CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 5:37 And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/5-37.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/43_Jhn_05_37.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 5:37 - Testimonies about Jesus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/5-37.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/5-37.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 37</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/5-36.htm" title="John 5:36">◄</a> John 5:37 <a href="/john/5-38.htm" title="John 5:38">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/5.htm">New International Version</a> And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, <a href="/nlt/john/5.htm">New Living Translation</a> And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, <a href="/esv/john/5.htm">English Standard Version</a> And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, <a href="/bsb/john/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, <a href="/blb/john/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And the One having sent Me, the Father Himself, has borne witness concerning Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor have you seen His form. <a href="/kjv/john/5.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/john/5.htm">New King James Version</a> And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. <a href="/nasb_/john/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And the Father who sent Me, He has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. <a href="/nasb/john/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. <a href="/nasb77/john/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. <a href="/lsb/john/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. <a href="/amp/john/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form [His majesty and greatness—what He is like]. <a href="/csb/john/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You have not heard his voice at any time, and you haven’t seen his form. <a href="/hcsb/john/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have not heard His voice at any time, and you haven&#8217t seen His form. <a href="/asv/john/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. <a href="/cev/john/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The Father who sent me also speaks for me, but you have never heard his voice or seen him face to face. <a href="/erv/john/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the Father which sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. <a href="/gwt/john/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice, and you have never seen his form. <a href="/gnt/john/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> And the Father, who sent me, also testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his face, <a href="/isv/john/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> Moreover, the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen what he looks like, <a href="/msb/john/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, <a href="/net/john/5.htm">NET Bible</a> And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, <a href="/nheb/john/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. <a href="/wbt/john/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the Father himself who hath sent me, hath borne testimony concerning me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. <a href="/wey/john/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And the Father who sent me, *He* has given testimony concerning me. None of you have ever either heard His voice or seen what He is like. <a href="/web/john/5.htm">World English Bible</a> The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And the Father who sent Me has testified Himself concerning Me; you have neither heard His voice at any time, nor have you seen His appearance; <a href="/blb/john/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And the One having sent Me, the Father Himself, has borne witness concerning Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor have you seen His form. <a href="/ylt/john/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'And the Father who sent me Himself hath testified concerning me; ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor His appearance have ye seen; <a href="/slt/john/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the Father having sent me, he has testified of me. Nor have ye at any time heard his voice, or seen his form.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the Father himself who hath sent me, hath given testimony of me: neither have you heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. <a href="/cpdv/john/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And the Father who has sent me has himself offered testimony about me. And you have never heard his voice, nor have you beheld his appearance. <a href="/nabre/john/5.htm">New American Bible</a> Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, <a href="/nrsvce/john/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the Father who sent me has testified concerning me. But you have never heard his voice, nor seen his appearance. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And The Father who has sent me, he testifies of me. You have never heard his voice and you have not seen his appearance,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And the Father, who sent me, has testified concerning me. You have, neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. <a href="/godbey/john/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>And the Father having sent me, He hath testified concerning me: never have you heard His voice, neither have you seen His face:<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And the Father who sent me, himself hath borne witness concerning me. Ye have neither at any time heard his voice, nor seen his form. <a href="/mace/john/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and the father who sent me, hath himself born witness of me, his voice you have never heard, nor ever seen his appearance, <a href="/wey/john/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And the Father who sent me, *He* has given testimony concerning me. None of you have ever either heard His voice or seen what He is like. <a href="/worrell/john/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>And the Father Who sent Me, He hath testified concerning Me. Ye have neither at any time heard His voice, nor seen His form.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>And the Father who sent me, hath Himself borne witness of me: and <Fr>yet<FR> ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/5-37.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=1642" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/5.htm">Testimonies about Jesus</a> …36But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works I am doing—testify about Me that the Father has sent Me. 37<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">And</a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: Patēr (N-NMS) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">the Father</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">who</a> <a href="/greek/3992.htm" title="3992: pempsas (V-APA-NMS) -- To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth. ">sent</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: me (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me</a> <a href="/greek/3140.htm" title="3140: memartyrēken (V-RIA-3S) -- To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.">has Himself testified</a> <a href="/greek/1565.htm" title="1565: ekeinos (DPro-NMS) -- That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed."></a> <a href="/greek/4012.htm" title="4012: peri (Prep) -- From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.">about</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: emou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me.</a> <a href="/greek/3777.htm" title="3777: oute (Conj) -- And not, neither, nor. From ou and te; not too, i.e. Neither or nor; by analogy, not even."></a> <a href="/greek/4455.htm" title="4455: pōpote (Adv) -- At any time, ever. From po and pote; at any time, i.e. at no time."></a> <a href="/greek/191.htm" title="191: akēkoate (V-RIA-2P) -- To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.">You have never heard</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/5456.htm" title="5456: phōnēn (N-AFS) -- Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.">voice</a> <a href="/greek/3777.htm" title="3777: oute (Conj) -- And not, neither, nor. From ou and te; not too, i.e. Neither or nor; by analogy, not even.">nor</a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: heōrakate (V-RIA-2P) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">seen</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/1491.htm" title="1491: eidos (N-ANS) -- Visible form, shape, appearance, outward show, kind, species, class. From eido; a view, i.e. Form.">form,</a> 38nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/1-18.htm">John 1:18</a> 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. <a href="/john/8-18.htm">John 8:18</a> I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.” <a href="/john/12-28.htm">John 12:28-30</a> Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” / The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him. / In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours. <a href="/matthew/3-17.htm">Matthew 3:17</a> And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” <a href="/matthew/17-5.htm">Matthew 17:5</a> 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!” <a href="/1_john/5-9.htm">1 John 5:9-10</a> Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. / Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son. <a href="/hebrews/2-4.htm">Hebrews 2:4</a> and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. <a href="/1_john/4-14.htm">1 John 4:14</a> And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. <a href="/acts/10-38.htm">Acts 10:38</a> how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. <a href="/2_peter/1-17.htm">2 Peter 1:17</a> For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” <a href="/isaiah/42-1.htm">Isaiah 42:1</a> “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. <a href="/isaiah/53-1.htm">Isaiah 53:1</a> Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? <a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15-19</a> The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him. / This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!” / Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well. ... <a href="/psalms/2-7.htm">Psalm 2:7</a> I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. <a href="/isaiah/40-5.htm">Isaiah 40:5</a> And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.borne.<a href="/john/6-27.htm">John 6:27</a> Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.<a href="/john/8-18.htm">John 8:18</a> I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.<a href="/matthew/3-17.htm">Matthew 3:17</a> And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.See on ver.<a href="/john/5-32.htm">John 5:32</a> There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.Ye have.<a href="/john/1-18.htm">John 1:18</a> No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.<a href="/john/14-9.htm">John 14:9</a> Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?<a href="/john/15-24.htm">John 15:24</a> If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/12-56.htm">Appearance</a> <a href="/john/5-33.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/john/4-42.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/luke/23-15.htm">Either</a> <a href="/luke/14-7.htm">Form</a> <a href="/john/5-25.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/luke/3-23.htm">Shape</a> <a href="/john/5-33.htm">Testified</a> <a href="/john/5-36.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/john/5-35.htm">Time</a> <a href="/john/5-30.htm">Voice</a> <a href="/john/5-36.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/7-24.htm">Appearance</a> <a href="/john/19-35.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/john/8-47.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/john/8-11.htm">Either</a> <a href="/john/7-24.htm">Form</a> <a href="/john/6-45.htm">Heard</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-14.htm">Shape</a> <a href="/john/13-21.htm">Testified</a> <a href="/john/5-39.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/john/6-1.htm">Time</a> <a href="/john/7-28.htm">Voice</a> <a href="/john/5-39.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">John 5</div>1. <a href="/john/5-1.htm">Jesus on the Sabbath day cures him who was diseased thirty-eight years.</a> 10. <a href="/john/5-10.htm">The Jews therefore object, and persecute him for it.</a> 17. <a href="/john/5-17.htm">He answers for himself, and reproves them, showing by the testimony of his Father,</a> 31. <a href="/john/5-31.htm">of John,</a> 36. <a href="/john/5-36.htm">of his works,</a> 39. <a href="/john/5-39.htm">and of the Scriptures, who he is.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. This phrase emphasizes the divine authority and mission of Jesus. The Father’s testimony about Jesus is seen in various ways, including through the Old Testament prophecies that point to the coming Messiah (e.g., <a href="/isaiah/53.htm">Isaiah 53</a>, <a href="/psalms/22.htm">Psalm 22</a>). The Father’s voice was audibly heard at Jesus’ baptism (<a href="/matthew/3-17.htm">Matthew 3:17</a>) and the Transfiguration (<a href="/matthew/17-5.htm">Matthew 17:5</a>), affirming Jesus as His beloved Son. This divine endorsement underscores Jesus’ identity and mission, aligning with the Jewish understanding of a prophet being sent by God, as seen in the lives of Moses and Elijah.You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, This statement highlights the spiritual blindness and lack of understanding among Jesus’ audience. Despite their religious knowledge, they failed to recognize God’s revelation in Jesus. In the Old Testament, God’s voice was heard by figures like Moses (<a href="/exodus/33-11.htm">Exodus 33:11</a>) and the prophets, but the people Jesus addressed had not experienced such direct encounters. This also reflects the Jewish belief that God is spirit and cannot be seen (<a href="/exodus/33-20.htm">Exodus 33:20</a>, <a href="/john/4-24.htm">John 4:24</a>). The phrase challenges the audience to recognize Jesus as the visible representation of the invisible God (<a href="/colossians/1-15.htm">Colossians 1:15</a>), fulfilling the role of the ultimate mediator between God and humanity.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_father.htm">The Father</a> Refers to God the Father, the first person of the Holy Trinity, who sent Jesus into the world. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The Son of God, who is speaking in this passage, emphasizing His divine mission and relationship with the Father. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_audience.htm">The Audience</a> Primarily the Jewish leaders and people who were questioning Jesus' authority and identity. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_testimony.htm">The Testimony</a> The divine witness of God the Father concerning Jesus, which is a central theme in this passage. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_event.htm">The Event</a> This discourse occurs during Jesus' ministry, following His healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda, which led to controversy with the Jewish leaders.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/d/divine_testimony.htm">Divine Testimony</a> Understand that God the Father has provided a clear testimony about Jesus, affirming His divine mission and identity. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_perception.htm">Spiritual Perception</a> Reflect on the importance of spiritual perception over physical sight and hearing in recognizing God's work and presence. <a href="/topical/r/relationship_with_god.htm">Relationship with God</a> Cultivate a personal relationship with God through Jesus, who reveals the Father to us. <a href="/topical/a/authority_of_jesus.htm">Authority of Jesus</a> Acknowledge the authority of Jesus as the one sent by the Father, and align your life with His teachings. <a href="/topical/f/faith_and_obedience.htm">Faith and Obedience</a> Embrace faith in Jesus as the Son of God and live in obedience to His commands, as a response to the Father’s testimony.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 5</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_fourfold_witness.htm">What is the concept of the Fourfold Witness?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_jesus's_testimony_meet_witness_rules.htm">John 8:14–18: How do Jesus’s statements about His testimony reconcile with other biblical passages that require two or more witnesses?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_isaiah_53_7_with_gospels.htm">According to Isaiah 53:7, the servant remains silent when oppressed, yet in the Gospels Jesus speaks during his trials--how do we reconcile this contradiction?</a> <a href="/q/what_did_jesus_say_in_john_5_31,_8_14.htm">In the Gospel of John, what did Jesus say about bearing his own witness in John 5:31 and John 8:14?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(37) Hath borne witness of me.--The marginal reference interprets this testimony of the Father by the voices from heaven spoken at the Baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration Both are indeed illustrations, and are naturally suggested by the imagery of voice and shape in the latter half of the verse; but one was at this moment in the future, and the other was a definite event which would have required a more definite reference. The Greek, indeed, distinguishes between the Incarnation at a definite point in time and the witness which was continued--And the Father Himself which sent Me (not "hath sent Me") hath borne witness of Me."His voice" and "His shape" are both general, and the "at any time" extends over the whole duration of previous revelation. Literally the clause is, Voice of Him ye have not at any time heard, nor shape of Him have ye seen. The reference to the revelation of the Old Testament Scriptures is, moreover, demanded by the immediate context, while the voice at the Baptism and the Transfiguration are not only absent from the present circle of thoughts, but also from St. John's Gospel. Jesus is answering a charge of breaking God's law, and of making Himself equal with God because he has claimed God's fatherhood in word for Himself, and has manifested it in life-power for man. That charge was but an example of their unreceptive spirit. Through the whole history of the nation. He had been revealing Himself to them. Through the chief knowledge-giving senses, eye and ear, they should have learnt in that past history to see God in the act of mercy, to hear Him in the word of love. They jealous for God's honour! Ah! it was then as it had been ever. Voice of God they could not hear. Vision of God they could not see.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 37, 38. - The witness of the Father further elucidated. (See ver. 32.) Verse 37. - And the Father (himself), who sent me. (he) hath borne witness concerning me. If the "himself" be the genuine reading (and it is defended by Godet, M'Clellan, and Meyer), there would seem to be a special or direct and additional form of the Father's testimony. And several ancient and modern critics (Chrysostom, Bengel, Paulus, Godet) have seen in it a reference to the special "voice and shape" which were heard and teen by John and Jesus at the baptism, when heaven was opened, when a voice from heaven proclaimed him to be the well beloved and only begotten Son of God, and when the Spirit of God descended as a dove and abode upon him. This testimony was only given to the world through the consciousness and word of John, who, after receiving it, bore record that this was the Son of God. Meyer and many others, rather following the suggestion of De Wette that the inward drawing of the Father to the Son was that to which the Lord referred, would thus complete the testimony of the "works." This testimony, then, which is cited against the challenge, "Thou bearest witness concerning thyself," would be a purely subjective one. Westcott thinks it refers to the whole of the Old Testament ministry and prophetic and typical anticipation of the Christ, culminating in John the Baptist. This particular series of testimonies is referred to in vers. 39 and 47, etc. Moulton, who rejects the αὐτὸς sees no new, no direct, testimony in addition to that of the works, but the assertion that they are the voice of the Father - in a sense the very form of the Father, for the conviction of those who might if they would come to him. If the αὐτὸς must be retained, I think that we must suppose our Lord referring to the whole of those objective manifestations of the Father's will and mind concerning Christ which were outside of his own act or work; and all that shining through his face, that whispering through his word of what was the eternal Father's face and voice, and plainly distinguished from the work of the Son; e.g. the angels' song, the miraculous providence which protected his childhood, the opening of heaven at his baptism, the Divinity which attended him and which made his ministry so strange and strong an influence. Nor could he who had the whole of his life before him fail to be conscious of further testimonies from heaven and from Providence which, though unrecorded, would continue to set their seal upon his character and work. We must never forget that our Lord himself was a revelation of the Son. But the revelation of the Son in his ἔργα was accompanied throughout with another manifestation - that of the Father. The glory of the Lord shone round about him. Nevertheless, a difficulty is conceded as arising out of the unsusceptibility and limited opportunities of his hearers. Never have ye heard a voice of him, or seen a form of him. These voices and these sounds need opened ears and unsealed eyes. You (says Christ) have not heard that which you might have heard. You have not seen that which you might have seen. On a subsequent occasion he said to one of his disciples, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. How sayest thou, then, Show us the Father?" So that there was, indeed, the condition of adequate revelation of the Father provided for the disciples in the life of Christ, in the ministry of the Son of the Father. Moreover, it far exceeded the vision of God which was granted to patriarchs and prophets under the Old Testament dispensation. Doubtless the voice of Jehovah had been heard (<a href="/exodus/20-19.htm">Exodus 20:19</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/4-12.htm">Deuteronomy 4:12</a>), the face of Jehovah had been seen (<a href="/genesis/32-30.htm">Genesis 32:30</a>; <a href="/exodus/24-10.htm">Exodus 24:10</a>; <a href="/numbers/12-8.htm">Numbers 12:8</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/5-4.htm">Deuteronomy 5:4, 24</a>). Isaiah saw the glory of the Angel of the Lord (6; cf. <a href="/john/12-41.htm">John 12:41</a>), and Ezekiel likewise by the river of Chebar (Ezekiel 3:23). Nevertheless, the evangelist, on the credit of the great utterance before us, has laid down, as the very climax of the prologue, "No man hath seen God at any time (πώποτε); the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." This language of the prologue shows that the true revelation of the Father's heart was not even granted to the noblest of the seers and patriarchs. Such manifestations as the visions of the Old Testament saints were not the veritable voice or form of the Father. Should mankind ever obtain vision or audition of the Father, it must be through the presence among them of him who had been forever in the bosom of the Father. Though these captious critics were in a position to have received this revelation of the Highest, they had not done so. "Ye have neither heard a voice of him, nor seen a form of him. You might have seen and heard and handled if you had chosen, but You will not come to me, you will not believe me, you will not yield to my claims as One sent to you from the Father!" <a href="/commentaries/john/5-37.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>And καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. [the] Father Πατὴρ (Patēr) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. who ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. sent πέμψας (pempsas) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3992.htm">Strong's 3992: </a> To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth. Me με (me) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. has Himself testified μεμαρτύρηκεν (memartyrēken) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3140.htm">Strong's 3140: </a> To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify. about περὶ (peri) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4012.htm">Strong's 4012: </a> From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time. Me. ἐμοῦ (emou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. You have never heard ἀκηκόατε (akēkoate) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_191.htm">Strong's 191: </a> To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. voice φωνὴν (phōnēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5456.htm">Strong's 5456: </a> Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language. nor οὔτε (oute) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3777.htm">Strong's 3777: </a> And not, neither, nor. From ou and te; not too, i.e. Neither or nor; by analogy, not even. seen ἑωράκατε (heōrakate) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. form, εἶδος (eidos) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1491.htm">Strong's 1491: </a> Visible form, shape, appearance, outward show, kind, species, class. From eido; a view, i.e. Form. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/5-37.htm">NT Gospels: John 5:37 The Father himself who sent me has (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/5-36.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 5:36"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 5:36" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/5-38.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 5:38"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 5:38" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>