John 1:18
What does John 1:18 mean?
A plain-English look at John 1:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 1:18 means
This verse declares that no one has ever fully seen or comprehended God the Father directly. However, the only begotten Son, who exists in the most intimate relationship with the Father ("in the bosom of the Father"), has perfectly revealed and explained Him. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, is the exclusive and ultimate interpreter and communicator of God's nature, will, and character to humanity, making the invisible God knowable through His person.
John 1:18 in context
John 1 — The Word Made Flesh
John lifts the curtain higher than any other Gospel. Before there was a Bethlehem, there was the Word — with God, who was God, by whom all things were made. The same Word who was the agent of creation became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist points him out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; the first disciples follow him; Nathanael confesses him as the Son of God and King of Israel. The eternal becomes near enough to touch.
- Pre-existence of Christ
- Incarnation
- Light and life
- First disciples
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949No man has seen God at any time; the only Son, who is on the breast of the Father, he has made clear what God is.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father--he did declare.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the Bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890No one has seenGod at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].
Context
This verse serves as the powerful culmination of the chapter's theological prologue, affirming Jesus' unparalleled authority and ability to reveal God. After contrasting Moses and Christ in verse 17, this verse explains *why* Christ's revelation is superior. It asserts that only the intimately connected, divine Son can truly make God known, reinforcing the necessity and profound impact of the Word made flesh. This sets a high expectation for Jesus' subsequent ministry and teachings.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Lamentations 2:12
They say to their mothers, Where is grain and wine? When they swoon as the wounded in the streets of the city, When their soul is poured out into their mothers’ bosom.
- 1 John 4:12
No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
- Genesis 18:33
And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Exodus 23:21
Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.
- Colossians 1:15
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
Sermon ideas from John 1:18
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 1:18 teaches us about pre-existence of christ
What John 1:18 teaches us about incarnation
What John 1:18 teaches us about light and life
What John 1:18 teaches us about first disciples
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