John 2:10 kjv

And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

John 2:10 nkjv

And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"

John 2:10 niv

and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

John 2:10 esv

and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."

John 2:10 nlt

"A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!"

John 2 verses

John 2 10 Meaning

The master of the feast observes that it is the usual custom for hosts to first serve the best quality wine and then, once guests have become less discerning, present a poorer quality. However, he expresses his astonishment that, contrary to this common practice, the host at this wedding has remarkably kept the excellent quality wine until the very end. Unbeknownst to him, this superior wine was miraculously provided by Jesus, highlighting the boundless quality and perfect timing of His divine provision, contrasting sharply with human limitations and customs.

John 2 10 Context

John 2:10 is spoken by the master of the feast during the wedding at Cana, immediately following Jesus's first miracle. In Jewish society, wedding celebrations were central events, often lasting several days, and providing abundant wine was crucial for a host's honor. When the wine runs out, it poses a social crisis for the host family. Jesus's mother, Mary, informs Him of the shortage. Although Jesus's initial response seems to suggest His hour has not yet come, He proceeds to command the servants to fill six stone water jars (used for ritual purification) with water. He then instructs them to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast, who, unaware of the miracle, samples it and offers this astounding compliment to the bridegroom. This event serves as Jesus's inaugural "sign" (as John calls His miracles), revealing His glory and solidifying His disciples' belief, signaling the start of His public ministry. The transformation of water (associated with old covenant purification rites) into new, abundant, and superior wine points metaphorically to the new covenant of grace and joy that Jesus inaugurates, surpassing the old in quality and spiritual depth.

John 2 10 Word analysis

• "And saith": (καὶ λέγει - kai legei) – A common narrative connector, directly introducing the master's statement.
• "unto him,": (αὐτῷ - autō) – Refers to the bridegroom, the nominal host of the feast, who receives the surprising commendation.
• "Every man": (Πᾶς ἄνθρωπος - Pas anthrōpos) – Denotes a universal observation, highlighting common human practice and expectation, establishing a societal norm.
• "at the beginning": (πρῶτον - prōton) – Literally "first," indicating precedence in order or time. It underlines the standard, customary procedure.
• "doth set forth": (τίθησι - tithēsi) – From tithēmi, "to place, set, put, serve." Implies intentional action and an established custom of serving provisions.
• "good wine": (τὸν καλὸν οἶνον - ton kalon oinon) –
  • καλὸν (kalon): Not merely "good" in terms of quality, but "beautiful, noble, excellent, inherently good." It describes something intrinsically fine and superior.
  • οἶνον (oinon): Wine, a common celebratory beverage in ancient Near Eastern culture, symbolizing joy, blessing, and often, the covenant.
• "and when men have well drunk": (καὶ ὅταν μεθυσθῶσιν - kai hotan methysthōsin) –
  • μεθυσθῶσιν (methysthōsin): Aorist passive subjunctive of methyskō, meaning "to intoxicate, get drunk, become inebriated." The phrase implies that once guests are in a state of diminished sobriety and thus less discerning, the opportunity arises to serve a lower quality product without complaint. It reflects a human tendency toward convenience or shrewdness.
• "then that which is worse": (τότε τὸν ἐλάσσω - tote ton elassō) –
  • ἐλάσσω (elassō): "Less, inferior, smaller, worse." This word starkly contrasts with kalon, emphasizing a deliberate decrease in quality once the opportunity permits.
• "but thou hast kept": (σὺ τετήρηκας - sy tetērēkas) –
  • σὺ (sy): The emphatic "you," directing the statement pointedly at the bridegroom.
  • τετήρηκας (tetērēkas): Perfect active indicative of tēreō, meaning "to keep, guard, preserve, observe carefully." The perfect tense suggests a completed action with lasting effect – it has been kept, and is still available. It conveys deliberate reservation.
• "the good wine": (τὸν καλὸν οἶνον - ton kalon oinon) – Repeated to stress the surprising re-appearance of excellence, underscoring the contrast.
• "until now.": (ἕως ἄρτι - heōs arti) – This phrase signifies the precise timing of the revelation of the superior quality, contrary to typical practice. It emphasizes the astonishment at the unexpectedness and lateness of the truly excellent provision.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse:": This segment describes the prevailing human custom, born of expediency, economic practicality, or a subtle exploitation of diminished discernment. It portrays the common, declining trajectory of human provision—the initial grand offering followed by something lesser. Spiritually, it might represent offerings or systems that initially promise much but ultimately fall short or diminish in value.
• "but thou hast kept the good wine until now.": This stark contrast points to a divine counter-pattern. The unexpected emergence of superior quality after initial expectations sets apart the provider (Jesus, though the master of the feast doesn't know it). It symbolizes the nature of Christ's kingdom and gifts: they are of unparalleled quality, often defy human logic or expectations, and arrive with perfect divine timing, surpassing all that came before. It suggests that with God, the best is truly reserved for the opportune moment, providing a fulness that continually overflows rather than diminishes.

John 2 10 Bonus section

• The master of the feast, also known as the architriklinos, was a significant figure at ancient banquets, often a professional steward or a respected guest, responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the festivities. His testimony here is crucial because it is unbiased and professional, validating the astounding quality of Jesus's miracle to an extent that casual observation could not. His lack of knowledge about the source of the wine makes his high praise even more powerful.
• This verse and the miracle itself challenge the natural human inclination to believe that spiritual truth or grace peaked in earlier dispensations (e.g., the Law, or earlier prophetic periods) and that subsequent expressions are diminished. John 2:10 asserts that with Jesus, the opposite is true; the "new wine" of His grace is unequivocally superior and abundantly given, setting the stage for the progressive revelation of God's character and salvation.

John 2 10 Commentary

John 2:10 succinctly highlights the qualitative difference between human provision and divine abundance, unknowingly commented on by the master of the feast. Human practice dictates that the finest resources are dispensed first, only to be followed by those of lesser quality, often once discretion is impaired. This practical human logic, driven by self-interest or common wisdom, provides a backdrop against which Jesus's action is strikingly set apart. His miraculous provision of the "good" (excellent, noble) wine last at the wedding feast in Cana serves as a profound parable. It symbolizes that Jesus offers a spiritual reality far superior to anything preceding it—the old covenant, human efforts, or earthly pleasures. The "good wine" signifies the surpassing joy, life, and grace found in Christ. This first sign of Jesus’s ministry foreshadows that His ultimate sacrifice and the indwelling of His Spirit offer the ultimate, unfading, and continually abundant blessings, asserting that in His kingdom, the very best is reserved, provided, and flows without end.