John 14:9

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

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}?

Complete Jewish Bible

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’?

Berean Standard Bible

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’?

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
In John 14:9, Jesus gently rebukes Philip for his lack of understanding regarding Jesus' true identity and his intimate relationship with God the Father, asserting that to have seen Jesus is to have seen the Father. This profound declaration underscores the complete and perfect revelation of God's nature and character found in the Son, challenging the disciples' limited perception despite their prolonged time with Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within Jesus' Farewell Discourse to His disciples, delivered during the Last Supper (John 13-17). Immediately preceding this, Jesus comforts His disciples, promising them a place in His Father's house and declaring Himself "the way, the truth, and the life" (cf. [John 14:1-6](/john/14-1-6 "John 14:1-6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")). In [John 14:7](/john/14-7 "John 14:7 - Knowing the Father through Jesus"), Jesus explicitly states that if they had known Him, they would have known the Father, and from that moment, they had known and seen Him. Philip's request in [John 14:8](/john/14-8 "John 14:8 - Philip's Request to See the Father"), "Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us," directly prompts Jesus' response in verse 9, highlighting the disciples' struggle to grasp the profound unity between Jesus and the Father.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Passover meal, a pivotal moment in Jewish history, now transformed into the Last Supper. The disciples, steeped in Jewish monotheism, understood God as transcendent and invisible. The idea of "seeing" God was fraught with theological implications, often associated with divine judgment or a unique prophetic experience (cf. [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God and Live")). Philip's request likely stemmed from this traditional understanding, seeking a literal, visible manifestation of the Father. Jesus' response challenges this limited perception, revealing a new, unprecedented way of knowing God through His incarnate Son, a concept revolutionary to their Jewish worldview.
* **Key Themes:** A primary theme in this passage, and indeed throughout John's Gospel, is the **revelation of God the Father through Jesus Christ**. Jesus consistently presents Himself as the one who makes the invisible God known (cf. [John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - The Word Made Flesh")). Another crucial theme is the **unity and co-equality of the Father and the Son**, emphasizing that Jesus is not merely a prophet or a messenger, but God Himself in human form (cf. [John 10:30](/john/10-30 "John 10:30 - Jesus and the Father Are One")). The verse also subtly touches upon the **disciples' gradual and often incomplete understanding** of Jesus' divine identity, despite their intimate proximity to Him for an extended period, a recurring motif in the Gospels.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **known (Greek, _ginṓskō_):** a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):--allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand. In this context, _ginōskō_ implies a deep, personal, and experiential knowledge, not just intellectual acquaintance. Jesus' surprise indicates that after all their time together, Philip had not yet moved beyond superficial recognition to a profound, transformative understanding of who Jesus truly is.
* **seen (Greek, _horáō_):** properly, to stare at (compare ὀπτάνομαι), i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. This word signifies a clear, discerning perception, both physical and spiritual. Jesus asserts that His physical presence and actions were meant to convey the very essence of the Father, making the Father perceivable through Him.
* **Father (Greek, _patḗr_):** apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote). In this verse, _patḗr_ refers to God the Father, the first person of the Trinity. Jesus' statement profoundly links His own person and revelation directly to the ultimate source of divine authority and being, emphasizing His unique filial relationship and co-equality with God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?":** Jesus addresses Philip directly, expressing a gentle, almost sorrowful, rhetorical question. The phrase "so long time" (Greek: _tosoûtos chrόnos_) underscores the extended period of intimate fellowship and teaching the disciples had received. Jesus' surprise ("and yet hast thou not known me?") highlights the gap between Philip's physical proximity to Jesus and his spiritual comprehension of Jesus' divine identity and mission. The word "known" (ginōskō) here implies a deep, experiential understanding that Philip had evidently not yet fully grasped.
* **"he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;":** This is the core theological assertion of the verse. Jesus makes an unequivocal claim of identity and revelation. "Seen" (horáō) here refers to a clear, discerning perception. To truly perceive Jesus – His character, His words, His miracles, His very being – is to simultaneously perceive the nature and character of God the Father. This statement is a profound declaration of Jesus' divine essence and His role as the perfect image and revelation of the invisible God.
* **"and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?":** This concluding rhetorical question reinforces Jesus' gentle rebuke. Given the profound truth just stated – that seeing Jesus is seeing the Father – Philip's request for a separate manifestation of the Father becomes redundant and demonstrates his continued lack of understanding. Jesus implies that the Father has already been fully revealed in His own person, making Philip's plea unnecessary.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in John 14:9 is **Rhetorical Question**. Jesus poses two questions to Philip, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?" and "and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?". These are not requests for information but are designed to make a point, to prompt reflection, and to underscore Philip's spiritual blindness despite his prolonged exposure to divine truth. The first question conveys Jesus' gentle disappointment and highlights the disciples' slow grasp of His identity. The second question serves to emphasize the profound truth that Jesus is the full revelation of the Father, rendering Philip's request redundant and revealing his misunderstanding of Jesus' prior statements. This use of rhetorical questions effectively conveys Jesus' authority and the depth of the theological truth He is imparting.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 14:9 is a cornerstone verse for understanding the person of Christ and the nature of the Trinity. It asserts the essential unity and co-equality of Jesus with God the Father, demonstrating that Jesus is not merely a representative of God, but God Himself in human flesh. This profound truth means that all of God's character, attributes, and will are perfectly embodied and revealed in Jesus. To encounter Jesus is to encounter the divine, making Him the ultimate and indispensable mediator between God and humanity. This verse challenges any notion of a distant or unknowable God, affirming that in Christ, God has drawn near and made Himself fully comprehensible to those who truly "see" and "know" the Son.

* [John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God, But the Son Reveals Him")
* [Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of the Invisible God")
* [Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Son, the Radiance of God's Glory")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 14:9 calls us to a deeper, more profound understanding of who Jesus is. For believers today, while we do not physically see Jesus, we are called to "see" Him through the lens of Scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the witness of the church. This verse assures us that as we diligently study the Gospels, meditate on Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection, and yield to the Spirit's illumination, we are simultaneously growing in our knowledge and understanding of God the Father. It challenges us to move beyond a superficial or merely intellectual acquaintance with Christ to an experiential, transformative relationship that reveals the very nature and heart of God Himself. Our faith in Jesus is the essential means by which we truly know and perceive the Father, leading to worship, obedience, and a deeper walk with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like Philip, be seeking God in places or ways that overlook His full revelation in Jesus Christ?**
* **How does a deeper understanding of Jesus' identity as the revelation of the Father impact my prayer life and worship?**
* **What practical steps can I take to grow in a more profound, experiential "knowing" and "seeing" of Jesus in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**What does Jesus mean by "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father"?**

Answer: This statement is a profound declaration of Jesus' divine nature and His inseparable unity with God the Father. When Jesus says, "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father," He is not implying a physical, visible manifestation of the Father's essence, but rather that His entire being – His character, words, actions, and miracles – perfectly reflects and reveals the Father. Jesus is the ultimate and complete embodiment of God's nature, will, and love. Therefore, to truly perceive and understand Jesus in His incarnation is to gain a full and accurate understanding of God the Father. It means that all that God is, He has perfectly expressed in the Son, making the invisible God knowable and accessible through Christ (cf. [John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - The Word Made Flesh")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 14:9 stands as a pivotal declaration of Christ's unique role as the full and final revelation of God the Father. In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself progressively through creation, law, prophets, and mighty acts, yet His full essence remained veiled (cf. [Exodus 33:20](/exodus/33-20 "Exodus 33:20 - No One Can See God and Live")). However, in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God Himself entered human history, making the invisible God visible and knowable. Jesus is the very "image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of the Invisible God")) and the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Son, the Radiance of God's Glory")). His life, teachings, miracles, and ultimately His atoning death and resurrection, are the perfect unveiling of the Father's character, holiness, justice, and boundless love. Therefore, to know Christ is to know the Father, and to receive Christ is to receive the Father, fulfilling God's ultimate desire to make Himself fully known to humanity through His beloved Son (cf. [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Colossians 1:15

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

John 12:45

And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

John 14:7

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

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

I and [my] Father are one.

John 1:14

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

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