John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father

Spoken to: 

audience

A crowd comes to Jesus in Capernaum after eating of the loaves. The discussion is now about the will of the Father and the last day.

KJV: 

John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

NIV : 

John 6:46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Not because anyone has seen the Father except the one being from the Divine. That one has seen the Father.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

It is important to know that the Greek word translated as "see" in this verse specifically means seeing with the eyes, physical seeing. This distinction is important because Christ uses several different Greek words translated into English as "see," but those words can also mean "to understand" or "to know." The point he is making here is one of seeing the Father in a physical way.

In the previous verse, John 6:45, Christ said that no one can come to him unless they have heard from the Father. Here, the focus changes from "hearing" to "seeing." This previous verse was an extension of the idea from the verse before where Christ said that no one could come to him unless they were "attracted" by the Father. In this verse, this idea of "attraction" is extended to "seeing God."

However, Christ has consistently said that God cannot be seen, an idea he expresses in the first part of this verse, "Because no one can see the Father." This idea of a "hidden" God flows throughout Christ's teaching, from (Matthew 6:5-6) to the way it was expressed the idea, earlier in John, that God is "spirit" or "breath" (John 4:24).

This verse is about the exception to that rule, a person can see God when he is "being from God." This idea is expressed as a present participle, that is, a verb used as a noun, a "being" from God. This idea of being from God is consistent with another idea that is being repeated over and over in this section, that God is the "sender," the one sending Christ and everyone else into the world

We add this idea to that of the earlier verse that no one can see the kingdom of heaven unless they are born from above. (John 3:3).

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "any man" does not capture the general meaning of the word.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common words usually translated as "seen."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "he" is not the common word usually translated as "he."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "which" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "is" is not an active verb but a participle, "being."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "of" is not the common word form usually translated as "of."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "he" is not the common word usually translated as "he."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common words usually translated as "seen."

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

8
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "any man" does not capture the general meaning of the word.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common words usually translated as "seen."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "he" is not the common word usually translated as "he."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "is" is not an active verb but a participle, "being."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "only" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "he" is not the common word usually translated as "he."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "seen" is not the common words usually translated as "seen."

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

any man  -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "any man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some," "they," and "those." The form is both masculine and feminine so "any one" works better than "any man."

hath -- This helping verb "hath" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

seen -- (CW) "See" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Christ uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones. Jesus seems to use this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." 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.

save - Two Greek words are translated as "save." Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except," "instead," and "but."

he - (CW) The word translated as "he" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.  This is not the normal pronoun meaning "he,

which -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "which" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

is -- (WF)  The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  However, it is not an active verb, but the participle, "being."

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the genitive, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from."

God, -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

he --(CW)  "He" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." It is in the form of a subject. This is not the pronoun usually translated as "he,"

hath -- This helping verb "hath" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

seen -- (CW) "See" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Christ uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones. Jesus seems to use this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." 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.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

No -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

missing "because"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

one  -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "any man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some," "they," and "those." The form is both masculine and feminine so "any one" works better than "any man."

has -- This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

seen -- (CW) "See" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Christ uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones. Jesus seems to use this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." 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.

except - Two Greek words are translated as "except." Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except," "instead," and "but."

the one -  The word translated as "the one" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.  This is not the normal pronoun meaning "he,

who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

is -- (WF)  The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.  However, it is not an active verb, but the participle, "being."

from -- The Greek preposition translated as "from " has many meanings, many of which depend on the case of its object. With the genitive, the sense is motion, "from the side of," "from beside," and generally "from."

God, -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God," "the Divine" or "the divine one." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.

only -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source.

he --(CW)  "He" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one." It is in the form of a subject. This is not the pronoun usually translated as "he,"

has -- This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

seen -- (CW) "See" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Christ uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones. Jesus seems to use this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.

the   -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." 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.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

οὐχ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  "The" 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."

ἑώρακέν [20 verses](3rd sg perf ind act) "Hath 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."

τις [252 verses](pron sg masc/fem nom) "Any man" is tis which can mean "someone," "something," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what."

εἰ μὴ  [14 verses](conj particle) "Except" is ei me, which is the conjunction that means "if not," "but," and "except." εἰ is the particle use with the imperative usually to express conditions "if" or indirect questions, "whether." (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no."

[821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

ὢν [614 verses](part sg pres act masc nom) "Is"is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.

παρὰ  [45 verses](prep) "With" is para, has many meanings, which depend on the case of its object and the sense of the verb.With the genitive, the sense is always motion, "from the side of," "from beside," "issuing from", and generally "from." With the dative, the sense is always static, "by the side of," "near," "in the presence of," and "before."

[τοῦ][821 verses](article sg masc gen)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.

θεοῦ [144 verses](noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."

οὗτός [83 verses](adj sg masc nom) "He" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer." There are two other common forms, the genitive toutou, [51 verses] and the accusative, touto, [93 verses]. There is also an adverbial form. -- "This" is translated from a Greek word that means "this," "that," "the nearer."

ἑώρακέν [20 verses](3rd sg perf ind act) "Hath 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." -- (CW) "See" is from a Greek verb, which means "to see with the eyes," "to look," and "to observe." It is a metaphor for mental seeing, that is, perceiving. However, it is one of the many words that Christ uses to mean "see," but it is not one of the most common ones. Jesus seems to use this word often to mean "watch out" or "look out" as a warning.

τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc)  "The" 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."

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Apr 3 2022