Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

John 14:7
ESV If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
NIV If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.'
NASB If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.'
CSB If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
NLT If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!'
KJV If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

What does John 14:7 mean?

Scripture uses the concept of "knowing" in several different ways. As with the English term, the Greek word for "knowledge" implies different ideas depending on the context. Here, the context is that of relationship and intimacy. Jesus is not speaking of people who have memorized facts about God, or those who have somehow interacted with Him. He's referring to those who have a personal, deep connection to Him. This knowledge comes through a single, exclusive means: belief in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

As with other statements in this chapter, the Greek structure allows for subtly different meanings. That applies to both halves of this verse. One option is that Jesus is making a statement of logic: "to know Me is to know God." The other possibility is scolding: "how can you not know who I am by now?" To be fair to the disciples, many of Christ's teachings were only going to be understood once the complete picture was in view (John 13:7). These men might not entirely grasp what's being said, yet, but they know enough to express trust. Either interpretation leads to the same application: reinforcement of Jesus' claims to be God in human form (John 14:9) and the sole means of salvation (John 13:16–18).

The second statement also has many possible meanings. Jesus' expression might be immediate, indicating that at this very moment the disciples have crossed the crucial point of "knowledge" of Christ. Another is that Jesus is speaking of the future, looking ahead to when these teachings become clear (John 14:26). A third option is that Jesus is explaining the mechanics of salvation: that once a person "knows" Christ, they come to "know" God. Here again, applications are identical despite subtle questions about Greek grammar. Christ is the means by which we come to know God (2 Corinthians 4:6).

This verse continues a response to Thomas's earlier question. There, he'd asked how it was possible to know "the way" when one does not know the destination (John 14:5). In the following question, Thomas will pursue this idea of seeing God.
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit