What Does John 5:20 Mean?
For the Father loves the Son and points out to him all that he himself does, and he will point out to him greater works than these, so that you may marvel.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.THE KEY
The Father’s love takes visible form in showing the Son everything he does.
THE MEANING
You meet love here as disclosure: the Father shows the Son all that he does, and promises greater works that open into wonder. What is hidden in the Father’s work comes into view through the Son, and the verse’s “ye” includes you among those who marvel.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that love keeps its work hidden: here, love shares what it does and makes it visible.
THE ROOT
δείκνυσιν
deiknysin
GROWS FROM
δεικ-
deik-
to show, point out, make visible
“points out” in this verse is deiknysin. The Greek verb means more than passing along information: it is showing something so it can be seen. The Father’s love is expressed through making his work visible to the Son, and the greater works extend that disclosure to those who witness them.
ALSO GROWS
apodeixis: demonstration, proof
ἀπόδειξις
A demonstration makes something visible through what is shown, echoing the Father’s disclosure of his works.
epideixis: display, demonstration
ἐπίδειξις
This word carries the sense of setting something out to be seen, like the works that become a source of wonder.
φιλεῖ
philei
GROWS FROM
φιλε- / φιλο- (phile- / philo-)
to love, hold dear
“loveth” in this verse is philei. This is affection expressed as holding someone dear. In this verse, that affection is joined directly to showing: the beloved Son is brought into the knowledge of everything the Father does.
ALSO GROWS
philos: friend, beloved
φίλος
The related word names the closeness that makes shared knowledge fitting.
philia: friendship, affection
φιλία
This branch shows the relational quality of phileō: love as attachment and closeness.
THE PATTERN
Love discloses its work through showing, and what is made visible becomes a ground for recognition and wonder.
And the LORD said, Shall I cover from Abraham what I am making?Jesus answered them, Many good works I showed you from my Father. For which of these works do you stone me?No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for all that I heard from my Father I have shown you.THE THREAD
Jesus answered them, Many good works I showed you from my Father. For which of these works do you stone me?The verb translated “shewed” comes from the same Greek root, δείκ- (deik-), as the Father’s “sheweth” in this verse. John 5:20 shows the Son receiving the Father’s work; John 10:32 shows that same work made visible to others.
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