John 8:19 · Bible study
John 8:19 Commentary: Knowing Jesus, Knowing the Father
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus declares that knowing Him is inseparable from knowing the Father, a truth that challenges religious pride and invites humble faith.
Research Summary
- Meaning: To know the Father is impossible without knowing the Son; rejecting Christ means ignorance of God.
- Key words: Know (oida, eidō), personal, experiential knowledge; Father (patēr), God in relationship; If (ei), introduces a condition contrary to fact.
- Main debate: Whether this verse denies any knowledge of God outside Christ or only saving knowledge. Most commentators agree it refers to true, relational knowledge of God.
- Theological theme: Christology and revelation: Jesus as the unique revealer of the Father, reflecting his unity and distinction.
- Best use: Evangelism, teaching on the exclusivity of Christ, and confronting religious pride.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
They said, therefore, to him, `Where is thy father?' Jesus answered, `Ye have neither known me nor my Father: if me ye had known, my Father also ye had known.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
They said to him therefore, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me nor my Father. If ye had known me, ye would have known also my Father.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
They said therefore to him: Where is thy Father? Jesus answered: Neither me do you know, nor my Father. If you did know me, perhaps you would know my Father also.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y decíanle|strong="G3004, G0846": ¿ Dónde está tu Padre? Respondió Jesús: Ni á mí me conocéis, ni á mi Padre; si á mí me conocieseis, á mi Padre también conocierais.
Disseram-lhe pois: Onde está teu Pai? Respondeu Jesus: Nem a mim me conheceis, nem a meu Pai; se vós a mim conhecêsseis, também conheceríeis a meu Pai.
Ils lui dirent donc: Où est ton Père? Jésus répondit: Vous ne connaissez ni moi, ni mon Père. Si vous me connaissiez, vous connaîtriez aussi mon Père.
Da sprachen sie zu ihm: Wo ist dein Vater? Jesus antwortete: Ihr kennt weder mich noch meinen Vater; wenn ihr mich kenntet, so kenntet ihr auch meinen Vater.
Zij dan zeiden tot Hem: Waar is Uw Vader? Jezus antwoordde: Gij kent noch Mij, noch Mijn Vader; indien gij Mij kendet, zo zoudt gij ook Mijn Vader kennen.
Onde essi gli dissero: Dov’è tuo padre? Gesù rispose: Voi non conoscete né me né il Padre mio: se conosceste me, conoscereste anche il Padre mio.
Tedy mu rzekli: Gdzież jest ten twój Ojciec? Odpowiedział Jezus: Ani mnie znacie, ani Ojca mego; byście mnie znali, i Ojca byście mego znali.
Тогда сказали Ему: где Твой Отец? Иисус отвечал: вы не знаете ни Меня, ни Отца Моего; если бы вы знали Меня, то знали бы и Отца Моего.
他們就問 他說：「你的 父 在 哪裡？」耶穌 回答說：「你們不 認識 我，也不 認識我的 父；若 是認識 我， 也 就認識 我的 父。」
Then they said to him, Where is your Father? Jesus said in answer, You have no knowledge of me or of my Father: if you had knowledge of me you would have knowledge of my Father.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 8:19
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree the Pharisees' question is derisive, they mock Jesus’ claim that the Father testifies on his behalf (Barnes, Calvin, Gill). Jesus ignores their demand for a visible witness. He states they know neither him nor the Father. The Greek verb oidate (you know) indicates lack of personal, relational knowledge, not mere information. The conditional clause uses the pluperfect ēdeite (you had known) with the particle an, signaling a condition contrary to fact: they did not know him, and therefore do not know the Father. Clarke, Calvin, and Barnes stress that knowledge of God is possible only through receiving Christ. They also note that Jesus distinguishes himself from the Father as a distinct person while affirming unity: to know the Son is to know the Father because the Son is the exact image of the Father (cf. John 1:18, 14:9). This verse confronts the illusion that one can know God apart from Jesus.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus makes knowing the Son the necessary path to knowing the Father; those who reject him do not have true knowledge of God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The mocking tone of the Pharisees' question | All major commentators (Barnes, Calvin, Gill) agree that the question 'Where is your Father?' is asked in derision and contempt. | No significant debate; the hostile context is clear from the surrounding narrative. |
| Meaning of 'know' in this verse | Christians across traditions agree it refers to personal, relational knowledge, not mere intellectual awareness. | Some traditions emphasize that general revelation can give a limited knowledge of God (e.g., Romans 1), while others stress that saving knowledge of God is impossible apart from Christ. The verse is typically understood as speaking of the latter. |
| Relationship between the Son and the Father | All orthodox Christian traditions affirm that Jesus and the Father are distinct persons yet one in essence. This verse supports that unity, since knowing the Son gives knowledge of the Father. | Historic Arianism denied the full divinity of the Son; orthodox interpreters (e.g., Clarke, Wesley) use this verse to argue that the Son so perfectly reveals the Father that they must share one nature. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The scene takes place in the temple treasury during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37, 8:20). Jesus has declared himself the light of the world and claimed that the Father bears witness on his behalf. The Pharisees challenge this, demanding a second visible witness. Their question, “Where is your Father?” is laden with mockery: they know Jesus means God, but they demand to see him as if he were a local figure who could be produced (Calvin, Barnes). The adverb pou (where) asks for a location, revealing their refusal to accept Jesus’ claim of divine testimony.
In Jewish tradition, knowledge of God was a matter of covenant loyalty and obedience (Jeremiah 22:16; 24:7). The Pharisees prided themselves on this knowledge, but Jesus turns their pride on its head: their rejection of him proves their ignorance of God. The gospel of John consistently presents Jesus as the one who makes the unseen Father known (John 1:18; 7:28). The temple setting is significant: in the very place where God’s presence was thought to dwell, the Pharisees fail to recognize God standing before them.
This verse also echoes the Old Testament theme that true knowledge of God is not abstract but relational, mediated through his appointed messenger. Jesus is not offering a new idea but fulfilling a long-standing pattern: God reveals himself through his Son, and to reject the Son is to remain in darkness about the Father.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across manuscripts. The key verb oidate and the conditional construction are well-attested.
Reception History
From the early church onward, this verse has been central to Christian claims about Christ as the definitive revelation of God. Patristic writers such as Irenaeus and Athanasius cited it to argue that the Son alone makes the Father known, countering Gnostic ideas of hidden divine knowledge. During the Reformation, Calvin and Luther emphasized that apart from Christ, human reason remains blind to God. Wesley and Clarke echoed this in their evangelical preaching. The verse has also been used in missionary contexts to affirm that salvation requires personal knowledge of Jesus, not just belief in a generic God. Across traditions, it remains a cornerstone for the Christian conviction that Christ is the only way to truly know the Father.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The mockery behind the question. “Where is your Father?” is a taunt, not an honest inquiry. The Pharisees demand a visible witness on their own terms. Many today still insist on proof that fits their expectations.
- The rebuke of pretended knowledge. Jesus declares they know neither him nor the Father. Religious activity and pride in tradition do not equal knowing God. Ignorance of the Son reveals ignorance of the Father.
- The way to know God. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” Knowing Jesus is the path to knowing the Father. This is an invitation: come to Christ, and you come to God.
Five-point outline
- The Pharisees’ question: a demand for a visible, locatable witness.
- Jesus’ refusal to answer on their terms: he redirects to their own ignorance.
- The nature of true knowledge: relational and experiential (oida), not theoretical.
- The inseparable link between Son and Father: to know one is to know the other.
- The consequence for those who reject Christ: they remain without knowledge of God.
Illustration hooks
- A child who has only heard about a grandparent from stories, then meets them in person. The stories become real. Meeting Jesus is how we truly meet the Father.
- Think of someone you have known only by reputation. When you finally meet them, your understanding shifts completely. The Pharisees thought they knew God, but they had never met him in Christ.
- If a friend is a close confidant of a great leader, you would ask that friend to introduce you. Jesus is the friend who brings us to the Father.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If God is invisible, how can I really know him?”
- “Does this mean non-Christians can’t know anything about God at all?”
- “What does it practically mean to know Jesus, is it feelings, or facts, or both?”
Leading a Discussion
This verse confronts the assumption that we can know God on our own terms. The Pharisees thought they knew God, but Jesus says they do not. How does knowing Jesus change everything about how we approach God?
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the Pharisees asked “Where is your Father?” rather than “Who is your Father”? What does that reveal about their attitude?
- Jesus does not answer their question directly. Instead, he points to their ignorance. Why is that an appropriate response?
- What does the Bible mean by “knowing” someone? How is it different from knowing facts about them?
- How does knowing Jesus personally affect your understanding of God the Father?
- Are there ways we, like the Pharisees, claim to know God while ignoring what Jesus has said or done?
- How can we help others see the Father through our relationship with Jesus?
- What is one step you can take this week to deepen your knowledge of Christ, and through him, the Father?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Jeremiah 22:16 | He judged the cause of the poor and needy; so then it was well. Wasn’t this to know me?” says Yahweh. |
| Jeremiah 24:7 | I will give them a heart to know me, that I am Yahweh. They will be my people, and I will be their God; for they will return to me with their whole heart. |
| Matthew 11:25 | At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants. |
| Luke 10:21 | In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.” |
| Luke 10:22 | Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.” |
| John 1:10 | He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. |
| John 1:18 | No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him. |
| John 7:28 | Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that Jesus makes clear He and the Father are two distinct persons, not the same being. Knowing the Son is the only way to truly know God, because only the Son has revealed the Father's nature and perfections.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees the question about Jesus' Father as open mockery, not honest inquiry. The Jews ridiculed the idea that Jesus had divine origin. He then warns that anyone who tries to know God without starting with Christ will wander lost, since Christ alone leads directly to the Father.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the Pharisees do not ask “who” but “where,” signaling mockery rather than ignorance. They already understand Jesus’ repeated references to the One who sent Him, so their question is a sneer, in sharp contrast to Philip’s earnest request to see the Father.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva notes stress that ignorance of Christ proves ignorance of the Father. Since the Son fully reveals the Father, rejecting Jesus means having no true knowledge of God. The Jews' question shows they lack both.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that the Jews sneeringly demand to see Jesus’ Father, thinking only of Joseph in Nazareth. Their taunt actually reveals their ignorance: they do not know Jesus’ divine origin as God’s Son, and their lack of knowledge of Christ proves they do not know the Father either.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange connects Jesus' claim to be the light of the world directly to the torch-light festivities of the Feast of Tabernacles. He sees Christ as the true pillar of fire, the fulfillment of the temple illumination and the Shekinah. The immediate occasion is the adulteress brought from darkness and her accusers leaving in spiritual night.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry stresses that Jesus' testimony about himself is valid because he alone knows his divine origin and destination, while the Pharisees remain ignorant of both. Their judgment is shallow, but Jesus' is backed by the Father's own witness, making it true.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that these people demanded a witness they could see and hear. The testimony of an unseen, unheard witness would not have satisfied them at all.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights the perverseness of the Pharisees' question, insisting that knowing the Son must come before knowing the Father. He sees Jesus affirming that the Father and Son are distinct persons, like two witnesses, yet one in essence, so knowledge of the Son includes knowledge of the Father.