Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

JOHN 1:45KJV
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John 1:45 (KJV)

What does John 1:45 mean?

John 1:45 describes Philip telling Nathanael that Jesus is the person Philip and others have been looking for in Israel’s sacred writings. Philip’s words connect Jesus, a man known by his hometown and family, with the hopes raised by those writings.

After Jesus calls Philip in verse 43, Philip finds Nathanael and shares his discovery. “Moses in the law, and the prophets” refers to writings familiar to the Jewish people: the books associated with Moses and the writings of the prophets, people who spoke God’s messages.

The Greek behind John 1:45

  • “findeth” — εὑρίσκει (heuriskei): The Greek carries the sense of finding or coming upon someone. The same verb appears in “found,” linking Philip’s encounter with Nathanael to his announcement about Jesus.
  • “write” — ἔγραψεν (egrapsen): The Greek means “wrote.” Philip presents the earlier writings as pointing toward the person he now identifies as Jesus.

Why John 1:45 matters

  • Philip speaks as part of a group, not only for himself. His words “we have found” place his discovery alongside that of others who had met Jesus.
  • Jesus is identified in ordinary human terms as “of Nazareth” and “the son of Joseph.” Nathanael’s question in the next verse shows that Nazareth was a surprising place for such a figure to come from.
  • Philip points to the law and the prophets together. His wording presents Jesus as connected to a broad range of Israel’s sacred writings, rather than naming a single passage.

Where else these words appear

“Nathanael” Greek G3482 · used in 6 verses

  • John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
  • John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
  • John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

“Nazareth” Greek G3478 · used in 12 verses

  • Matthew 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
  • Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
  • Luke 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

“Joseph” Greek G2501 · used in 34 verses

  • Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
  • Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
  • John 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

“Philip” Greek G5376 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
  • John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
  • Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.