John 1:18 nasb — No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

NASB

"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."

— John 1:18, NASB

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John 1:18 in Other Translations

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John 1 — Context

15

John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"

16

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

17

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

18

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

19

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20

And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

21

They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he *said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

John 1:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 1:18 say?
John 1:18 in the NASB reads: “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”
Where is John 1:18 in the Bible?
John 1:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 1, verse 18.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 1:18.
What translation should I read John 1:18 in?
John 1:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 1:18?
John 1:18 reads (NASB): “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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