What Does John 5:41 Mean in the King James?

I receive not honour from men.

John 5:41 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

“Honour” is doxa, weight: the speaker is not drawing his weight from human approval.

THE MEANING

The speaker’s standing does not rise or fall with human regard. In your life now, praise can tell you how others see you, but it cannot supply your weight. The verse separates being regarded by people from being grounded in that regard.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that being praised is what makes you matter, or that being overlooked makes you weightless.

THE ROOT

δόξαν

doxan

GROWS FROM

δοκ

To seem, think, or form an opinion; ⁨δόξα⁩ is regard or reputation, carrying the sense of weight here.

“honour, weight” in this verse is doxan. The word translated “honour” carries the sense of weight, while its Greek family connects it with how something is regarded or esteemed. The speaker is not taking his weight from people’s estimate of him.

ALSO GROWS

dokeō: To think, seem, or form an opinion

δοκέω

It shows the link between regard and the estimate people form; the speaker’s weight does not depend on that estimate.

doxazō: To honor or glorify

δοξάζω

This verb names the act of giving or recognizing doxa, clarifying what the speaker does not receive from people.

THE PATTERN

Human regard can describe a person’s reputation, but it cannot be the source of their weight.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 · KJVHuman sight measures outward appearance, while the LORD sees beyond the estimate people make.

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 12:43 · KJVThe same word for praise and weight appears here, exposing the pull of receiving it from people.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 · KJVThe verse distinguishes a life oriented around pleasing people from one whose direction comes from elsewhere.

THE THREAD

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

John 5:44 · KJV

The same word, ⁨δόξα⁩ (doxa), appears in both verses: here the speaker receives no weight from people, and there people receive it from one another. Together they distinguish human approval from weight that comes from God.

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