John 8 50

John 8:50 kjv

And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

John 8:50 nkjv

And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

John 8:50 niv

I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.

John 8:50 esv

Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.

John 8:50 nlt

And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.

John 8 verses

John 8 50 Meaning

This verse presents Jesus' profound self-disclosure regarding His motives and relationship with the Father. Jesus declares that His actions are not driven by personal ambition for acclaim, as He does not seek His own honor or recognition. Instead, He reveals that there is a singular divine entity, God the Father, who is actively concerned with establishing truth, seeking justice, and ultimately bestowing genuine glory upon Jesus, while also acting as the ultimate Judge of all. This statement highlights Jesus' humility, His reliance on divine providence, and the Father's ultimate authority and righteous administration.

John 8 50 Context

John chapter 8 is a continuation of Jesus' intense confrontation with the Jewish leaders and the crowd during the Feast of Tabernacles. This entire chapter is saturated with Jesus' claims about His divine origin, His relationship with the Father, and His role as the Light of the world, contrasting sharply with the leaders' accusations of demon possession and their disbelief in His true identity. Specifically, verse 50 immediately follows Jesus' assertion that He honors His Father (v. 49) in response to the Jews' slanderous charge that He had a demon. Their hostility reached a peak, as they struggled to grasp His spiritual claims. In this hostile environment, Jesus clarifies His mission: unlike His accusers who seek human approval, His entire purpose is anchored in the will and validation of the Father. Historically, the Feast of Tabernacles was a time of national pride and anticipation of the Messiah, which provided a potent backdrop for Jesus' controversial claims and the leaders' opposition.

John 8 50 Word analysis

• I: Greek egō (ἐγὼ). Emphatic first-person pronoun, referring unequivocally to Jesus. It asserts His unique identity and personal commitment, highlighting His conscious choice to act this way.
• do not seek: Greek ouk zētō (οὐ ζητῶ). Ouk is a strong, absolute negation. Zētō means "to seek, search for, inquire after." Together, it signifies a deliberate, unwavering refusal or absence of desire to pursue self-exaltation. This is not a passive state but an active non-pursuit.
• My own glory: Greek tēn doxān tēn emēn (τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἐμήν). Doxān refers to honor, renown, praise, or splendor, often associated with God's manifest presence or divine approval (kabod in Hebrew thought). Tēn emēn makes it intensely personal – "my own." This phrase contrasts with the "glory" that comes from God and emphasizes that Jesus' pursuit is not for human recognition or for glory independently from God.
• there is One: Greek estin ho zētōn (ἔστιν ὁ ζητῶν). Estin means "there is," pointing to the existence of an entity. Ho is the definite article "the," implying a specific, well-known, and identifiable individual. This subtly refers to God the Father, understood within the immediate Johannine context and broader theology. It affirms that Jesus is not acting alone, nor is He unrecognized; there is a higher authority that actively supports Him.
• who seeks: Greek ho zētōn (ὁ ζητῶν). The participle here denotes a continuous action – "the one who is seeking." This seeking by the Father encompasses seeking out truth, upholding justice, and ultimately establishing Jesus' proper honor and vindication against false accusations.
• and judges: Greek kai ho krinōn (καὶ ὁ κρίνων). Kai is "and," connecting two ongoing actions of the Father. Krinōn is also a participle, meaning "the one who is judging" or "the one who is discerning and making a decision." This emphasizes the Father's ultimate authority and role in evaluating actions, determining truth, and administering righteous judgment. This judgment applies to Jesus (vindication) and to His accusers (condemnation).
• Words-group: I do not seek My own glory: This phrase highlights Jesus' humility and utter lack of self-promotion. It's a direct counter-statement to the common human tendency, especially among religious leaders of His time, to seek status, honor, and recognition from other people. His mission is selfless.
• Words-group: there is One who seeks and judges: This part attributes ultimate authority and action to the Father. It shifts the focus from Jesus' own non-seeking to the Father's active role. The Father seeks (truth, justice, Jesus' rightful glory) and judges (evaluates actions, vindicates Jesus, condemns sin), establishing divine order and consequences.

John 8 50 Bonus section

The repeated use of zētō (seek) in this verse draws a deliberate contrast between Jesus' non-seeking of self-glory and the Father's active "seeking" (vindication, truth, honor for the Son). This distinction is critical to understanding Jesus' character and mission. This idea of the Father seeking aligns with other instances in John, such as the Father seeking true worshipers (Jn 4:23). Furthermore, the role of "judge" for the Father resonates with Old Testament portrayals of Yahweh as the ultimate, righteous Judge, a theme Jesus repeatedly invokes to underscore the gravity of His words and the eternal consequences of rejecting Him. The Jewish leaders often assumed their judgment was final; Jesus asserted that there was a higher, divine court.

John 8 50 Commentary

John 8:50 encapsulates a central theme of Jesus' ministry: His perfect alignment with the Father's will and His indifference to human glory. Amidst escalating accusations and insults from those who failed to comprehend His divine nature, Jesus did not resort to self-defense or seeking personal vindication. Instead, He pointed to the Father as the One who not only validates His claims but also actively seeks to honor Him and render righteous judgment. This declaration serves as both a testament to Jesus' genuine humility and a prophetic warning. It asserts that true glory originates from God, not from human accolades, and that ultimately, God will expose truth and falsehood, vindicating His Son and judging those who rejected Him. Jesus' lack of self-glorification made His message trustworthy and highlighted the spiritual bankruptcy of His accusers, whose lives were often driven by seeking honor from others.