John 5:27 kjv
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
John 5:27 nkjv
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
John 5:27 niv
And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
John 5:27 esv
And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
John 5:27 nlt
And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.
John 5 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 5:22 | "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son..." | Father delegates all judgment to the Son. |
| Acts 10:42 | "...that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead." | Jesus is the appointed Judge of all. |
| Acts 17:31 | "...He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained..." | God appointed a Man (Jesus) to judge the world. |
| 2 Tim 4:1 | "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead..." | Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead. |
| Rom 2:16 | "...in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel." | Jesus judges inner secrets. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man... and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom..." | Old Testament prophecy of a "Son of Man" receiving authority and judgment. |
| Matt 25:31-32 | "When the Son of Man comes in His glory... all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them..." | The Son of Man will come in glory to judge nations. |
| Matt 19:28 | "...you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." | Judgment by Son of Man with His followers. |
| Matt 16:27 | "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." | Son of Man's coming brings righteous rewards/judgment. |
| Luke 21:27 | "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." | The Son of Man's visible, powerful return. |
| Mk 14:62 | "Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'" | Jesus identifies Himself as the judging Son of Man. |
| Rev 1:7 | "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him..." | Vision of Jesus (the Son of Man figure) returning for judgment. |
| Rev 14:14 | "Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown..." | Son of Man image as divine judge/harvester. |
| Jn 5:19 | "Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do..." | Jesus' authority is derivative from the Father. |
| Jn 5:21 | "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He wishes." | Jesus possesses life-giving authority linked to judgment. |
| Jn 3:35 | "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand." | All authority is entrusted to the Son by the Father. |
| Matt 28:18 | "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'" | Jesus' post-resurrection universal authority. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." | All believers will face Christ's judgment. |
| Heb 9:27 | "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..." | Universal reality of post-death judgment. |
| Rev 20:11-13 | "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it... And the dead were judged according to their works..." | The final judgment before God's throne. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." | Jesus' humanity is central to His qualification. |
| Heb 2:17-18 | "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." | Jesus' solidarity in humanity ensures righteous and merciful judgment. |
John 5 verses
John 5 27 Meaning
John 5:27 reveals that God the Father has given Jesus Christ, the Son, specific authority to execute all judgment. This momentous role is conferred upon Him because of His unique identity as the Son of Man. This signifies that Jesus, being both truly divine and truly human, possesses the perfect understanding, compassion, and righteousness required to fairly assess and judge all humanity, reflecting the Father's will and purpose. It underscores the Father's absolute delegation of His judicial prerogative to the Son, making Jesus the final arbiter of eternal destiny.
John 5 27 Context
This verse is embedded in John chapter 5, which immediately follows Jesus' healing of a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. This act stirred intense opposition from Jewish leaders, who began persecuting Jesus for both healing on the Sabbath and for claiming God as His Father, thereby "making Himself equal with God" (Jn 5:18). Jesus' discourse from verse 19 onward is a profound theological defense, explaining His divine authority, His perfect unity with the Father, and His role in giving life (Jn 5:21), raising the dead (Jn 5:25), and executing judgment. Verse 27, therefore, asserts that the Father has deliberately entrusted the immense power of judgment to Jesus, grounding this transfer of authority in Jesus' unique nature as the Son of Man. This direct claim to judicial authority, traditionally reserved for God alone, served as a profound challenge and direct polemic against the contemporary Jewish understanding of divine prerogatives.
John 5 27 Word analysis
- and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting this statement to the preceding discourse. It emphasizes that this judicial authority is a direct consequence and integral part of the Son's comprehensive delegated powers from the Father, particularly His authority over life and death mentioned in the preceding verses.
- has given (ἔδωκεν - edōken): Aorist active indicative verb, signifying a completed action by the Father with ongoing, enduring results. It indicates a deliberate and sovereign act of bestowal or commission. This is not authority Jesus claimed for Himself, but authority conferred upon Him by the Father.
- him (αὐτῷ - autō): Dative pronoun, referring explicitly to Jesus, the Son.
- authority (ἐξουσίαν - exousian): A crucial term. It means "right, power, dominion, liberty to act." It's more than mere capability (δύναμις - dunamis); it denotes legitimate, delegated power and the prerogative to act. Here, it refers to the legal and moral right to pronounce and enforce judgment.
- to execute (ποιεῖν - poiein): An infinitive, meaning "to do, make, perform, accomplish." It indicates the active implementation of the judgment process. Jesus doesn't just hold the right to judge, but He carries out the judgment.
- judgment (κρίσιν - krisin): This term refers to the act of discerning, separating, passing sentence, or condemning. It encompasses the entire judicial process, including both acquittal and condemnation, based on righteousness and justice.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- and has given him authority to execute judgment: This phrase powerfully asserts the Father's absolute sovereignty and His deliberate delegation of a supreme divine function to the Son. This authority is not usurped but bestowed, underscoring the Son's obedience and intimate relationship with the Father. The concept of delegated judgment means that while the Father remains the ultimate source of all authority, He has chosen to exercise His judicial function through His Son. This direct contradicts the perception of the Jewish leaders, who saw Jesus' claims as blasphemous attempts to elevate Himself rather than acknowledging His divine commission.
- because (ὅτι - hoti): A causal conjunction, introducing the definitive reason for Jesus receiving this supreme judicial authority. The justification that follows is paramount.
- he is the Son of Man (Υἱὸς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου - Huios tou Anthropou): This title is profoundly significant.
- Old Testament Root: It primarily echoes Daniel 7:13-14, where "one like a son of man" comes with the clouds of heaven, is presented before the Ancient of Days, and receives "dominion and glory and a kingdom." In Daniel's vision, this figure is given judicial power and an eternal rule. This connection links Jesus directly to a transcendent, eschatological, and divine figure appointed to reign and judge.
- Humanity: Crucially, the phrase "Son of Man" also highlights Jesus' full and authentic humanity. Having lived, suffered, and been tempted as a human being (Heb 2:17-18), He is uniquely qualified to understand and justly judge the human condition. His identification with humanity provides a foundation for fair, compassionate, and empathetic judgment, yet unwavering in its righteousness.
- Mediatorial Role: As the God-Man, Jesus serves as the perfect mediator and judge. He is intimately connected to both the divine source of law and the human recipients of judgment, making Him the perfect personification of justice and mercy.
John 5 27 Bonus section
The linkage between John 5:26 ("For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself") and John 5:27 ("and has given him authority to execute judgment...") is critical. One must have inherent, life-giving power to possess the authority for ultimate judgment, as judgment fundamentally deals with issues of eternal life or death. The capacity to bestow life intrinsically qualifies one to adjudicate life's final outcomes. Furthermore, Jesus' repeated use of "Son of Man" (a self-designation used more than any other title in the Gospels) was a deliberate, layered claim. To some, it may have sounded simply human; to those with spiritual ears tuned to the Old Testament, it carried immense, eschatological weight, hinting at divine authority and future glory, echoing Daniel's prophecy without overtly proclaiming kingship or deity in a way that would prematurely provoke conflict before His appointed time. The controversy ignited by Jesus' claims to equality with God is paradoxically resolved by His affirmation of the Father's delegation, demonstrating that His authority is divine precisely because it comes from God, yet exercised through His uniquely qualified human nature.
John 5 27 Commentary
John 5:27 distills the core of Jesus' authority and identity as revealed by the Father. It clarifies that Jesus' right to judge is not merely an attribute of His divine nature but a specific, conscious entrustment by God the Father. This delegation is not arbitrary; it is expressly "because he is the Son of Man." This designation signifies that Jesus' role as judge is uniquely fitted to His incarnate identity. As the Son of Man, He perfectly embodies both divinity and humanity. His divine nature grants Him absolute righteousness, omniscience, and power, while His human nature provides complete understanding and empathy for the human experience. Therefore, the judgment He executes will be absolutely just, without partiality, fully informed, and compassionate, serving as the ultimate demonstration of God's perfect justice, carried out by one who intimately knows and represents humanity. For believers, this truth underscores the comforting knowledge that their judge is one who profoundly understands their struggles and has even become one with them. For non-believers, it's a solemn reminder of an inescapable, perfectly righteous judgment by the unique Man ordained by God.