At the Last Supper, Jesus describes the ways to see the Father. He has already said he is going to the Father and they know the way because he is the way.
John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
John 14:7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Since y'all have recognized me, also the father y'all probably have seen. From just now, you recognize him and you have looked [at him].
Again, Bible translators insist on translating many different Greek words as the same English word, perhaps to simplify the text, but it doing so, we lose much of Jesus's meaning.
The first "if" here should be translated as "since" because its verb declares something rather than presenting it as a possibility. In this verse, we run into two different Greek words that are translated as "know." The first "had known/really know" means "learn to know" and "recognize" when applied to people, as it is here. It is the past perfect tense, not the present, "have recognized". The second "know" means "have seen," but is used to mean something known by experience, rather than learning. It's meaning as "have seen" is important here because it sets up the punchline and the following verse, which are about "seeing." If it is translated as "know," it should be translated as "knew," a past from. It was the verb translated as "know" in John 14:4. The third "know "is this "learn to know/recognize" verb used in the "if" statement. And the last "have seen" verb is a different "seen" than the second "know." It is in the present tense.
The last "have seen" is the punchline" because changes the meaning of the earlier "know" (knew) beck to "have seen." The main sense of this word is to "observe" but it is used as a warning like "look out" so I prefer "look at." This verb of seeing also sets up the following verse.
We learn by seeing and looking.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning. With a declarative verb, it should be "since."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "known" is the same word translated as "know" above.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "known" indicates the past perfect tense, but if we translate as "know," it should be "knew."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "if" does not capture the word's specific meaning. With a declarative verb, it should be "since."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "really" doesn't exist in the source.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb "know" is the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "have known."
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "will" should be something more like "probably."
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "know" is the same word translated as "know" above.
If .-- (CW) The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." When citing a fact with a declarative verb, as it does here, instead of one of possibility, the sense is more "since" or "as sure as."
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
had -- This helping verb "had" indicates that the verb is the past perfect tense, but the verb is not the past perfect but the pluperfect which is finished before something in the past.
known -- "Known" is a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn. Since the verb meaning "have seen" is also used to say "know," translating this one as "learn" makes more sense.
me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
should -- "Should" is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English but "possibly" is close. This word works similarly to the "might" or "should" of a subjunctive verb, but we don't want to confuse it with the subjunctive so using "possibly" provides a consistent translation. This particle usually suggests the subjunctive form of the verb but can be used without it. The same Greek letters can always be the more common conjunction meaning "when," so this meaning comes from context.
have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the past tense, but the verb is technically the pluperfect, which makes the simple past if translated as "know."
known -- -- (CW, WT) The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know." What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew." This is not the same word as "know" above.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine." As a genitive object of a preposition, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
also: The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
from The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from."
henceforth -- The Greek word translated as "now" means "just" or "exactly and "now" in the sense of "just now" when applied to time. It is not the common adverb usually translated as "now" but one that means "just now" or "as yet" implying a change in the future.
ye -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
know -- Know" is a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn. Since the verb meaning "have seen" is also used to say "know," translating this one as "learn" makes more sense.
him - The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.
seen --"Seen" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It has the sense sighting something. Jesus uses this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning so "watch" works more consistently.
him. -- This objective pronoun is in the Greek source used by the KJV translators but not in ours today, but the pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
If .-- (CW) The "if" here expresses a condition but it means nothing regarding whether that condition is met or not. It also means "if ever" and "whenever." When citing a fact with a declarative verb, as it does here, instead of one of possibility, the sense is more "since" or "as sure as."
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
really - -- (IW) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "really" in the Greek source.
know -- (WT) "Know" is a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn. Since the verb meaning "have seen" is also used to say "know," translating this one as "learn" or recognize makes more sense.
me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
will -- (WW, WT) "Should" is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English but "possibly" is close. This word works similarly to the "might" or "should" of a subjunctive verb, but we don't want to confuse it with the subjunctive so using "possibly" provides a consistent translation. This particle usually suggests the subjunctive form of the verb but can be used without it. The same Greek letters can always be the more common conjunction meaning "when," so this meaning comes from context.
know -- -- (CW) The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen" but it is translated as the present tense of "know." What someone "has seen" is what they "know" in the present. Since the past perfect of "see" forms the present tense of "know" the pluperfect tense used here, which indicates an action completed before some other action in the past, is used as the simple past tense, "knew." This is not the same word as "know" above.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine." A genitive object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
Father -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
as well: The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
from The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from."
now on -- The Greek word translated as "now on" means "just" or "exactly and "now" in the sense of "just now" when applied to time. It is not the common adverb usually translated as "now" but one that means "just now" or "as yet" implying a change in the future.
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
know -- Know" is a verb that means "to know," "to recognize," "make known," "to know carnally," and "to learn. Since the verb meaning "have seen" is also used to say "know," translating this one as "learn" makes more sense.
him - The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
have -- This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.
seen --"Seen" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It has the sense of sighting something. Jesus uses this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning so "watch" works more consistently.
him. -- This English objective pronoun is added and not in the Greek source. In Greek, pronoun objects are not repeated after each verb because they are implied by their first occurrence.
εἰ [90 verses](conj) "If" is ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever," "in case," and "whenever." In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that." The construction εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so."
ἐγνώκειτέ [62 verses] (verb 2nd pl plup ind act) "Ye had known," is ginosko which means "to learn to know," "to know by reflection or observation," and "to perceive."
με, [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
πατέρα [191 verses](noun sg masc acc) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.
ἂν [60 verses](particle) "Should " is an, which is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English, but it is translated as "possibly," "would have," "might," "should," and "could."
ἤδειτε: [38 verses](verb 2nd pl plup ind act) "Have known" is oida which has the sense of "to know." This listing is not a root word, but the past perfect tense of eido, which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know." That which "has been seen" is that which is "known." This is a somewhat legalistic idea because the truth can only be established by eyewitnesses.
ἀπ᾽ [190 verses](prep) "From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done. Usually takes the genitive object.
ἄρτι [13 verses](adv) "Henceforth" is arti, which means "just," "exactly," and "just now."
γινώσκετε [62 verses] (verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Ye had known," is ginosko which means "to learn to know," "to know by reflection or observation," and "to perceive."
αὐτὸν [720 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." In the plural, "they," "them," and "their." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." The adverbial form means "just here" or "exactly there."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ἑωράκατε. [[20 verses](verb 2nd pl perf ind act) "Have seen" is from horao, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," "to observe," "see," "aim," "have sight," "behold," "keep in sight," and as a metaphor of mental sight, "discern," and "perceive." Jesus often uses it as a warning as we would use "watch out" or "look out."