John 4 49

John 4:49 kjv

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

John 4:49 nkjv

The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"

John 4:49 niv

The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

John 4:49 esv

The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

John 4:49 nlt

The official pleaded, "Lord, please come now before my little boy dies."

John 4 verses

John 4 49 Meaning

John 4:49 describes the urgent and desperate plea of a royal official to Jesus. His son is at the point of death, and he implores Jesus to physically travel with him to Capernaum to save the child's life before it is too late. The verse encapsulates a moment of raw human anguish, where worldly status is irrelevant against the threat of death, and all hope is placed upon Jesus' intervention, specifically His perceived need for physical presence to heal.

John 4 49 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, specifically after His impactful encounter with the Samaritan woman and subsequent teachings in Samaria. Upon returning to Cana, where He performed His first sign of turning water into wine (Jn 2), He is sought out by a high-ranking official from Capernaum. The urgency of the plea in John 4:49 arises from the critical condition of the official's son, who is on the verge of death. The distance between Cana and Capernaum is about 20-25 miles downhill, indicating the official's considerable effort and desperation in seeking Jesus. His status as a "nobleman" or royal official suggests he likely served Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. Despite his high societal standing, wealth, and access to the best physicians, he recognizes these are powerless against death and turns to Jesus, yet with an initial assumption that Jesus' power is limited by physical presence and time. The plea comes immediately after Jesus' statement in John 4:48, questioning the people's reliance on signs and wonders, thus setting the stage for a lesson in deeper faith.

John 4 49 Word analysis

• The nobleman (Greek: βασιλικός, basilikos): This term literally means "royal" or "belonging to a king." It signifies a royal official or a courtier, likely someone in service to Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee as a tetrarch but was often called "king" by the populace (Mk 6:14). His status underscores the depth of his desperation, as even his high position and probable resources are useless against his son's imminent death. This highlights the leveling effect of human suffering before divine power.
• saith unto him: The Greek (λέγει πρὸς αὐτόν, legei pros auton) is in the present tense, emphasizing the immediate and continuous nature of his pleading, underscoring the urgency and emotion of the moment.
• Sir (Greek: Κύριε, Kyrie): This term has a range of meanings, from a polite form of address ("Sir") to an acknowledgment of superior authority ("Master") or even divine status ("Lord"). In this initial plea, it likely carries the force of a respectful, urgent "Sir" or "Master," appealing to Jesus' known miraculous abilities. However, the subsequent interaction may deepen its meaning to "Lord," signifying growing recognition of Jesus' divine power. The usage reflects the official's understanding, which starts perhaps with respect but potentially deepens into faith.
• come down (Greek: κατάβηθι, katabēthi): This is an imperative verb, a direct command or earnest entreaty, showing the official's belief that Jesus' physical presence is necessary to effect the cure. The geographical context is also key: Jesus is in Cana, and the official's son is in Capernaum, which is physically lower in elevation, thus requiring Jesus to "come down." This plea demonstrates his limited, human understanding of Jesus' power, believing it tied to location and touch.
• ere my child die (Greek: πρὶν ἀποθανεῖν τὸ παιδίον μου, prin apothanein to paidion mou): This phrase intensifies the urgency of the plea. The official perceives a race against time; his fear of imminent loss is palpable. "My child" (παιδίον, paidion) implies a young child, potentially a boy or girl of tender age, making the impending death even more tragic and the father's desperation more acute. It reveals the core of his fear and the reason for his desperate journey to Jesus.

Words-group analysis:

• "Sir, come down ere my child die": This complete phrase powerfully conveys the core message of the verse: an urgent, desperate, and specific request rooted in the belief that Jesus' physical intervention is required and that time is critically short. It encapsulates both the official's faith in Jesus' power to heal and his limitation in understanding the nature of that power, namely, that it extends beyond physical presence or contact. The words underscore a profound emotional crisis where worldly distinctions are cast aside in the face of imminent family tragedy, making the father utterly dependent on Jesus.

John 4 49 Bonus section

The account of the royal official's son is John's "second sign" in Cana (Jn 4:54), deliberately echoing and surpassing the first miracle (Jn 2:1-11). While the first sign changed water into wine to symbolize new covenant blessings, the second demonstrates Jesus' life-giving power over death, foreshadowing His ultimate victory. The official's status is noteworthy because Jesus often drew followers from the marginalized, yet here, a prominent member of society humbles himself. This interaction highlights Jesus' ability to work regardless of social standing, appealing to universal human needs. The initial "Sir" from the official in John 4:49 often evolves into a full acknowledgment of "Lord" when Jesus performs the miracle at a distance (Jn 4:50). This serves as a significant example of how faith can be tested and developed through challenging circumstances, moving from an understanding of Jesus as merely a powerful prophet who needs to be physically present to heal, to one who is the Lord of all creation, whose word alone carries authority over sickness and death, irrespective of physical presence or human timelines.

John 4 49 Commentary

John 4:49 presents a poignant snapshot of human desperation encountering divine authority. The royal official, a man of worldly standing, is stripped of his dignity by the impending death of his son. His journey of twenty-odd miles from Capernaum to Cana signifies an extraordinary act of humility and a recognition that no earthly power, wealth, or physician can solve his problem. His address to Jesus as "Sir" (Κύριε) begins as a respectful plea to a known miracle worker, but the content of his request – "come down ere my child die" – reveals a critical theological boundary: his initial belief limits Jesus' power to physical proximity. He believes Jesus can heal, but only if physically present and acting within a conventional timeframe. This sets up a crucial contrast with Jesus' response, which will demonstrate His authority over both distance and the conventional expectations of healing. The official's plea is not yet fully developed faith, but it is a genuine, desperate, and urgent appeal, reflecting the foundational human need that often drives individuals to Christ. This is an early step on a journey towards a deeper understanding of Jesus' omnipotence.