HAS ANYONE EVER SEEN GOD? - In our fallen human condition, if God were to fully reveal Himself to us, we would be consumed and destroyed. Jesus was God in the flesh so when people saw Him, they were seeing God. Yes, God can be “seen” and many people have “seen” God - at the same time, no one has ever seen God revealed in all His glory - The Bible tells us that no one has ever seen God except the Lord Jesus Christ. In Exodus 33:20, God declares, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” These Scriptures seem to contradict other Scriptures which describe various people “seeing” God. For example, Exodus 33:11 describes Moses speaking to God “face to face.” How could Moses speak with God “face to face” if no one can see God’s face and live? In this instance, the phrase “face to face” is a figure of speech indicating they were in very close communion. God and Moses were speaking to each other as if they were two human beings having a close conversation. Jacob saw God appearing as a man; he did not truly see God. Samson’s parents were terrified when they realized they had seen God but they had only seen Him appearing as an angel. Jesus was God in the flesh so when people saw Him, they were seeing God. So, yes, God can be “seen” and many people have “seen” God. At the same time, no one has ever seen God revealed in all His glory.

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Has anyone ever seen God?

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In our fallen human condition, if God were to fully reveal Himself to us, we would be consumed and destroyed. Jesus was God in the flesh so when people saw Him, they were seeing God. Yes, God can be “seen” and many people have “seen” God - at the same time, no one has ever seen God revealed in all His glory

Got Questions Ministries

The Bible tells us that no one has ever seen God (John 1:18) except the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Exodus 33:20, God declares, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

These Scriptures seem to contradict other Scriptures which describe various people “seeing” God.

For example, Exodus 33:11 describes Moses speaking to God “face to face.”

How could Moses speak with God “face to face” if no one can see God’s face and live?

In this instance, the phrase “face to face” is a figure of speech indicating they were in very close communion.

God and Moses were speaking to each other as if they were two human beings having a close conversation.
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In Genesis 32:30, Jacob saw God appearing as a man; he did not truly see God.

Samson’s parents were terrified when they realized they had seen God (Judges 13:22), but they had only seen Him appearing as an angel.

Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14) so when people saw Him, they were seeing God.

So, yes, God can be “seen” and many people have “seen” God.

At the same time, no one has ever seen God revealed in all His glory.

In our fallen human condition, if God were to fully reveal Himself to us, we would be consumed and destroyed.

Therefore, God veils Himself and appears in forms in which we can “see” Him.

However, this is different than seeing God with all His glory and holiness displayed.

People have seen visions of God, images of God, and appearances of God, but no one has ever seen God in all His fullness (Exodus 33:20).

Got Questions Ministries seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.

We will do our best to prayerfully and thoroughly research your question and answer it in a biblically based manner. It is not our purpose to make you agree with us, but rather to point you to what the Bible says concerning your question. You can be assured that your question will be answered by a trained and dedicated Christian who loves the Lord and desires to assist you in your walk with Him. Our writing staff includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, biblical counselors, Bible/Christian college students, seminary students, and lay students of God’s Word.

https://www.gotquestions.org/seen-God.html