John 2:3 kjv

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

John 2:3 nkjv

And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."

John 2:3 niv

When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

John 2:3 esv

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."

John 2:3 nlt

The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine."

John 2 verses

John 2 3 Meaning

John 2:3 details a moment of significant social crisis at a wedding in Cana of Galilee: the hosts had run out of wine. Jesus' mother, Mary, observes this impending embarrassment and discreetly informs Jesus of the dire situation. Her simple statement, "They have no wine," serves as a direct and urgent communication of need, setting the stage for Jesus' first public miracle. It highlights the inadequacy of human provision and subtly points towards the expectation that Jesus, in His divine nature, could resolve the shortfall.

John 2 3 Context

This verse is set at a wedding feast in Cana, a village in Galilee, where Jesus, His disciples, and His mother were guests. In Jewish culture, hospitality was paramount, and a wedding celebration was a multi-day event characterized by feasting and abundance. To run out of wine would have been a catastrophic social embarrassment for the hosts, bringing great shame upon them and their families for years to come. It would imply poor planning, lack of resources, and a failure to provide for their guests. Mary, possibly a relative of the hosts or simply keenly aware of the customs, recognizes the unfolding crisis. Her quiet, yet pointed, declaration to Jesus about the depleted supply signals a profound human inadequacy in a situation that would normally be resolved by human preparation. The immediate verses following this interaction show Jesus' initial response and Mary's quiet faith in instructing the servants, culminating in Jesus' first public "sign" (miracle), revealing His glory.

John 2 3 Word analysis

• When the wine ran out (καὶ ὑστερήσαντος οἴνου, kai hysterēsantos oinou):

  • καὶ (kai): "And," "Then." Connects the narrative seamlessly from the invitation of Jesus and His disciples to the unfolding event.
  • ὑστερήσαντος (hysterēsantos): From hystereo, meaning "to be behind," "to fall short," "to be lacking," "to fail," or "to be insufficient." This word vividly portrays the dire state of the wine supply; it didn't just lessen, it was completely gone or insufficient for the continuing celebration. It underscores a profound lack or failure from human efforts.
  • οἴνου (oinou): "Wine." In biblical context, wine is often associated with joy, celebration, abundance, and divine blessing. Its absence at a wedding feast, the epitome of joyous celebration, signifies the loss of gladness and represents social calamity.

• the mother of Jesus (ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, hē mētēr tou Iēsou):

  • ἡ μήτηρ (hē mētēr): "The mother." This emphasizes her unique familial relationship to Jesus. Mary is not just a casual observer but intimately involved, likely discerning the social impact more acutely than others. Her presence and quick understanding of the situation highlight her practical and compassionate nature.

• said to him (λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν, legei pros auton):

  • λέγει (legei): "Says." The Greek present tense conveys immediacy and directness. It's a statement of fact, implying a problem that she believes Jesus can address, even if not explicitly requesting it.
  • πρὸς αὐτόν (pros auton): "To him." A direct address to Jesus, implying a shared confidence and a personal communication about a pressing matter.

• “They have no wine.” (Οἶνον οὐκ ἔχουσιν, Oinon ouk echousin):

  • Οἶνον (Oinon): "Wine." Placed emphatically at the beginning of the clause for impact.
  • οὐκ ἔχουσιν (ouk echousin): "Not they have," or "they do not have." A blunt and factual declaration of total absence. This simple statement succinctly communicates the depth of the crisis and the complete inability of the human hosts to remedy it. It’s a quiet appeal for intervention, rather than an explicit command.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "When the wine ran out": This phrase sets the critical problem and highlights the human insufficiency that opens the door for divine intervention. It's the moment of crisis that initiates the unfolding miracle.
  • "the mother of Jesus said to him": This emphasizes the unique connection and the conduit through which the need is brought to Jesus' attention. Mary acts as the one who brings human need before the divine solution.
  • "They have no wine": A concise yet powerful summary of the dilemma. It signifies not just a lack of beverage but a deep cultural and social embarrassment, a failure of celebration, pointing to the inability of humanity to meet its own needs or sustain its own joy.

John 2 3 Bonus section

The seemingly understated nature of Mary's statement, "They have no wine," is profoundly significant. It is not an imperative demand, but a factual observation conveyed with an expectant faith. This suggests Mary implicitly knew, perhaps through her intimate relationship with Him and knowledge of His true nature (Lk 1:35), that Jesus possessed the capacity to intervene where human efforts failed. This brief exchange prefaces a crucial theme in John's Gospel: the insufficiency of the "old" and the abundant sufficiency found in Christ, ushering in a "new wine" of divine provision and grace. The crisis serves as a pre-planned stage for Jesus to manifest His glory, rather than simply solve a logistical problem, marking the beginning of His public ministry of signs.

John 2 3 Commentary

John 2:3 captures the pivot point of Jesus' first public demonstration of His divine power. The exhaustion of wine at the Cana wedding represents a moment of human insufficiency, social shame, and a depletion of joy. Mary's quiet yet pointed declaration, "They have no wine," is not a command but an intimate expression of faith and recognition of Jesus' potential to act supernaturally. It portrays her deep awareness of the crisis and an implied trust that her Son possesses a solution beyond ordinary means. This verse acts as the trigger, the simple human cry of need that precedes God's extraordinary supply. It subtly highlights that divine glory is often revealed in moments of human inadequacy, setting the stage for Jesus to transform lack into superabundance and revealing His true identity and authority.

• Example: Consider a moment in your life where you felt completely depleted of resources, hope, or strength. Like the wedding hosts who had "no wine," you faced an overwhelming lack. This verse reminds us that in such moments, simply stating the reality of our need to Christ, even without demanding, can invite His miraculous provision and revelation of His glory.