King James Version

What Does John 14:9 Mean?

John 14:9 in the King James Version says “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 ha... — study this verse from John chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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?

John 14:9 · KJV


Context

7

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

8

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9

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?

10

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? (Ἐγνωκάς με, egnōkas me) uses the perfect tense of γινώσκω (ginōskō)—not mere intellectual awareness but experiential, relational knowledge. After three years of witnessing Jesus's miracles, teachings, and divine claims, Philip still failed to grasp the Incarnation's profound reality.

He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (ὁ ἑωρακὼς ἐμὲ ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα) is Christianity's most explicit statement of Christ's deity. Jesus doesn't say "I will show you the Father" or "I represent the Father"—He claims to be the perfect, visible revelation of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). This is the doctrine of perichoresis—the mutual indwelling of Father and Son—making Christ the imago Dei perfectly realized.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This exchange occurred in the Upper Room on Passover night (AD 33), hours before Jesus's crucifixion. Philip, one of Jesus's first disciples (John 1:43), had witnessed the feeding of the 5,000, the transfiguration, and countless divine works. Yet his request "Show us the Father" (v. 8) reveals the disciples' incomplete understanding of Jesus's identity before Pentecost. The Jewish expectation of seeing God's glory (as Moses sought in Exodus 33:18) is fulfilled not through theophany but through Christophany.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jesus's claim to reveal the Father challenge modern attempts to separate Jesus the moral teacher from Jesus the divine Son?
  2. What does Philip's confusion after three years with Jesus teach about the difference between observing Christ and truly knowing Him?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 28 words
λέγεις1 of 28

saith

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

αὐτῷ2 of 28

unto him

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

3 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰησοῦς4 of 28

Jesus

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

τοσοῦτον5 of 28

so long

G5118

apparently from g3588 and g3739) and g3778 (including its variations); so vast as this, i.e., such (in quantity, amount, number of space)

χρόνον6 of 28

time

G5550

a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from g2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from g0165, which denotes a

μεθ'7 of 28

with

G3326

properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)

ὑμῶν8 of 28

you

G5216

of (from or concerning) you

εἰμι9 of 28

Have I been

G1510

i exist (used only when emphatic)

καὶ10 of 28

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

οὐκ11 of 28

not

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἔγνωκάς12 of 28

hast thou

G1097

to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)

με13 of 28

me

G3165

me

Φίλιππε14 of 28

Philip

G5376

fond of horses; philippus, the name of four israelites

15 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἑώρακεν16 of 28

hath seen

G3708

by extension, to attend to; by hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear

ἐμὲ17 of 28

me

G1691

me

ἑώρακεν18 of 28

hath seen

G3708

by extension, to attend to; by hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear

τὸν19 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πατέρα20 of 28

the Father

G3962

a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)

καὶ21 of 28

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πῶς22 of 28

how

G4459

an interrogative particle of manner; in what way? (sometimes the question is indirect, how?); also as exclamation, how much!

σὺ23 of 28

thou

G4771

thou

λέγεις24 of 28

saith

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

Δεῖξον25 of 28

then Shew

G1166

to show (literally or figuratively)

ἡμῖν26 of 28

us

G2254

to (or for, with, by) us

τὸν27 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πατέρα28 of 28

the Father

G3962

a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of John. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

John 14:9 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to John 14:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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