Bible Strands
John 14:8
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Philip addresses Jesus during the upper room discourse, immediately after Jesus states that knowing Him is equivalent to knowing the Father (John 14:7).
The words — Philip issues the imperative δεῖξον (deixon, "do show") with τὸν πατέρα (ton patera, "the Father") as its direct object, while ἡμῖν (hēmin, "us") functions strictly as a dative indirect object. He follows with the declarative phrase, "and that will be enough for us."
The thread — The request parallels Moses’ demand in Exodus 33:18 to see God’s glory, while Jesus immediately corrects the premise in John 14:9 by equating sight of Himself with sight of the Father. The narrative arc of divine presence concludes in Revelation 22:3, where God’s throne replaces the need for mediated visions.
Why it lands — The text records a literal request for a visible theophany that Jesus answers by identifying His own person as the sufficient revelation of God. It requires the reader to assess whether they pursue God through external manifestations or through the disclosed identity of Christ.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Cross-references
- Exodus 33:18 Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
- Revelation 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.
- John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
- Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.
- John 16:25 I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
- John 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”
- Job 33:26 He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.
- Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- John 12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
- Exodus 34:5 And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD.