John 2:1 kjv

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

John 2:1 nkjv

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

John 2:1 niv

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,

John 2:1 esv

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

John 2:1 nlt

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,

John 2 verses

John 2 1 Meaning

This verse establishes the initial setting, time, and key characters for Jesus' first miraculous sign. It places the event in Cana of Galilee on the third day, after a series of encounters detailed in the first chapter of John's Gospel. The presence of Jesus' mother indicates a familial and social context, setting the stage for the intimate yet public nature of the miracle that follows. It highlights Jesus' immersion in ordinary human life and celebration, signaling the beginning of His public ministry not in a grand temple, but at a humble wedding feast.

John 2 1 Context

John 2:1 serves as a pivotal transition point in John's Gospel. The preceding chapter introduces Jesus as the Word made flesh (John 1:1-18) and records John the Baptist's testimony concerning Jesus (John 1:19-37), followed by Jesus calling His first disciples (John 1:38-51). The chronological markers "the next day" (John 1:29, 1:35, 1:43) preceding "On the third day" in John 2:1 suggest a seamless narrative progression where Jesus is quickly moving into His public ministry. The wedding setting places Jesus within common social life, demonstrating that His coming brings transformation and grace not just to religious rituals, but to everyday human joys and needs. Historically, weddings in Judea and Galilee were significant multi-day community celebrations, and the absence of wine would bring immense shame upon the host family.

John 2 1 Word analysis

• On the third day: Greek `tē tritē hēmera`. This precise temporal marker follows a series of "the next day" phrases in John 1. It may imply a progression in Jesus' public revelation. Theological interpretations often connect "the third day" to the resurrection (e.g., Hos 6:2, 1 Cor 15:4) or significant divine appointments and covenants (e.g., Exod 19:11).
• there was: Greek `egeneto`. Literally "it came to pass" or "it happened," indicating an event.
• a wedding: Greek `gamos`. Refers to a marriage feast or ceremony. Weddings were deeply significant social events in ancient Israel, lasting several days, celebrated with feasting and joyous communal participation.
• at Cana: Greek `Kana`. A small town in Galilee, identified today as Kafr Kanna, near Nazareth. Its obscurity highlights that Jesus began His public manifestations not in Jerusalem or a major center, but in a humble, peripheral location.
• in Galilee: Greek `Galilaia`. The northern region of Israel, often looked down upon by those in Judea but prophesied as the place where the light would shine (Isa 9:1-2). This geographical setting underscores Jesus' identity and mission among the common people, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah starting His work in the "Galilee of the Gentiles."
• and the mother: Greek `kai hē mētēr`. Refers to Mary, Jesus' mother. Her presence signifies her familial closeness and connection to Jesus' earthly life.
• of Jesus: Greek `tou Iēsou`. Identifies the Son of God, linking the events directly to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
• was there: Greek `ēn ekei`. Simple past tense, indicating her personal presence at the celebration, preceding Jesus' arrival with His disciples in John 2:2.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "On the third day there was a wedding": This phrase combines a specific timeframe with a social event. The timing (the 'third day') not only serves as a chronological bridge from the previous narrative but also carries significant theological echoes of new beginnings, resurrection, and divine appointments throughout Scripture, subtly hinting at the new order Jesus brings. The setting of a 'wedding' emphasizes celebration, community, and the ordinary affairs of human life as a context for divine intervention.
• "at Cana in Galilee": This establishes a precise, yet humble, geographical location. Cana's obscurity contrasts with the theological significance of the event taking place there. Galilee itself, as Jesus' primary base of operations and often disdained by the religious elite of Judea, aligns with God's preference for working through the humble and overlooked, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. It sets a stage for a ministry that transcends elitism and religious hierarchy.
• "and the mother of Jesus was there": This introduces a key individual, Mary, and highlights her prior presence at the wedding. Her natural presence signals Jesus' embeddedness in human familial and social structures. Her involvement immediately before the miracle (John 2:3) hints at her understanding of Jesus' unique abilities and her expectation of His intervention, laying the groundwork for her role as an initiator or catalyst for the first sign.

John 2 1 Bonus section

• "Book of Signs" Opening: John's Gospel often structures Jesus' miracles as "signs" pointing to His identity and divine nature. The Cana miracle is explicitly called "the first of his signs" (John 2:11), and this verse introduces the very context for this initial profound revelation. It marks the formal beginning of Jesus' public demonstration of His glory.
• Divine Presence in the Mundane: The choice of a wedding, a common human festivity, for Jesus' first public act demonstrates His commitment to humanity not just in its brokenness but in its joy and everyday celebrations. He did not initiate His ministry in the Temple or among religious scholars but by participating in a familial and social gathering, indicating His desire to sanctify all aspects of human existence.
• Symbolism of the Third Day: Beyond literal chronology, "the third day" in Scripture often denotes completion, restoration, or the beginning of a new divine act. Examples range from God speaking light into existence on the third day of creation, Abraham's journey to sacrifice Isaac, to Israel's encounter with God at Sinai. In the Johannine context, this immediately precedes a moment of divine glory revealed through a sign, establishing a pattern for future, even greater, revelations.

John 2 1 Commentary

John 2:1 is a concise, yet rich, introductory verse that precisely sets the stage for Jesus' inaugural miracle. It grounds the unfolding divine drama in the very ordinary, tangible fabric of human life: a wedding celebration in a small Galilean village. The specific mention of "the third day" can be seen not merely as a chronological detail, but potentially as a subtle foreshadowing, weaving a theological thread from earlier biblical events to the ultimate "third day" of resurrection. Jesus' mother being present first, suggests her deep connection to the event and to Jesus' person, pre-setting her instrumental query in the subsequent verse. This simple beginning, away from the religious centers, illustrates that God's transformative presence enters human life directly and intimately, blessing the ordinary, joyful, and often vulnerable moments. It is a humble launch for a public ministry that would forever change the course of history, beginning with a domestic celebration that lacked wine, symbolizing the abundant joy Christ brings.