John 4:47 kjv
When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
John 4:47 nkjv
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
John 4:47 niv
When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
John 4:47 esv
When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
John 4:47 nlt
When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
John 4 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 4:50 | Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started to go. | John 4:47-50 (Fulfills 4:47) |
| 1 Samuel 15:29 | And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.” | 1 Sam 15:29 (God's unchangeable word) |
| Psalm 33:9 | For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. | Psa 33:9 (Word creates) |
| Isaiah 55:10-11 | For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, and to give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I aim, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. | Isa 55:10-11 (Word's effectiveness) |
| Matthew 8:8 | But the centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. | Matt 8:8 (Faith in Jesus' word) |
| Matthew 15:28 | Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. | Matt 15:28 (Great faith) |
| Luke 7:7 | So he sent delegation after delegation to him, saying, “Grant peace to my servant.” | Luke 7:7 (Roman centurion's faith) |
| Luke 17:12-14 | And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed. | Luke 17:12-14 (Obedience to Jesus' word) |
| John 1:3 | All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. | John 1:3 (Jesus as Creator) |
| John 11:4 | When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” | John 11:4 (Sickness for God's glory) |
| John 20:29 | Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” | John 20:29 (Faith without sight) |
| Acts 14:3 | So he remained there for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, by granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands. | Acts 14:3 (Word bringing signs) |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of their marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | Heb 4:12 (Power of God's word) |
| Hebrews 11:1 | Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | Heb 11:1 (Definition of faith) |
| 1 Peter 1:25 | but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was proclaimed to you. | 1 Pet 1:25 (Enduring word) |
| Revelation 1:1 | The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, | Rev 1:1 (Revelation from God) |
| Revelation 19:13 | He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. | Rev 19:13 (Jesus as the Word) |
| Revelation 21:5 | And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And he said, “Write down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” | Rev 21:5 (God making things new) |
| Philippians 2:7 | but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, by being born in the likeness of men. | Phil 2:7 (Jesus in human form) |
| 2 Corinthians 5:7 | For we walk by faith, not by sight. | 2 Cor 5:7 (Walking by faith) |
John 4 verses
John 4 47 Meaning
The verse describes a royal official whose son was sick and dying. Upon hearing Jesus was in Galilee, the official traveled there to implore Jesus to come and heal his son. Jesus told him to go, stating his son was alive. The official believed Jesus' word and departed, and as he was returning, his servants met him, reporting his son was recovering. When he asked when the fever left, they said yesterday at the seventh hour, and he realized this was the exact time Jesus had spoken to him. This highlights faith in Jesus' word alone, even without a physical presence or immediate demonstration.
John 4 47 Context
This event occurs after Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus has moved on to Galilee, where he is welcomed by the Galileans because they had seen the things he did in Jerusalem during the Passover festival. This specific healing narrative highlights the universality of Jesus' ministry, reaching beyond His own people to those considered outsiders. It also showcases a different kind of faith response compared to those who demanded signs. This official, a Gentile (likely Roman or a Greek servant of Herod), demonstrates a profound trust in Jesus' spoken word, prompting Jesus to remark on his faith, especially considering the time and circumstances.
John 4 47 Word Analysis
- ἔρχηται (erchētai): "comes" (3rd person singular, present indicative passive of ἔρχομαι). It signifies motion or arrival. Here, Jesus has already come into the region.
- πυνθάνεται (punthanetai): "inquires" or "asks" (3rd person singular, present indicative middle of πυνθάνομαι). It implies seeking information.
- κατέβη (katebē): "came down" (3rd person singular, aorist indicative active of καταβαίνω). This often refers to a physical descent, suggesting movement from a higher to a lower place or, more generally, arrival.
- παῖς (pais): "child," "son," "servant." In this context, it specifically means "son." The Greek word is versatile and can refer to a child or a younger person.
- αὑτοῦ (hautou): "his" (genitive singular masculine of αὐτός). Possessive pronoun indicating ownership.
- ὅς ἥμελλεν (hos hēmmellen): "who was about to" or "who was about to die" (masculine singular nominative relative pronoun followed by 3rd person singular imperfect indicative of μέλλω, to be about to). The imperfect tense emphasizes the ongoing, imminent nature of the child's condition.
- ἀποθνῄͅσκειν (apothnēiskein): "to die" (present infinitive active of ἀποθνῄσκω). Indicates the critical state of the child.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Now when Jesus heard that he was raising up disciples": This phrase, though part of the broader chapter context, precedes the specific narrative in v. 47 and indicates Jesus' ongoing ministry and impact. The man heard Jesus was in the region, establishing the connection and the possibility of encounter.
- "Royal official" (βασιλικός - basilikos): This term denotes someone holding a position of authority in the king's service. It implies social standing and likely financial means, contrasting with many of Jesus' other followers who were from simpler backgrounds.
- "was going down": The Greek verb suggests a movement towards Capernaum, a town on the Sea of Galilee.
- "besought him" (ἠρώτα - erōta): Means to ask, entreat, or request. The intensity of his pleading is implied.
- "that he would come down": The official's desire for Jesus' physical presence underscores a common understanding of healing – a direct, personal intervention.
- "and heal his son": The specific purpose of the official's entreaty – the recovery of his dying son.
- "for he was at the point of death": Emphasizes the dire urgency of the situation and the deep despair of the father.
John 4 47 Bonus Section
This verse is particularly significant for understanding the development of Jesus' ministry to the Gentiles. While His primary mission was to Israel, encounters like this demonstrate that His saving power and compassion extend to all nations. The healing occurring at a distance, purely based on Jesus' spoken word, powerfully illustrates His divine authority. This event foreshadows Jesus' commission to His disciples in Matthew 28:19, to "make disciples of all nations." The timing of the healing, at the seventh hour (1 p.m. on the Jewish clock, approximately), is precisely when the official would have received Jesus' pronouncement. This precise timing removes any doubt and solidifies the man's conviction. This shows the word of Jesus carries inherent power to bring about what it declares.
John 4 47 Commentary
This encounter with the royal official is a pivotal moment. It demonstrates that faith can blossom even in those outside the immediate fold of Israel. The official’s belief is not contingent on witnessing a miracle; it rests solely on Jesus' spoken word. This "believe the word" aspect is crucial and stands in contrast to the constant demand for signs from some religious leaders. Jesus pronounces healing from a distance, showing His authority over life and death and the efficacy of His divine decree. The official's prompt action and eventual confirmation of the healing reveal a profound trust and obedience. This exemplifies the nature of saving faith: accepting Jesus' word as truth and acting upon it, even when evidence is not yet manifest. His faith is commended by Jesus, as recorded in the parallel account in Luke 7:9, where Jesus marvels at such faith. It's a testament to faith being rooted in the spoken word of God.