John 5:21
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For as the Father raises up the dead, and vivifies them; even so the Son vivifies whom he will.
American King James Version (AKJV)
For as the Father raises up the dead, and vivifies them; even so the Son vivifies whom he will.
American Standard Version (ASV)
For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
In the same way, as the Father gives life to the dead, even so the Son gives life to those to whom he is pleased to give it.
Webster's Revision
For as the Father raiseth the dead, and reviveth them; even so the Son reviveth whom he will.
World English Bible
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
English Revised Version (ERV)
For as the Father raiseth the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son also quickeneth whom he will.
Clarke's John 5:21 Bible Commentary
As the Father raised up the dead - This he did in the case of the widow's son at Sarepta, 1 Kings 17:22, by the ministry of the Prophet Elijah. And again, in the case of the Shunamite's son, 2 Kings 4:32-35, by the ministry of the Prophet Elisha.
The Son quickeneth whom he will - He raiseth from death to life whomsoever he pleases. So he did, for he raised the ruler's daughter, Mark 5:35-42; the widow's son at Nain, Luke 7:11-15; and Lazarus, at Bethany, John 11:14-44.
Whom he will. Here our Lord points out his sovereign power and independence; he gives life according to his own will - not being obliged to supplicate for the power by which it was done, as the prophets did; his own will being absolute and sufficient in every case.
Barnes's John 5:21 Bible Commentary
As the Father raiseth up the dead - God has power to raise the dead. By his power it had been done in at least two instances - by the prophet Elijah, in the case of the son of the widow of Sarepta 1 Kings 17:22, and by the prophet Elisha, in the case of the Shunamite's son, 2 Kings 4:32-35. The Jews did not doubt that God had power to raise the dead. Jesus here expressly affirms it, and says he has the same power.
Quickeneth them - Gives them "life." This is the sense of the word "quickeneth" throughout the Bible.
Even so - In the same manner. By the same authority and power. The power of raising the dead must be one of the highest attributes of the divinity. As Jesus affirms that he has the power to do this "in the same manner" as the Father, so it follows that he must be equal with God.
The Son quickeneth - Gives life to. This may either refer to his raising the dead from their graves, or to his giving spiritual life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. The former he did in the case of Lazarus and the widow's son at Nain, John 11:43-44; Luke 7:14-15. The latter he did in the case of all those who were converted by his power, and still does it in any instance of conversion.
Whom he will - It was in the power of Jesus to raise up any of the dead as well as Lazarus. It depended on his will whether Lazarus and the widow's son should come to life. So it depends on his will whether sinners shall live. He has power to renew them, and the renewing of the heart is as much the result of his "will" as the raising of the dead.
Wesley's John 5:21 Bible Commentary
5:21 For - He declares which are those greater works, raising the dead, and judging the world. The power of quickening whom he will follows from the power of judging.These two, quickening and judging, are proposed 5:21,22.The acquittal of believers, which presupposes judgment, is treated of 5:24; the quickening some of the dead, 5:25; and the general resurrection, John 5:28.