John 4 46

John 4:46 kjv

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

John 4:46 nkjv

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.

John 4:46 niv

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.

John 4:46 esv

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.

John 4:46 nlt

As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.

John 4 verses

John 4 46 Meaning

John 4:46 describes Jesus' return to Cana in Galilee, a significant location where His first miracle transformed water into wine. It introduces a key figure, a nobleman from Capernaum, whose son was critically ill. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' second recorded sign in Cana, highlighting a parental plea born of desperation and the demonstration of Jesus' authority over sickness and distance, prompting a confrontation between human need and divine power.

John 4 46 Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' deeply significant ministry in Samaria, particularly His interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well and the subsequent awakening of faith among many Samaritans (John 4:1-42). After this period, Jesus returned to Galilee, fulfilling His prophetic statement that "a prophet has no honor in his own country" (John 4:44). Yet, the Galileans received Him because they had seen His signs in Jerusalem during the Passover feast. Cana, as highlighted, was the site of Jesus' first recorded sign (Jn 2:1-11), setting a precedent for His divine power. The mention of Capernaum introduces a place frequently associated with Jesus' later ministry and several miracles, linking it directly to the unfolding narrative of His public life and the establishment of His authority. The scene is set for a further demonstration of His power, not through water into wine, but through healing a grave illness at a distance.

John 4 46 Word analysis

• So: (οὖν, oun) Connects the narrative logically. It signifies a transition from Jesus' work in Samaria back to Galilee.
• Jesus came: (ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς, elthen Iēsous) Indicates a deliberate movement and return.
• again: (πάλιν, palin) Emphasizes that this is not Jesus' first visit to Cana, directly linking this event to the miracle of turning water into wine (Jn 2:1-11). It suggests a continuation or a renewed focus.
• to Cana: (εἰς Κανὰ, eis Kana) A small village in Galilee, known as the location of Jesus' first miracle.
• of Galilee: (τῆς Γαλιλαίας, tēs Galilaias) Locates Cana within the broader region. Galilee was Jesus' primary area of ministry, known for its diverse population.
• where He had made the water wine: (ὅπου ἐποιήσεν τὸ ὕδωρ οἶνον, hopou epoiēsen to hydōr oinon) A direct callback to John 2, establishing Jesus' prior miraculous work and confirming His identity. It serves as a reminder of His power before the new sign unfolds.
• And there was: (καὶ ἦν, kai ēn) Introduces a new character and situation.
• a certain nobleman: (τις βασιλικός, tis basilikos)
  • "certain": (tis) Underscores that he was a particular individual, not just a general reference.
  • "nobleman": (basilikos) This is a significant term. It means "royal official," "king's man," or "one belonging to the king." It most likely refers to an officer in the service of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. This individual would have possessed considerable authority and social standing, contrasting sharply with Jesus' humble origins. His position highlights that even those of high rank were vulnerable to the same human sufferings and needed divine intervention.
• whose son: (οὗ υἱὸς, hou huios) The focus shifts to the son's plight, which drives the father's actions.
• was sick: (ἠσθένει, ēsthenei) Imperfect tense, indicating the son was continually sick, perhaps gravely so, suggesting a deteriorating condition that propelled the father to seek Jesus.
• at Capernaum: (ἐν Καφαρναοῦμ, en Kapharnaoum) A key city in Galilee, about 20 miles (32 km) from Cana, typically Jesus' base of operations. The distance between Cana and Capernaum is crucial for understanding the nature of the impending miracle – a healing at a distance.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee": This phrase marks Jesus' return to a familiar location of previous miraculous power, immediately priming the reader for another significant event. The geographical movement is purposeful.
• "where He had made the water wine": This direct antecedent connects the present miracle to Jesus' inaugural sign, reminding both the reader and the immediate audience of Jesus' unique power over the natural order and reinforcing the nature of His "signs." It pre-legitimizes His divine ability.
• "And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum": This passage introduces the desperate human need, a high-ranking official facing a severe family crisis. The nobleman's social status contrasts with his vulnerability, and the significant distance to Capernaum immediately establishes a unique challenge for Jesus' authority and the nature of His intervention.

John 4 46 Bonus section

The account of the nobleman's son often draws comparisons with the Centurion's servant (Matt 8:5-13; Lk 7:1-10). While distinct events, both feature high-ranking non-Jewish figures approaching Jesus on behalf of a suffering dependent, demonstrating remarkable faith that prompts healing at a distance. The "nobleman" or basilikos highlights a recurring theme in John's Gospel: Jesus' encounters cut across all social strata, from simple fishermen and Samaritan outcasts to those closely associated with the governing elite. This incident can also be viewed as John subtly counteracting the common expectation among Jews for a Messiah who would focus primarily on Jerusalem or on liberating them through political power, by showing Jesus performing signs among both Jews and Samaritans, in significant and distant locations. The transition from the wedding feast's joy (Jn 2) to the sorrow of sickness (Jn 4) further demonstrates the breadth of human experience that Jesus meets with His divine grace and power.

John 4 46 Commentary

John 4:46 is a pivot point in the narrative, illustrating the scope and nature of Jesus' ministry. After engaging with the spiritually receptive Samaritans, Jesus returns to Galilee, an area more accustomed to seeking signs. His arrival in Cana explicitly invokes the memory of His first sign, reminding all of His proven power. The introduction of the nobleman (βασιλικός) from Capernaum brings a high-ranking, possibly Herodian, official into contact with Jesus. This individual represents worldly authority and status, yet he is utterly helpless against the severe illness plaguing his son. His desperate situation bridges the gap between his social standing and his profound human need, demonstrating that disease respects no rank and divine aid is the ultimate recourse. The location of his home, Capernaum, at a significant distance from Cana, prepares the audience for a demonstration of Jesus' power that transcends physical presence, setting the stage for a unique miracle that requires faith in the power of His spoken word alone.