John 7:29

But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

But {G1161} I {G1473} know {G1492} him {G846}: for {G3754} I am {G1510} from {G3844} him {G846}, and he {G2548} hath sent {G649} me {G3165}.

I do know him, because I am with him, and he sent me!”

but I know Him, because I am from Him and He sent Me.”

I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me.

In John 7:29, Jesus directly challenges the skepticism of the Jewish leaders who questioned His origin and authority. This verse is a profound declaration of His divine identity and mission, serving as a cornerstone for understanding who He claimed to be.

Context

This powerful statement occurs during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in Jerusalem, a significant Jewish festival. Jesus was teaching openly in the temple, drawing both admiration and intense scrutiny. The Jewish authorities, particularly the Pharisees and chief priests, were trying to apprehend Him, questioning His teachings and His very identity. They had just claimed not to know where He was from (John 7:27-28), implying He lacked proper credentials or divine backing. Jesus' response in verse 29 is a direct counter-argument, asserting His unique relationship with God the Father and His divine authority.

Key Themes

  • Divine Knowledge: Jesus asserts, "But I know him." This is not mere intellectual acquaintance but an intimate, personal, and exhaustive knowledge of God the Father, stemming from His unique relationship as the Son. This contrasts sharply with the limited understanding of God possessed by His detractors.
  • Divine Origin: The phrase "for I am from him" speaks to Jesus' pre-existence and divine nature. He did not originate from Nazareth or human lineage in the ultimate sense, but directly from God. This concept is foundational to Christian theology, emphasizing His divinity and unique status as the Word made flesh.
  • Divine Mission and Authority: "and he hath sent me" highlights Jesus' role as the divinely appointed Messiah. His presence on Earth is not self-initiated but a direct commission from the Father. This validates His teachings, miracles, and claims, establishing His supreme authority over all things. This theme of being "sent" by the Father is recurrent in John's Gospel, underscoring Jesus' obedience and the Father's will.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "know" here is oida (οἶδα), which implies an intuitive, complete, and experiential knowledge, rather than merely factual acquaintance (which would typically be ginosko). This reinforces the depth of Jesus' intimate relationship with the Father. The phrase "I am from him" (ἐγὼ παρ' αὐτοῦ εἰμι) emphasizes His direct and personal origin from God, not just a general sense of being created by God, further solidifying His claim to divine identity.

Related Scriptures

  • For Jesus' intimate knowledge of the Father, compare John 10:15, where Jesus states, "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father."
  • Regarding His divine origin, see John 8:42, where Jesus says, "I proceeded forth and came from God." This also echoes the profound statement in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
  • The concept of Jesus being "sent" by the Father is a core aspect of His mission, as seen in John 5:36: "...the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."

Practical Application

This verse encourages believers to trust in Jesus' unique authority and perfect understanding of God. Since Jesus "knows" the Father intimately and was "sent" by Him, His teachings and commands are divinely authoritative and trustworthy. It calls us to recognize Jesus as more than a prophet or a good teacher, but as the very Son of God, who fully reveals the Father to us. Our faith is grounded in His divine origin and mission, offering hope, truth, and clarity about God's character and His redemptive plan for humanity.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 8:55

    Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

  • Matthew 11:27

    All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

  • John 17:25

    O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

  • John 17:26

    And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare [it]: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

  • John 1:18

    No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

  • John 17:18

    As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

  • John 6:46

    Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

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