John 4 53

John 4:53 kjv

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

John 4:53 nkjv

So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.

John 4:53 niv

Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and his whole household believed.

John 4:53 esv

The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household.

John 4:53 nlt

Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

John 4 verses

John 4 53 Meaning

John 4:53 describes the climax of the royal official's encounter with Jesus. It records his personal realization, based on his precise knowledge of the time, that his son was healed exactly when Jesus spoke the word, "Your son lives." This empirical verification transformed his initial belief in Jesus' ability to heal into a deeper, personal faith in Jesus Himself. Consequently, this salvific faith extended to his entire household, indicating a corporate conversion resulting from the head of the family's testimony and conviction.

John 4 53 Context

John chapter 4 details Jesus' journey through Samaria and Galilee, leading to the second sign He performed in Cana, Galilee (Jn 2:11 being the first). This specific encounter involves a "royal official" (likely a courtier of Herod Antipas) from Capernaum whose son was at the point of death. The official traveled to Cana, pleading with Jesus to come and heal his son (v. 47). Jesus, knowing the tendency of people to seek only sensational displays (v. 48), challenged his superficial approach to faith. Yet, the official's persistent plea revealed a nascent faith (v. 49). Jesus' response, "Go; your son lives" (v. 50), was a command and a declaration without Him physically going. The official initially believed Jesus' word and departed. The critical aspect of verse 53 is the official's later verification, which deepened his initial belief into full-fledged, saving faith that embraced Jesus as Lord and encompassed his entire household. This narrative illustrates a progression of faith, from seeking a physical intervention based on urgency, to trusting a divine word spoken from afar, to a complete personal and corporate conversion based on irrefutable evidence.

John 4 53 Word analysis

• So (οὖν - oun): This Greek particle functions as a connector, indicating a consequence, result, or logical conclusion from the preceding events. Here, it signifies that the father's realization and subsequent belief were a direct outcome of the servants' report.
• the father (ὁ πατὴρ - ho pater): Refers to the royal official introduced in Jn 4:46. The designation emphasizes his paternal love and concern, which initiated his quest for Jesus. His identity shifts from "royal official" to "the father" who now experiences Jesus' divine power first-hand.
• knew (ἔγνω - egnō): Aorist active indicative of ginōskō, meaning "to come to know," "to understand," "to recognize experientially." It implies not just an intellectual apprehension of facts, but a personal, convicting realization. He grasped the profound connection between Jesus' word and the actual event, moving beyond mere rumor to personal confirmation.
• that it was at the same hour (ὅτι ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ - hoti en ekeinē tē hōra): The precision of "the same hour" is paramount. This exact temporal correspondence between Jesus' declaration and the son's recovery serves as incontrovertible proof of Jesus' supernatural power. It removes any doubt about coincidence, making the miracle verifiable and specific.
• in which Jesus said to him (ἐν ᾗ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ἰησοῦς - en hē eipen autō Iēsous): Highlights the active, authoritative role of Jesus' spoken word. It was not a physical action but a verbal command that accomplished the healing from a distance, showcasing Jesus' divine authority over space and matter.
• Your son lives (Ὁ υἱός σου ζῇ - Ho huios sou zē): This is Jesus' direct, life-giving declaration. The verb zē (lives) is in the present tense, emphasizing an immediate and ongoing state of life, rather than merely "revived from death." It's a statement of present reality imparted by Jesus.
• And himself believed (καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπίστευσεν - kai autos episteusen): The emphatic "himself" (αὐτὸς - autos) underscores a profound, personal, and decisive act of faith distinct from the initial "believed the word" in Jn 4:50. This is saving faith in Jesus as the Messiah, recognizing His divine power and authority beyond just a miracle-worker. This signifies a turning point in his spiritual journey.
• and his whole household (καὶ ἡ οἰκία αὐτοῦ ὅλη - kai hē oikia autou holē): "Household" (oikia) typically encompassed extended family, servants, and anyone under the patriarch's authority. This phrase indicates a corporate conversion. The head of the house's conviction had a profound and positive spiritual impact on his entire family, leading them all to embrace belief in Jesus.

• "So the father knew that it was at the same hour...": This phrase connects cause and effect. The father's investigation of the time, prompted by his servant's report, led to an undeniable, personal verification of Jesus' divine power and veracity. It forms the evidential basis for his deepened faith.
• "...in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives.": This passage specifically links the precise timing of the healing event to the authoritative and creative word of Jesus. It is not an arbitrary moment but one dictated and fulfilled by Christ's declaration. The divine origin of the miracle is thus clearly attested.
• "And himself believed and his whole household.": This culminating statement marks a pivotal shift from a desperate plea and an initial, functional belief to a profound, saving faith in Jesus as Lord, extending corporately to his entire family unit. It underscores the transformative power of genuine encounter with Christ and its ripple effect.

John 4 53 Bonus section

This incident, Jesus' second sign performed in Cana (Jn 2:1-11 was the first), serves a critical literary and theological purpose within John's Gospel. John carefully selects and presents seven "signs" of Jesus, each intended to evoke a deeper faith in His identity as the Christ, the Son of God (Jn 20:30-31). The progressive nature of the official's belief, from initial desperation, to trust in a spoken word, to full conviction after confirmation, models the journey of faith for the reader. John's emphasis on "the hour" is also a significant motif throughout his Gospel, often referring to divinely appointed times for Jesus' actions or suffering, further highlighting the specific, sovereign timing involved here. The fact that this miracle took place "at the same hour" (the seventh hour, Jn 4:52) adds another layer of divine orchestration and perfect timing to Jesus' ministry. This episode also stands as a potent testimony against those who would only believe if they physically saw a miracle (Jn 4:48), showcasing that true faith can begin with belief in a word and is solidified by experiential knowledge, ultimately leading to a complete surrender to Jesus.

John 4 53 Commentary

John 4:53 represents the zenith of the royal official's spiritual journey. It meticulously records the transition from a belief based on Jesus' word (v. 50) to a comprehensive faith in Jesus Himself and His divine authority. The crucial element is the verification of the exact hour of healing, serving as incontrovertible evidence that Jesus' distant word had supernatural efficacy. This precise correspondence eliminated all doubt, turning intellectual assent into deep, saving conviction (ἔγνω). This full belief (ἐπίστευσεν) signifies not merely an acknowledgement of a miracle-worker, but the acceptance of Jesus as the Lord and source of life. Significantly, this faith was not confined to the individual but embraced his "whole household," illustrating the biblical pattern of household conversion where the testimony of the patriarch often leads others in his care to Christ. This miracle emphasizes that Jesus' power transcends physical presence, and His word, when believed, brings life and salvation.Example: Just as one might verify a precise forecast by observing the exact time of the weather change, the official's checking of the hour confirmed Jesus' word with divine accuracy, solidifying his faith.