimate apostasy or the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This is not simply a falling away from faith temporarily, but a definitive, conscious rejection of Christ after having genuinely known and experienced divine truth, reaching a point of no return where the heart becomes so hardened that repentance is impossible. The command "I do not say that one should pray for that" signifies divine recognition that the individual has passed a threshold beyond which saving grace, particularly the gift of repentance, is no longer available to them. This is not a lack of power in prayer or grace in God, but rather a reflection of the unchangeable, hardened state of the apostate. It cautions believers against futile prayer for those who have consciously and permanently chosen rebellion against the truth of the gospel.

This passage is a balance of assurance and solemn warning. For true believers, it confirms the availability of forgiveness and the power of intercessory prayer. For those who ultimately abandon Christ, it points to a terrible, irreversible spiritual judgment. Since discerning which sin is "to death" in specific cases is exceptionally difficult and belongs to God, believers are generally encouraged to pray for all, unless God makes it unequivocally clear that a particular individual has crossed this fatal line, a clarity rarely granted. Thus, in practice, believers should generally pray for the repentance and salvation of all, understanding that only God truly knows the heart's ultimate state.