John 2:8 kjv

And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

John 2:8 nkjv

And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.

John 2:8 niv

Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so,

John 2:8 esv

And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.

John 2:8 nlt

he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions.

John 2 verses

John 2 8 Meaning

John 2:8 describes the crucial moment of the first miraculous sign performed by Jesus at the wedding in Cana. Following Jesus' specific command, the servants drew out liquid from the jars they had just filled with water and presented it to the master of the feast. This seemingly simple act of obedience served as the final step in the transformation, where common water became exquisite wine, demonstrating Jesus' divine power and glory. The verse highlights the instantaneous nature of the miracle and the essential role of human obedience in witnessing divine action.

John 2 8 Context

John 2:8 is part of the account of Jesus' first public miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. The context immediately preceding it includes the embarrassment of the hosts due to the running out of wine (Jn 2:3), Mary's implicit appeal to Jesus, and her crucial instruction to the servants: "Whatever he says to you, do it" (Jn 2:5). Jesus had then instructed the servants to fill six stone jars—used for ceremonial washing—with water to the brim (Jn 2:6-7). Verse 8 follows this by detailing the next step in Jesus' instruction and the servants' immediate obedience. Historically, Jewish weddings were multi-day celebrations, and running out of wine would bring immense shame upon the family. The stone jars highlight the Jewish tradition of ceremonial purification, setting the stage for Jesus' new covenant, where external rituals give way to internal transformation. The miracle demonstrates Jesus' authority over creation, fulfilling a need in a moment of social distress, and serves as a "sign" (σημεῖον), the first of seven in John's Gospel that reveal Jesus' divine identity and mission.

John 2 8 Word analysis

• And he said: Signifies Jesus' authoritative command, not a suggestion. It underlines His divine prerogative to initiate and direct miraculous events.
• to them: Refers to the servants. They are the human agents through whom Jesus performs this miracle. Their role is not of active power but of faithful obedience.
• "Draw some out now":
  • "Draw some out" (ἀντλέω - antleo): Implies taking liquid from the already-filled waterpots. It signifies a specific, physical action by the servants. They are drawing what was water, but through Jesus' power, has now been transformed.
  • "now" (ἄρτι - arti): This adverb emphasizes immediate action, indicating the miracle's instantaneous nature at Jesus' command, even before the liquid left the jars. There was no waiting period for fermentation.
• "and take it":
  • "take it" (φέρετε - pherete): A command to carry or convey. This act requires faith from the servants, as they are presenting what, to their human senses, appeared to be ordinary water, to a discerning authority.
• "to the master of the feast":
  • "master of the feast" (ἀρχιτρίκλινος - architriklinos): This Greek term denotes the head table-master or banquet director. His role was to supervise the preparations, ensure quality, and manage the feast. His experienced judgment serves as independent validation of the miracle's genuineness and quality. He is the first independent witness to the superior wine. This provides an objective, authoritative human testimony to the divine act.
• "So they took it":
  • "So" (Καὶ - Kai): Connects the command with the immediate response.
  • "they took it" (ἤνεγκαν - ēnegkan): Simple, declarative statement confirming the servants' prompt and unquestioning obedience. This act completes their part in the miraculous chain, enabling the miracle's manifestation and recognition.

Words-group analysis:

• "Draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast": This phrase encapsulates the decisive command that bridges the invisible divine act of transformation with its visible manifestation. It demands active, immediate, and trusting obedience from the servants. Their seemingly illogical action (taking water to a wine-expert) demonstrates their faith in Jesus' words, even when the reason for the command wasn't yet apparent. It highlights that the miracle required the humble, diligent service of human agents to become fully evident. This action also symbolizes Christ bringing a new, superior order (new wine) to supersede the old (water for ceremonial washing), with official recognition coming from a worldly authority figure.

John 2 8 Bonus section

The transformation of water, used for ritual purification, into wine, a symbol of joy and celebration, is often interpreted as Jesus' inaugural act signaling the transition from the old Mosaic Law to the New Covenant. The "best wine" at the end of the feast (Jn 2:10) surpasses the old, suggesting that Jesus' kingdom provisions and spiritual blessings are infinitely superior to what came before. The miracle at Cana wasn't just about turning water into wine; it was a profound sign (Greek: semeion) for John's Gospel, meaning it pointed beyond itself to the identity and nature of Jesus Christ. The number of jars (six) and their purpose (for Jewish purification rites) could also symbolize the incompleteness of the old ceremonial system, needing the "seventh" - Christ - to bring completion and new life. The very act of the servants bringing forth what they believed was still water is an example of faith in action, crucial for the observable manifestation of God's power.

John 2 8 Commentary

John 2:8 is pivotal in the wedding at Cana narrative, marking the point where Jesus' invisible divine power is brought into observable reality through human obedience. After filling the large stone jars, the servants were then commanded to "draw some out now" and "take it to the master of the feast." This command requires immediate compliance and trust, as the transformation from water to wine occurs not as the jars were filled, but as the liquid is drawn and presented for tasting. The seemingly absurd instruction to take water to the master of a feast becomes the channel through which Christ's glory is revealed. The swift obedience of the servants underscores a central theme: the blessings of God often manifest when people step out in faith to obey what may seem illogical to human reason. The master of the feast, an impartial authority on wine, inadvertently testifies to the superiority of the miraculous wine, validating Jesus' divine power to the external world. This sign, while solving a social problem, primarily reveals Jesus' true identity, inaugurating the New Covenant characterized by divine abundance, surpassing the limitations of the old order and human resources. The superior quality and abundance of the wine point to the joy, richness, and sufficiency found only in Christ.