Bible Strands
John 5:37
And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Jewish opponents in Jerusalem immediately after defending His Sabbath healing, responding to their challenge regarding His authority.
The words — μεμαρτὺρηκεν (memarturēken) = has borne witness, indicating the Father’s completed and authoritative confirmation of Jesus’ identity and mission.
The thread — The Father’s testimony runs through John 8:18 where Jesus links His witness to the Father’s, Matthew 3:17 where a heavenly voice confirms His sonship, and John 1:18 where the unseen God is made known through the Son.
Why it lands — The text states that sensory proof of God’s voice or form is absent, so readers must judge the Father’s witness by the works Jesus performs and the word He speaks, requiring a decision to believe or reject the sent One.
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
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
Cross-references
- John 8:18 I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”
- Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
- John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
- 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:16 He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
- 1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
- 1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
- Exodus 20:19 “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”
- Deuteronomy 4:12 And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice.
- Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”