John 1:49 kjv
Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 1:49 nkjv
Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
John 1:49 niv
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."
John 1:49 esv
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
John 1:49 nlt
Then Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God ? the King of Israel!"
John 1 49 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:7-8 | "You are my Son; today I have begotten you... ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage..." | "Son of God" in a messianic, royal context. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-14 | "I will raise up your offspring after you... I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son." | Davidic covenant establishing royal sonship. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born... on the throne of David and over his kingdom." | Prophecy of the Davidic Messiah King. |
| Zech 9:9 | "Rejoice greatly... behold, your king is coming to you..." | Prophecy of Messiah's kingship. |
| Matt 16:16 | "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." | Peter's similar Christological confession. |
| Mk 15:32 | "Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross..." | Jesus mocked as "King of Israel" by enemies. |
| Lk 1:32-33, 35 | "He will be great... called the Son of the Most High... he will reign over the house of Jacob forever." | Gabriel's prophecy of Jesus as divine Son and King. |
| Lk 23:3 | Pilate asks, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answers, "You have said so." | Jesus' kingship challenged at trial. |
| Jn 1:34 | John the Baptist's testimony: "I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." | Earlier testimony reinforcing Nathanael's title. |
| Jn 1:45 | Philip to Nathanael: "We have found him... Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." | Philip's introduction leading to initial doubt. |
| Jn 1:48 | Jesus to Nathanael: "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." | Immediate catalyst for Nathanael's conviction. |
| Jn 2:24-25 | "Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." | Jesus' innate knowledge of human hearts. |
| Jn 4:17-19 | Jesus revealing the Samaritan woman's past: "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did." | Example of Jesus' supernatural knowledge. |
| Jn 5:25 | "the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God..." | Jesus identifies himself with the title. |
| Jn 10:36 | "Do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?" | Jesus defending his claim to be the Son of God. |
| Jn 11:27 | Martha's confession: "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." | Another significant confession using same titles. |
| Jn 12:13 | "Blessed is the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!" | Public acclamation during triumphal entry. |
| Jn 20:28-31 | Thomas's confession, "My Lord and my God!" followed by John's purpose statement about believing Jesus is the Son of God. | climactic confession of Jesus' full deity. |
| Acts 9:20 | Paul (Saul) "immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is the Son of God.'" | Early apostolic preaching confirming Jesus' identity. |
| Rom 1:3-4 | "who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead..." | The resurrection confirming Jesus' Sonship. |
| Heb 1:1-3 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." | The ultimate revelation through God's Son. |
| 1 Jn 4:15 | "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." | Emphasizing the importance of this confession for true faith. |
John 1 verses
John 1 49 Meaning
John 1:49 captures Nathanael's profound and immediate confession of Jesus' divine and messianic identity. After Jesus reveals his supernatural knowledge of Nathanael's private moment under a fig tree, Nathanael, abandoning his initial skepticism, proclaims Jesus as both "Rabbi," acknowledging His teaching authority, and then, with greater weight, "the Son of God" and "the King of Israel," recognizing Him as the awaited Messiah, the divine King and Lord.
John 1 49 Context
John chapter 1 introduces Jesus as the Word made flesh, the light of the world, and reveals Him through the testimonies of John the Baptist, early disciples like Andrew, Philip, and Peter, and finally, Nathanael. Following his initial skepticism ("Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"), Nathanael encounters Jesus directly. Jesus' declaration in John 1:47 ("Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!") primes Nathanael, setting the stage for His further display of supernatural knowledge in verse 48, where Jesus mentions seeing Nathanael under a fig tree. This divine insight transforms Nathanael's skepticism into profound belief, leading to his spontaneous confession in verse 49. Historically, 1st-century Jewish society keenly awaited the Messiah, a figure expected to fulfill prophecies as a descendant of David and a divine king. Nathanael's confession thus echoes these deeply held messianic expectations but, significantly, attributes them directly to Jesus after witnessing a demonstration of divine attributes.
John 1 49 Word analysis
- Nathanael: (Greek: Ναθαναήλ, Nathanael) Meaning "God has given." This name carries a symbolic resonance, perhaps indicating that Nathanael himself, or his sudden insight, is a gift from God. His quick shift from doubt to full conviction underscores a divine revelation.
- answered him: (Greek: ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ, apekrithē autō) A standard term indicating a direct verbal response, highlighting the immediate and unhesitating nature of Nathanael's declaration.
- Rabbi: (Greek: ῥαββί, rhabbi; from Hebrew רַבִּי, rav, meaning "great one" or "my teacher") A title of respect for a teacher, especially of Jewish law and tradition. Nathanael begins by acknowledging Jesus' authority as a spiritual mentor. This is the common form of address used by disciples towards their teachers.
- you are: (Greek: σύ εἶ, sy ei) The emphatic personal pronoun "you" highlights that Nathanael's confession is a direct, personal affirmation of Jesus' identity, born of conviction.
- the Son of God: (Greek: ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, ho Huios tou Theou) This title transcends mere human recognition. In the Old Testament, "Son of God" could refer to Israel, angels, or particularly, the Davidic king (Ps 2:7, 2 Sam 7:14), signifying a unique relationship with God. Here, in the New Testament, and especially in John's Gospel, it denotes Jesus' unique divine nature, co-equality, and intimate relationship with the Father. It is a profound theological declaration of deity.
- the King of Israel: (Greek: ὁ Βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, ho Basileus tou Israēl) A central messianic title. This identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Davidic King, who would reign over God's people. This speaks to Jesus' political and sovereign authority over God's chosen nation, though Jesus' kingship proves to be of a spiritual, universal nature.
- "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel": This phrase represents a comprehensive and progressive recognition. "Rabbi" acknowledges Jesus' human role as a respected teacher. "Son of God" immediately elevates this to a divine realm, recognizing his unique divine origin and nature. "King of Israel" then specifies his role within Jewish eschatological expectations as the long-awaited Messiah, ruling sovereignly over God's people. Nathanael's full understanding, spurred by Jesus' miraculous insight, encompasses both Jesus' deity and His promised messianic kingship. It is one of the earliest, clearest Christological confessions in the Gospel, reflecting immediate revelation and total belief.
John 1 49 Bonus section
- The Significance of "Under the Fig Tree": In Jewish tradition, sitting under a fig tree could symbolize a place of peaceful reflection, private study of the Torah, or prayer (e.g., Micah 4:4, Zech 3:10, picturing ideal peace and prosperity). For Jesus to know Nathanael's private location and state of being there signifies His ability to perceive beyond outward appearance, knowing the secret thoughts and spiritual disposition of a person. It reveals His supernatural insight into Nathanael's spiritual seeking before He even met him, thereby validating His messianic claims.
- Nathanael's Purity: Jesus’ earlier commendation of Nathanael as "an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" (John 1:47) sets him apart as one genuinely seeking truth. His lack of guile meant that once presented with irrefutable evidence of Jesus' divine knowledge, his heart was open to believe without hesitation or manipulation, leading to this profound confession. This illustrates the readiness of a sincere heart to receive revelation.
- The Ladder of Understanding: Nathanael's progression from a geographical prejudice ("Can anything good come out of Nazareth?") to acknowledging Jesus as a Rabbi, then as the Son of God, and finally as the King of Israel, shows a ladder of increasing understanding and faith. This culminates in Jesus' promise of "greater things" to come (John 1:50-51), indicating that this profound confession is merely the beginning of the disciples' full understanding of Christ's glory.
John 1 49 Commentary
Nathanael's declaration in John 1:49 marks a pivotal moment, transitioning rapidly from skeptical inquiry to profound conviction. His dual confession of "Son of God" and "King of Israel" encompasses both Jesus' divine nature and His promised role as the Davidic Messiah. The trigger for this remarkable transformation is Jesus' intimate knowledge of Nathanael's private meditation under the fig tree. This brief, revealing act proves to Nathanael that Jesus possesses more than human wisdom; He holds divine omniscience, penetrating the depths of his being. Nathanael’s response, therefore, is not a superficial acknowledgment but a comprehensive spiritual discernment. It foreshadows the type of faith that John’s Gospel will consistently present: a faith founded on the revelatory works and words of Jesus, culminating in a recognition of His true identity as God incarnate and rightful ruler. This stands as a model for all who encounter Jesus, urging a deeper understanding beyond mere observation.