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.
Original Language Analysis
θεὸν
God
G2316
θεὸν
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
1 of 16
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
οὐδεὶς
No man
G3762
οὐδεὶς
No man
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
2 of 16
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
ἑώρακεν
hath seen
G3708
ἑώρακεν
hath seen
Strong's:
G3708
Word #:
3 of 16
by extension, to attend to; by hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear
πώποτε·
at any time
G4455
πώποτε·
at any time
Strong's:
G4455
Word #:
4 of 16
at any time, i.e., (with negative particle) at no time
τοῦ
which
G3588
τοῦ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
υἱός,
Son
G5207
υἱός,
Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
7 of 16
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
τοῦ
which
G3588
τοῦ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εἰς
in
G1519
εἰς
in
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
10 of 16
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τοῦ
which
G3588
τοῦ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
which
G3588
τοῦ
which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατρὸς
of the Father
G3962
πατρὸς
of the Father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
14 of 16
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Cross References
Colossians 1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:John 6:46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.Matthew 11:27All 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.1 John 4:12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.Luke 10:22All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.1 Timothy 6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.1 John 4:9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.1 John 4:20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.John 17:26And 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.
Historical Context
Old Testament theophanies revealed aspects of God but not His full essence. Moses saw God's back but not His face (Exodus 33:23). Isaiah saw the Lord's glory but was terrified (Isaiah 6). Jesus makes the invisible God known—'He who has seen Me has seen the Father' (John 14:9). This verse establishes Christ as the definitive, complete, and final revelation of God.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus as the 'exegesis' of the Father shape your approach to knowing God?
- What does the intimacy of 'the bosom of the Father' reveal about Christ's unique qualification to reveal God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This climactic verse of the prologue declares: 'No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' God's invisibility poses a problem—how can humanity know the unknowable? Christ solves this: the Son 'exegesato' (declared, explained, exegeted) the Father. Jesus is God's self-interpretation. The phrase 'in the bosom of the Father' indicates intimate fellowship and perfect knowledge. Some manuscripts read 'only begotten God' (monogenes theos), explicitly identifying Jesus as God who reveals God.