John 5:37
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.
John 5:37 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse, Jesus is explaining to his disciples that even though they have not directly heard the voice of God or seen his physical form, they have still received a witness of him through the works and teachings that Jesus has been doing. Jesus is essentially saying that God the Father, who has sent him, has borne witness to the truth of his teachings and his authority. He is reminding his disciples that their lack of direct experience with God's voice or form does not diminish the validity of his message or his connection to the Father. This verse serves as a reassurance to the disciples that they can trust in Jesus as the messenger of God, even if they have not experienced the divine in the same way that previous prophets may have. It highlights the importance of faith and spiritual comprehension over physical evidence or direct encounters in understanding and connecting with God's will.
Theological Overview
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Jews, telling them that the Father, who sent him, has borne witness of him. This emphasizes the close relationship between Jesus and the Father, indicating that the Father has testified to Jesus' identity and mission. Jesus then states that the Jews have neither heard the Father's voice nor seen his shape. This can be understood as a reference to the inability of humans to fully comprehend or perceive the divine nature of God. The theological interpretation of this verse highlights the concept of divine revelation, indicating that Jesus is the ultimate revelation of the Father to humanity. It also underscores the importance of faith, as believing in Jesus as the Son of God requires a trust in the testimony of the Father. The word study of "voice" and "shape" in this context could point to the idea that God's true nature transcends human senses and understanding, emphasizing the need for faith and spiritual discernment.
John 5:37 in other translations
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible
The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
Douay-Rheims
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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the Father himselfe, which hath sent me, beareth witnesse of me. Ye haue not heard his voyce at any time, neither haue ye seene his shape.