14:9a–b
Jesus replied: This quote introducer introduces Jesus’ answer, which is a rhetorical question. Introduce the quote in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
Jesus answered (New International Version)
-or-
Jesus asked him
Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me?: This is a rhetorical question. It is used as a rebuke. Jesus rebuked/scolded Philip for not recognizing that he had revealed God through his life and teaching. Philip did not need to ask to see God, because it was unnecessary. He had seen Jesus, who had shown him what God was like.
There are at least two ways to translate this rebuke:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Philip, I have been with you disciples for a long time. Don’t you, Philip, know who I really am? (Contemporary English Version)
• Use a statement. For example:
By now you (sing.) should recognize who I really am after my being with you (plur.) disciples for such a long time.
Translate this rebuke in a way that is most natural in your language.
Philip: In the Greek the name Philip is at the end of the sentence. The Berean Standard Bible puts it at the beginning of the sentence. In some languages it is more natural to place it in the middle of the quotation. Put it where it is most natural in your language.
I have been with you all this time: This clause refers to the three years of Jesus’ ministry on earth when Philip followed him. The phrase all this time implies that a long time had passed. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:
I have been with all of you for a long time (God’s Word)
you: This pronoun is plural and refers to all the disciples.
still you do not know Me: This clause means “you still do not recognize who I really am.” The disciples still did not understand that Jesus was God.
you: This pronoun here is singular and refers to Philip alone.
General Comment on 14:9a–b
In some languages it may be more natural to rearrange 14:9a–b, placing the question part of the sentence first. For example:
Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? (New International Version)
14:9c
Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father: This clause indicates that seeing Jesus is the same as seeing the Father. Jesus and the Father are united, and Jesus revealed God. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
The person who has seen me has seen the Father. (NET Bible)
-or-
If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. (Contemporary English Version)
14:9d
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?: This is a rhetorical question. It is used as a rebuke. Jesus rebuked/scolded Philip for asking to see God when he had already seen Jesus.
There are at least two ways to translate this rebuke:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
So why do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (New Century Version)
• Use a statement. For example:
You should not say, “Show us the Father.”
-or-
You do not need to ask to see the Father.
Translate this rebuke in a way that is most natural in your language.
you: This pronoun is singular and refers to Philip.
Show us the Father: This is a quotation of Philip’s words. See how you translated this clause in 14:8.
us: This pronoun is exclusive and refers to all the disciples but not to Jesus.
General Comment on 14:9d
This sentence contains a quotation inside another quotation. Jesus quoted what Philip had just said to him. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as an indirect quotation. For example:
How can you ask me to show you the Father? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You should not ask me to show you the Father.
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