John 1:18

18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John 1:18 in Other Translations

KJV
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
ESV
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
NLT
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
MSG
18 No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day. Thunder in the Desert
CSB
18 No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son- the One who is at the Father's side- He has revealed Him.

John 1:18 In-Context

16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

Cross References 2

  • 1. Exodus 33:20; John 6:46; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 4:12
  • 2. John 3:16,18; 1 John 4:9

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Some manuscripts "but the only Son, who"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.