John 5:25 · Bible study
John 5:25 Commentary: The Dead Hear and Live Now
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Commentary on John 5:25: Jesus says the dead hear His voice and live. The 'now is' points to spiritual resurrection through the Gospel.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus, the Son of God, gives spiritual life now to those who are dead in sin through the power of his spoken word.
- Key words: “dead” (νεκροί), can mean physically or spiritually lifeless; “hear” (ἀκούω), implies understanding and obedience; “voice” (φωνή), authoritative utterance.
- Main debate: Whether this verse refers only to spiritual resurrection, or also to physical resurrections like Lazarus, or to both simultaneously.
- Theological theme: Realized eschatology, the end-time resurrection life breaks into the present through Christ’s ministry.
- Best use: Evangelistic preaching and personal assurance: Christ’s voice is still the instrument of new creation.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.
KJV King James Version 1769
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`Verily, verily, I say to you--There cometh an hour, and it now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard shall live;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that have heard shall live.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Amen, amen, I say unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
De cierto, de cierto os digo: Vendrá hora, y ahora es, cuando los muertos oirán la voz del Hijo de Dios: y los que oyeren vivirán.
Em verdade, em verdade vos digo, que a hora vem, e agora é, quando os mortos ouvirão a voz do Filho de Deus, e aos que ao ouvirem, viverão.
En vérité, en vérité, je vous le dis, l’ heure vient, et elle est déjà venue, où les morts entendront la voix du Fils de Dieu; et ceux qui l’ auront entendue vivront.
Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: Es kommt die Stunde und ist schon jetzt, daß die Toten werden die Stimme des Sohnes Gottes hören; und die sie hören werden, die werden leben.
Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: De ure komt, en is nu, wanneer de doden zullen horen de stem des Zoons Gods, en die ze gehoord hebben, zullen leven.
In verità, in verità io vi dico: L’ora viene, anzi è già venuta, che i morti udranno la voce del Figliuol di Dio; e quelli che l’avranno udita, vivranno.
Zaprawdę, zaprawdę powiadam wam: Że idzie godzina i teraz jest, gdy umarli usłyszą głos Syna Bożego, a którzy usłyszą, żyć będą.
Истинно, истинно говорю вам: наступает время, и настало уже, когда мертвые услышат глас Сына Божия и, услышав, оживут.
我實實在在地 告訴 你們， 時候 將到， 現在 就是了， 死人 要聽見 神 兒子 的聲音， 聽見的 人就要活了。
Truly I say to you, The time is coming, it has even now come, when the voice of the Son of God will come to the ears of the dead, and those hearing it will have life.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 5:25
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that this verse describes a present spiritual resurrection, though some allow a secondary reference to physical resurrections. The phrase “the hour comes, and now is” is the key: Jesus claims that the life-giving power of his voice is already at work. Calvin, Gill, and the Cambridge Bible all argue that “the dead” here are those spiritually dead in sin, and “hearing” is the effectual call of the Gospel that brings eternal life. Barnes notes that the language can apply to both spiritual and physical resurrection, but the “now is” forces a present reality that bodily resurrection does not yet fulfill. Wesley and Clarke suggest the verse encompasses three kinds of death, natural, spiritual, eternal, with the primary emphasis on the spiritual life given through Christ. The consensus: Jesus exercises divine authority to give life to the spiritually dead, and this work began during his earthly ministry and continues through the preaching of his word.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Spiritual resurrection only: The 'now is' cannot fit a future bodily resurrection; the parallel in vv.28–29 uses different language ('tombs'), and Calvin, Cambridge Bible, and Gill argue this verse describes the present quickening of the soul.
- Spiritual and physical combined: Barnes and Wesley note that Scripture often uses one set of terms for two events; the dead in verse 25 may include both spiritually dead and those physically dead whom Jesus would raise (Lazarus, etc.), with the 'hearing' being Christ's command.
- Primarily spiritual, anticipating physical resurrection: Many modern scholars see the verse as a proleptic statement: spiritual resurrection now is the guarantee and first installment of the bodily resurrection to come, forming a bridge between v.24 and vv.28–29.
What is clear: Jesus claims to have authority to give life to the dead, whether spiritual or physical, and that this life-conferring power is already operative through his voice.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'the dead' | All commentators agree that 'the dead' includes those spiritually dead in sin, separated from God. | Some (e.g., Wesley, Barnes) allow a secondary reference to the physically dead whom Jesus raised (Jairus' daughter, Lazarus); others (Calvin, Cambridge Bible) insist the context demands only spiritual death, reserving physical resurrection for verses 28, 29. |
| Meaning of 'hear' | Hearing is more than auditory, it involves receiving, understanding, and believing. | Reformed commentators (Calvin, Gill) see 'hearing' as the effectual call that only the elect receive; Wesleyan-Arminian traditions (Clarke) emphasize a universal offer where any who hear may respond. |
| Relationship between verses 25 and 28, 29 | Both passages speak of the dead hearing the Son’s voice and living. | Some (Barnes) treat them as two aspects of one resurrection; others (Cambridge Bible, Gill) separate them sharply: verse 25 is spiritual resurrection now, verses 28, 29 are physical resurrection at the end. |
| The 'hour now is' | This phrase points to a present, inaugurated reality in Christ’s ministry, not merely a future hope. | Debate concerns how 'now' relates to the final consummation: some see it as the beginning of the messianic age already realized, others as a foretaste that awaits full completion. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus speaks these words in the midst of a heated debate with Jewish leaders after healing a paralytic on the Sabbath (John 5:1, 18). The religious authorities accuse him of breaking the Sabbath and of making himself equal with God. Jesus responds with a discourse on his unique relationship with the Father, asserting that he does the same works as the Father, including raising the dead and executing judgment.
In Jewish thought, the resurrection of the dead was a future event at the end of the age. Daniel 12:2 spoke of many awakening to everlasting life or shame. The Pharisees believed in a bodily resurrection; the Sadducees did not. Jesus here introduces a startling claim: the resurrection power is not only future but is breaking into the present through his own voice. The phrase “the hour comes, and now is” echoes his earlier words to the Samaritan woman about true worship (John 4:23). It signals what scholars call “realized eschatology”, the blessings of the age to come are already available through Christ.
The immediate context of John 5:24, 27 shows a progression: hearing Jesus’ word brings eternal life (v.24); the dead hear the Son of God’s voice and live (v.25); the Son has life in himself and authority to execute judgment (vv.26, 27). Then in verses 28, 29 Jesus speaks of a future hour when all in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth to resurrection. The parallel language but chronological shift (now vs. future) strongly suggests that verse 25 describes a different kind of resurrection, spiritual life given in the present through faith.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries and critical editions note no significant textual variants for John 5:25. The phrase “the hour comes, and now is” appears consistently in the manuscript tradition, with minor spelling variations but no change in meaning. The textual basis is stable.
Reception History
In the early church, this verse was used to affirm Christ’s divinity and his power to give life, often cited in debates against those who denied the full deity of the Son. Augustine saw here a demonstration of God’s sovereign grace: only those whom the Father draws can hear and live. During the Reformation, both Catholic and Protestant interpreters emphasized spiritual death and the necessity of grace; Calvin used the verse to argue for total depravity and effectual calling. In the Wesleyan revival, the verse became a favorite for preaching the present possibility of new birth. Modern scholarship, building on realized eschatology, reads it as a key example of John’s “already but not yet” framework. Across traditions, John 5:25 has been woven into hymns of conversion and sung at baptisms as a declaration that the dead are raised to life in Christ.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Who are “the dead”? Not only those in graves, but all who are separated from God by sin, lacking spiritual life and responsiveness to God.
- What is “the voice of the Son of God”? The authoritative word of Christ, his Gospel, his commands, his call. This voice carries resurrection power.
- What does it mean to “hear and live”? Hearing here is not mere sound perception but receiving with faith. Those who hear in this way receive spiritual life now and eternal life forever.
Five-point outline
- The solemn assurance: Jesus begins “Verily, verily” (ἀμὴν ἀμὴν), an oath-like affirmation that underlines the certainty of what follows.
- The present hour: “Comes and now is”, the kingdom of God is already breaking in. Spiritual resurrection is not postponed; it happens whenever Christ’s voice is heard with faith.
- The subjects: “The dead” refers primarily to the spiritually dead (cf. Eph 2:1), though the same language will later describe physical resurrection (v.28).
- The agent: The Son of God, who shares the Father’s power to give life (John 5:21). His voice is the instrument of creation and re-creation.
- The result: “They that hear shall live”, a life that begins now and reaches completion at the final resurrection.
Illustration hooks
- A person in a coma cannot respond to any voice until awakened. When Christ’s word reaches a heart dead in sin, it creates the ability to hear and respond, like a defibrillator that restarts a stopped heart.
- Think of a legal declaration: a judge speaks and a prisoner is set free. Jesus’ voice doesn’t just announce life; it confers life, as when a king’s “You are pardoned” actually changes a person’s status.
- Every time the Gospel is preached, the “hour now is” arrives afresh. A congregation sitting in pews may include both those who have heard and live, and those who are still dead, until the voice of Christ reaches them.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If I’m a Christian, why do I still struggle with sin? Doesn’t spiritual resurrection mean I should be completely alive?”
- “How can I know if I have truly ‘heard’ the Son of God’s voice, or if I’m just going through religious motions?”
- “What about people who have never heard of Jesus, can they be raised to spiritual life without hearing the Gospel?”
Leading a Discussion
This short verse sits at the center of Jesus’ claim to divine authority. It challenges us to consider what it means to be spiritually dead and to experience resurrection through Christ’s word. As you discuss, remember that the same voice that raised Lazarus from the tomb speaks to us today.
Discussion questions
- Read John 5:24, 25 together. What connection do you see between “hearing my word and believing” (v.24) and “hearing the voice of the Son of God” (v.25)?
- Why does Jesus emphasize that the hour “now is”? What difference does that make for how we understand salvation?
- In what ways are people “dead” apart from Christ, according to this passage and other Scriptures you know (e.g., Ephesians 2:1, 5)?
- What does it mean to “hear” the voice of the Son of God? Is it the same as hearing a sermon, or something more?
- How does the promise that “those who hear will live” encourage you personally? Are there areas where you still feel “dead” and need to hear his voice afresh?
- Jesus distinguishes between those who hear and live (v.25) and those who are in the tombs (vv.28, 29). Why might he separate these two resurrections?
- What practical steps can you take this week to place yourself under the voice of the Son of God, through Scripture, prayer, or Christian community, so that you continue to receive his life?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Luke 9:60 | But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.” |
| Luke 15:24 | for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate. |
| Luke 15:32 | But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’” |
| John 4:21 | Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. |
| John 4:23 | But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. |
| John 5:21 | For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. |
| John 5:28 | Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice |
| John 8:43 | Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke distinguishes three kinds of death—natural, spiritual, and eternal—and applies Jesus' promise of hearing his voice to each. The "hour now is" refers to spiritual resurrection from sin, while the coming hour points to the general bodily resurrection and final judgment.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that Jesus's words about the dead hearing his voice and living describe two events at once: the present spiritual awakening of sinners and the future bodily resurrection. He compares this to other biblical passages where the same language covers similar but distinct events, such as the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the world.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Christ's repeated oath reveals how urgently He desires our salvation and how vital it is that we trust the Gospel's life-giving power. He insists this refers to spiritual death, not physical resurrection, and that we are completely dead in sin, with no inherent ability to reach toward God's kingdom on our own.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator insists that raising the dead in these verses refers to spiritual life from moral death, not literal bodily resurrection. The phrase "the hour is coming and now is" can only apply to a present spiritual awakening, not the future general resurrection. Christ's ministry was already winning souls from spiritual death.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes that Christ speaks of a present spiritual resurrection, not only a future physical one. The "dead" are those spiritually lifeless, and the "hour now is" means that right now, hearing Christ's voice brings them to life, not just at the last day.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that this verse describes a spiritual resurrection, not a physical one. The dead are those dead in sin, the voice is the Gospel, and those who hear it receive spiritual life now. He argues this fits the context and contrasts with the future bodily resurrection mentioned later.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB distinguishes "hearing his word" from "hearing the voice of the Son of God." The grander phrase signals that Jesus speaks to people who are spiritually dead, and His voice itself carries resurrection power to make them live.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that Jesus's Sabbath work and his calling God his own Father are a direct claim to deity and equality with God. Yet Jesus says he can do nothing of himself, which shows not weakness but perfect unity of will with the Father. Therefore all judgment is committed to the Son, and he must be honored just as the Father is.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley points to three actual resurrections during Jesus' ministry — Jairus's daughter, the widow's son, and Lazarus — as proof that the dead literally hear and obey the Son of God's voice. For him, this is not abstract doctrine but a power already demonstrated in specific, historical events.