The Meaning of John 5:44 Explained

John 5:44

KJV: How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

YLT: how are ye able -- ye -- to believe, glory from one another receiving, and the glory that is from God alone ye seek not?

Darby: How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and seek not the glory which comes from God alone?

ASV: How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How  can  ye  believe,  which receive  honour  one of another,  and  seek  not  the honour  that [cometh] from  God  only? 

What does John 5:44 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus" critics could not believe on Him because they preferred the praise of men to the praise of God. They consistently chose what was popular over what was true. In contrast, Jesus lived solely for God"s glory and did not pander to the praise of people (cf. Romans 2:29).

Context Summary

John 5:39-47 - Willful Rejection Of Truth Condemned
Our Lord was accused by the Jews of Sabbath breaking. There were many grounds on which He might have claimed exoneration, but He forbore to use them. He dwelt on these things very lightly, lest He should direct men's attention to Himself, His one aim being to bring glory to His Father. In utter self-oblivion; in distinct refusal to act on His own authority-that is, to come in His own name; with the one desire to reveal the inner source of His life, Jesus said, I am come in my Father's name, John 5:43. Let us learn not to be too careful of our own reputation, standing, or honor; but to live at first-hand, taking our orders and the power to fulfill them direct from Christ. Too often we consult this man's opinion and that person's whim, and our course becomes tortuous and uncertain. What new interest we should take in the Pentateuch, if we really believed! John 5:46. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 5

1  Jesus on the Sabbath day cures him who was diseased thirty-eight years
10  The Jews therefore object, and persecute him for it
17  He answers for himself, and reproves them, showing by the testimony of his Father,
31  of John,
36  of his works,
39  and of the Scriptures, who he is

Greek Commentary for John 5:44

How can ye believe? [πως δυναστε υμεις πιστευσαι]
Emphasis on “ye” From the only God B and W omit τεου — theou which is certainly meant even if not genuine here. See John 17:3; Romans 16:27; 1 Timothy 6:15. [source]
Ye believe []
Again the emphatic ye, the reason for the emphasis being given in the succeeding clause. [source]
Which receive [λαμβάνοντες]
Literally, receiving (as ye do): seeing that ye receive. [source]
Seek not the honor that cometh from God only [καὶ τὴν δόξαν τὴν μόνου Θεοῦ οὐ ζητεῖτε]
The Rev. gives it capitally, following the Greek order: and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not. Not God only, which entirely overlooks the force of the definite article; but the only God. Compare 1 Timothy 6:15, 1 Timothy 6:16; John 17:3; Romans 16:27. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 5:44

John 12:43 Praise [δόξαν]
Much better, Rev., glory, because suggesting a contrast with the vision of divine glory referred to in John 12:41. Compare John 5:44. [source]
John 5:41 Glory from men [δοχαν παρα αντρωπων]
Mere honour and praise Jesus does not expect from men (John 5:34). This is not wounded pride, for ambition is not Christ‘s motive. He is unlike the Jews (John 5:44; John 12:43; Matthew 6:1.) and seeks not his own glory, but the glory and fellowship of the Father (John 1:14; John 2:11; John 7:18). Paul did not seek glory from men (1 Thessalonians 2:6). [source]
John 8:50 But I seek not mine own glory [εγω δε ου ζητω την δοχαν μου]
As they did not seek the glory of God (John 5:44; John 8:4). And judgeth The Father judges between you and me, though the Son is the Judge of mankind (John 5:22). “It is only the δοχα — doxa (glory) that comes from God that is worth having” (Bernard). [source]
Romans 3:23 The glory of God [τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ]
Interpretations vary greatly. The glory of personal righteousness; that righteousness which God judges to be glory; the image of God in man; the glorying or boasting of righteousness before God; the approbation of God; the state of future glory. The dominant meanings of δόξα in classical Greek are notion, opinion, conjecture, repute. See on Revelation 1:6. In biblical usage: 1. Recognition, honor, Philemon 1:11; 1 Peter 1:7. It is joined with τιμή honor 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 2:7, Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 1:17. Opposed to ἀτιμὶα dishonor 1 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Corinthians 11:15; 1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Corinthians 6:8. With ζητέω toseek, 1 Thessalonians 2:6; John 5:44; John 7:18. With λαμβάνω toreceive, John 5:41, John 5:44. With δίδωμι togive, Luke 17:18; John 9:24. In the ascriptive phrase glory be to, Luke 2:14, and ascriptions in the Epistles. Compare Luke 14:10. 2. The glorious appearance which attracts the eye, Matthew 4:8; Luke 4:6; Luke 12:27. Hence parallel with εἰκών image μορφή form ὁμοίωμα likeness εἶδος appearancefigure, Romans 1:23; Psalm 17:15; Numbers 12:8. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The glory of God is used of the aggregate of the divine attributes and coincides with His self-revelation, Exodus 33:22; compare πρόσωπον face Exodus 33:23. Hence the idea is prominent in the redemptive revelation (Isaiah 60:3; Romans 6:4; Romans 5:2). It expresses the form in which God reveals Himself in the economy of salvation (Romans 9:23; 1 Timothy 1:11; Ephesians 1:12). It is the means by which the redemptive work is carried on; for instance, in calling, 2 Peter 1:3; in raising up Christ and believers with Him to newness of life, Romans 6:4; in imparting strength to believers, Ephesians 3:16; Colossians 1:11; as the goal of Christian hope, Romans 5:2; Romans 8:18, Romans 8:21; Titus 2:13. It appears prominently in the work of Christ - the outraying of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3), especially in John. See John 1:14; John 2:11, etc. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The sense of the phrase here is: they are coming short of the honor or approbation which God bestows. The point under discussion is the want of righteousness. Unbelievers, or mere legalists, do not approve themselves before God by the righteousness which is of the law. They come short of the approbation which is extended only to those who are justified by faith. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 Timothy 1:17 The only wise God [μόνῳ θεῷ]
Wise should be omitted. Rend. The only God. Σοφῷ wisewas interpolated from Romans 16:27- the only instance in which Paul applies the term to God. Comp. Judges 1:4, Judges 1:25; Luke 5:21; John 5:44. [source]
1 Timothy 1:17 Incorruptible [απταρτωι]
As an epithet of God also in Romans 1:23. Invisible (αορατωι — aoratōi). Epithet of God in Colossians 1:15. The only God So Romans 16:27; John 5:44; John 17:3. For ever and ever (εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων — eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn). “Unto the ages of ages.” Cf. Ephesians 3:21 “of the age of the ages.” [source]
1 Timothy 1:17 The only God [μονωι τεωι]
So Romans 16:27; John 5:44; John 17:3. For ever and ever (εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων — eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn). “Unto the ages of ages.” Cf. Ephesians 3:21 “of the age of the ages.” [source]
1 John 1:5 We have heard of Him [ἀκηκόαμεν ἀπ ' αὐτοῦ]
A form of expression not found elsewhere in John, who commonly uses παρ ' αὐτοῦ . See on John 6:46. The phrase here points to the ultimate and not necessarily the immediate source of the message. Not only John, but others in earlier times had heard this message. Compare 1 Peter 1:10, 1 Peter 1:11. Ἁπό points to the source παρά to the giver. Thus, John 5:41, “ I receive not honor from ( παρά ) men.” They are not the bestowers of honor upon me.” John 5:44, “How can ye believe which receive honor from ( παρά ) one another;” the honor which men have to give, “and seek not the honor that cometh from ( παρά ) God;” the honor which God alone bestows. On the other hand, 1 John 3:22, “Whatsoever we ask we receive from ( ἀπό ) Him,” the ultimate source of our gifts. So Matthew 17:25: “Of ( ἀπό ) whom do the kings of the earth take custom - of ( ἀπό ) their own children or of ( ἀπό ) strangers?” What is the legitimate and ultimate source of revenue in states? [source]

What do the individual words in John 5:44 mean?

How are able you to believe glory from one another receiving and the that [is] the only God not you seek
πῶς δύνασθε ὑμεῖς πιστεῦσαι δόξαν παρὰ ἀλλήλων λαμβάνοντες καὶ τὴν τὴν τοῦ μόνου Θεοῦ οὐ ζητεῖτε

πῶς  How 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πῶς  
Sense: how, in what way.
δύνασθε  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
πιστεῦσαι  to  believe 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
δόξαν  glory 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: δόξα  
Sense: opinion, judgment, view.
ἀλλήλων  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
λαμβάνοντες  receiving 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
τὴν  that  [is] 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μόνου  only 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: μόνος  
Sense: alone (without a companion), forsaken, destitute of help, alone, only, merely.
Θεοῦ  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ζητεῖτε  you  seek 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ζητέω  
Sense: to seek in order to find.