John 4:48 kjv
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
John 4:48 nkjv
Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."
John 4:48 niv
"Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
John 4:48 esv
So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."
John 4:48 nlt
Jesus asked, "Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?"
John 4 48 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 12:38-39 | Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”... "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign..." | Rejection of a sign-seeking generation. |
| Matt 16:1-4 | The Pharisees and Sadducees came... asking him to show them a sign from heaven... | Demand for a sign. |
| Lk 11:29-30 | ...This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign... | Denunciation of seeking signs. |
| 1 Cor 1:22 | For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom... | Jewish cultural expectation of signs. |
| Jn 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.” | Blessing on faith without seeing. |
| Heb 11:1 | Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | Definition of faith not reliant on sight. |
| 2 Thess 2:9-10 | The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders... | Warning about deceptive signs. |
| Lk 16:31 | He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ | Refusal to believe even with evidence. |
| Jn 2:11 | ...This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. | Signs designed to lead to belief. |
| Jn 20:30-31 | Now Jesus did many other signs... but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ... | Purpose of signs in John's Gospel. |
| Ex 4:1-9 | Moses asks God, "What if they will not believe me or listen to my voice? For they will say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’" ...God gives him signs. | Moses empowered with signs to authenticate. |
| Deut 34:10-12 | And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to do... | Signs as authentication of a true prophet. |
| Jn 5:36 | But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. | Jesus' works as evidence for belief. |
| Jn 10:25 | Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me...” | Works testifying to His identity. |
| Jn 10:38 | ...that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father. | Works as proof of divine unity. |
| Jn 14:11 | Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. | Inviting belief based on works. |
| Mk 8:11-12 | The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” | Jesus refuses to provide signs on demand. |
| Lk 7:22 | ...Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, good news is preached to the poor. | Evidence for John the Baptist, still signs. |
| Gal 3:5 | Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so on the basis of the law, or on the basis of hearing with faith? | Spirit and miracles connected to faith. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. | Evidence available through creation, not just miracles. |
John 4 verses
John 4 48 Meaning
Jesus observes a spiritual immaturity among some who require tangible, miraculous proof before they will believe. His statement is a critical assessment, highlighting a superficial faith that hinges entirely on sensory experience rather than the spiritual truth of His person and word. It emphasizes a deeper form of faith that is not contingent on outward signs and wonders.
John 4 48 Context
John chapter 4 primarily focuses on Jesus' journey from Judea through Samaria and into Galilee. The immediate preceding events involve Jesus' significant encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well and the subsequent spiritual awakening in her village, Sychar (Jn 4:1-42). This Samaritan revival stands in stark contrast to the context surrounding John 4:48. Here, Jesus has just returned to Cana of Galilee, where he had performed His first sign (Jn 2:1-11). The royal official, driven by the desperation of his son's imminent death, approaches Jesus for healing. Historically and culturally, the Jewish people, especially the Galileans, were accustomed to prophets demonstrating their authority through powerful "signs and wonders" (e.g., Moses, Elijah, Elisha). They often expected a spectacle before granting belief. This sets up the tension Jesus addresses, contrasting with the Samaritans who believed primarily due to Jesus' word and character (Jn 4:41-42) rather than witnessing signs.
John 4 48 Word analysis
- Then (Οὖν - Oun): A connective particle indicating continuation or logical consequence. It links Jesus' journey to this new encounter.
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The Greek name for "Joshua," meaning "The Lord is salvation." He is the central figure, the source of both challenge and healing.
- told him (εἶπεν... πρὸς αὐτόν - eipen... pros auton): Directly addressed to the royal official, but the plural form of the verbs "see" and "believe" suggests Jesus' statement is meant for a broader audience, reflecting a common spiritual state among the Galileans or Jews of the time.
- Unless (Ἐὰν μὴ - Ean mē): A strong conditional conjunction. It indicates that the following condition must be met; otherwise, the consequence will certainly occur. It emphasizes a strict prerequisite for belief.
- you people (ἴδητε... πιστεύσητε - idēte... pisteusēte): The verbs are in the second person plural, addressing "you all" or "you people." This extends the criticism beyond just the official to the general populace present or to the common attitude prevalent in that region.
- see (ἴδητε - idēte): To perceive with the eyes. It denotes a demand for sensory, tangible evidence. The focus is on outward perception rather than inward conviction.
- signs (σημεῖα - sēmeia): Extraordinary acts that point beyond themselves, revealing God's power and often validating the divine messenger. While signs can lead to faith, here they are being demanded as a condition for it.
- and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, connecting "signs" and "wonders," forming a common biblical idiom.
- wonders (τέρατα - terata): Astonishing or awe-inspiring deeds. While similar to signs, wonders emphasize the sensational and impactful nature of the miraculous event. They captivate attention and cause marvel.
- you will never believe (οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε - ou mē pisteusēte): This Greek construction uses a double negative (οὐ μὴ), creating a most emphatic denial: "you absolutely will not believe," or "never will you believe."
- believe (πιστεύσητε - pisteusēte): To have faith, to trust, to place confidence in someone or something. Jesus implies that the quality of this belief, if it arises from demanding signs, is insufficient or misplaced.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Unless you people see signs and wonders": This phrase captures the prevalent expectation for miraculous proof. It reflects a cultural mindset that often elevated visible manifestations of divine power over spiritual truth or the inherent authority of the spoken word. Jesus highlights this human inclination to base faith on sensational events.
- "you will never believe": This forceful and definitive declaration underscores the consequence of such an attitude. It points to a failure of true faith, suggesting that a belief dependent solely on outward signs is superficial and will not ultimately grasp the full truth of Jesus' identity and mission. It implies that true, saving faith transcends the need for constant extraordinary displays.
John 4 48 Bonus section
The royal official's response to Jesus' sharp rebuke is significant (Jn 4:49). Despite the challenge, he does not argue but reiterates his desperate plea, "Sir, come down before my child dies." This shift from implicitly demanding a demonstration to urgently requesting Jesus' presence for healing shows a budding, humble faith that perseveres beyond the initial challenge. It hints that even among those with imperfect motives, a spark of genuine faith can exist and be fanned into flame. Jesus' response to this persistent and deepening faith—His simple declaration "Go; your son will live"—reveals that He honours a belief that begins to move beyond mere spectacle, to trust His authoritative word alone. This story provides a model of how individuals might transition from seeking external validation to trusting the intrinsic power of Christ's word.
John 4 48 Commentary
John 4:48 serves as a sharp indictment of a conditional faith, one that demands sensational evidence as a prerequisite for belief. Jesus' statement is not a denial of the validity or purpose of signs (He performed many Himself, and John records them to promote belief), but rather a critique of the motivation behind seeking them. True faith, as demonstrated by the Samaritans just prior to this passage (Jn 4:39-42), arises from encountering Jesus' words and recognizing His inherent authority, even without witnessing a dramatic miracle. The "signs and wonders" (σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα) were indeed God's authenticating seal on His messengers throughout biblical history (Ex 4:1-9; Acts 2:22), but when they become the sole or primary basis demanded for faith, it points to a spiritual blindness that seeks spectacle over substance. Jesus here calls for a deeper trust, one that can accept His word simply because He is who He claims to be, fostering a more resilient and enduring relationship. The encounter teaches that faith born of desperation, even if initially shallow, can deepen as one encounters Jesus' authority, leading from a demand for a sign to belief in His word.