Of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Emautou means myself, of myself, or to myself according to case and context. In John's Gospel, Jesus repeatedly uses this reflexive language to deny independent self-origin, self-sent speech, or self-glorifying testimony while also affirming His authority to lay down His life, draw people to Himself, reveal Himself, and sanctify Himself for His people.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἐμαυτοῦ (G1683) · Open the biblical lexicon
Emautou means myself, of myself, or to myself according to case and context. In John's Gospel, Jesus repeatedly uses this reflexive language to deny independent self-origin, self-sent speech, or self-glorifying testimony while also affirming His authority to lay down His life, draw people to Himself, reveal Himself, and sanctify Himself for His people.
The BSB source-word alignment has 37 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Myself (15), . . . (6), My own (5), me (3), My own accord (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 8:9. Its strongest book concentrations include John (16), 1 Corinthians (6), 2 Corinthians (4), Acts (4).
Emautou means myself, of myself, or to myself according to case and context. In John's Gospel, Jesus repeatedly uses this reflexive language to deny independent self-origin, self-sent speech, or self-glorifying testimony while also affirming His authority to lay down His life, draw people to Himself, reveal Himself, and sanctify Himself for His people. That balance matters.
The word does not diminish Jesus; it helps readers hear how the Son speaks and acts in perfect relation to the Father. In Paul, the same reflexive can describe self-assessment, self-denial, or personal resolve. Pastorally, emautou teaches careful attention to agency: whether the speaker acts from himself, gives himself, refuses himself, or entrusts himself to God's purpose.
Emautou marks first-person reflexive action, with John's Gospel using it to show Jesus' non-independent mission and His willing self-giving.
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Jesus says He can do nothing by Himself and judges as He hears, grounding His judgment in the One who sent Him.
If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.
Jesus addresses testimony about Himself, preparing the reader for witness that is not isolated self-assertion.
If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
Jesus says His teaching is from God rather than spoken on His own, connecting doctrine to the Father's will.
I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”
Jesus testifies about Himself while the Father who sent Him also testifies, preventing a shallow reading of isolated self-witness.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
Jesus says He lays down His life of His own accord, joining self-action to received authority from the Father.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”
Jesus promises that when lifted up from the earth He will draw everyone to Himself.
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Jesus promises to love the one who loves Him and reveal Himself to that person.
For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
Jesus sanctifies Himself for His people so that they may be sanctified in truth.
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Paul makes himself a servant to everyone in order to win as many as possible.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Paul does not consider himself to have taken hold, but presses forward in gospel pursuit.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
:--me, mine own (self), myself.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 37 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
of myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseof myself
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 3 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
ἐμαυτοῦ is built from these roots:
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
The core insight of emautou is that biblical self-reference must be read by relation and action. In John, Jesus does not act as an independent teacher seeking private glory; He speaks what the Father gives, judges as He hears, and receives authority for His mission. At the same time, He willingly lays down His life, draws people to Himself, reveals Himself to His own, and sanctifies Himself for them.
The reflexive pronoun therefore helps teachers speak about the Son's obedient mission without weakening His authority. In apostolic texts, it also guards against self-centered ministry by showing self-denial under gospel purpose.
John.5.30
Emautou is a first-person reflexive pronoun. Its case and construction decide whether English renders it myself, of myself, to myself, or by myself.
Scripture contrasts sinful self-exaltation with obedient self-offering. The New Testament brings that contrast into focus as Jesus refuses autonomous glory and gives Himself for His people.