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John 14:9

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Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Have I been {G1510} so long {G5118} time {G5550} with {G3326} you {G5216}, and yet {G2532} hast thou {G1097} not {G3756} known {G1097} me {G3165}, Philip {G5376}? he that hath seen {G3708} me {G1691} hath seen {G3708} the Father {G3962}; and {G2532} how {G4459} sayest {G3004} thou {G4771} then, Shew {G1166} us {G2254} the Father {G3962}?

Yeshua replied to him, “Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?

Commentary

This verse is part of Jesus' discourse with his disciples during the Last Supper, shortly before his crucifixion. He has just told them that if they had known him, they would have known his Father also, and from then on, they knew the Father and had seen Him (John 14:7). In response, Philip makes the request, "Shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us." Jesus' reply in verse 9 expresses a gentle rebuke and a profound theological truth.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • Jesus as the Revelation of the Father: The central message is that Jesus is the ultimate and complete revelation of God the Father. To see Jesus is to see the Father because Jesus perfectly represents and embodies the Father's nature, character, and will.
  • Unity of the Father and Son: This statement underscores the intimate and essential unity between Jesus and God the Father. They are not separate in essence or purpose, and knowing one is intrinsically linked to knowing the other.
  • Disciples' Lack of Full Understanding: Jesus' question to Philip highlights that despite spending significant time (so long time) in Jesus' physical presence, the disciples still struggled to grasp the depth of his identity and his relationship with the Father.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "known" (Greek: ginōskō) often implies a deep, personal, and experiential knowledge, not just intellectual acquaintance. Jesus is expressing surprise that Philip, after witnessing his life, teachings, and miracles, had not come to this profound understanding of who Jesus is and, by extension, who the Father is.

Reflection and Application

For believers today, while we do not physically see Jesus, we "see" him through faith, the Scriptures, and the work of the Holy Spirit. This verse assures us that as we grow in our understanding and knowledge of Jesus, we are simultaneously growing in our knowledge of God the Father. It challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of Christ to a deeper, experiential relationship that reveals the nature of God himself. Our faith in Jesus is the means by which we truly know and see the Father.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Colossians 1:15 (44 votes)

    Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

  • John 12:45 (40 votes)

    And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

  • John 14:7 (33 votes)

    If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

  • Hebrews 1:3 (32 votes)

    Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • John 10:30 (29 votes)

    I and [my] Father are one.

  • John 1:14 (18 votes)

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

  • Philippians 2:6 (15 votes)

    Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: