Joh 4:46-53 | RWP | e4.org | Again ( παλιν ). A second time. Unto Cana ( εις την Κανα ). Note article, "the Cana of Galilee" already mentioned in . Where he made the water wine ( οπου εποιησεν το υδωρ οινον ). That outstanding first miracle would still be remembered in Cana and would indicate that Jesus had some friends there. Nobleman ( βασιλικος ). One connected with the king ( βασιλευς ), whether by blood or by office. Probably here it is one of the courtiers of Herod the tetrarch of Galilee, Chuzas ( ), Manaen ( ), or some one else. Some of the manuscripts used βασιλισκος , a petty king, a diminutive of βασιλευς . Was sick ( ησθενε ). Imperfect active of ασθενεω ( α privative and σθενος , without strength, ), continued sick. At Capernaum ( εν Καφαρναουμ ). Some miles from Cana near where the Jordan enters the Sea of Galilee.

‏ John 4:46-53

Again ( παλιν ). A second time.

Unto Cana ( εις την Κανα ). Note article, "the Cana of Galilee" already mentioned in 2:1.

Where he made the water wine ( οπου εποιησεν το υδωρ οινον ). That outstanding first miracle would still be remembered in Cana and would indicate that Jesus had some friends there.

Nobleman ( βασιλικος ). One connected with the king ( βασιλευς ), whether by blood or by office. Probably here it is one of the courtiers of Herod the tetrarch of Galilee, Chuzas (Lu 8:3), Manaen (Ac 13:1), or some one else. Some of the manuscripts used βασιλισκος, a petty king, a diminutive of βασιλευς.

Was sick ( ησθενε ). Imperfect active of ασθενεω ( α privative and σθενος, without strength, Mt 25:36), continued sick.

At Capernaum ( εν Καφαρναουμ ). Some miles from Cana near where the Jordan enters the Sea of Galilee.

When he heard ( ακουσας ). First aorist active participle of ακουω. The news spread rapidly about Jesus.

Was come ( ηκε ). Present active indicative of ηκω, one of the perfective presents, retained in indirect discourse. He had heard the people talk about the miracles in Jerusalem and the first one in Cana.

Went and besought ( απηλθεν κα ηρωτα ). Ingressive aorist indicative (went off at once) and imperfect active ( ηρωτα, began to beg and kept it up).

That he would come down ( ινα καταβη, ινα and second aorist active subjunctive of καταβαινω, come down at once)

and heal his son ( κα ιασητα αυτου τον υιον, ινα construction, sub-final use or object clause, with first aorist middle subjunctive of ιαομα, completely heal).

For he was at the point of death ( ημελλεν γαρ αποθνησκειν ). Reason ( γαρ ) for the urgency. Imperfect active of μελλω with present active infinitive old and common verb for what is about to be and it is used with the infinitive present as here, the aorist infinitive (Re 13:16), or the future infinitive (Ac 11:28). The idiom is used of the impending death of Jesus (Joh 11:51; 12:33; 18:32).

Except ye see ( εαν μη ιδητε ). Condition of the third class ( εαν μη, negative, with second aorist active subjunctive of οραω ). Jesus is not discounting his "signs and wonders" ( σημεια κα τερατα, both words together here only in John, though common in N.T. as in Mt 24:24; Mr 13:22; Ac 2:19, 22, 43; 2Th 2:9; Heb 2:4), though he does seem disappointed that he is in Galilee regarded as a mere miracle worker.

Ye will in no wise believe ( ου μη πιστευσητε ). Strong double negative with aorist active subjunctive of πιστευω, picturing the stubborn refusal of people to believe in Christ without miracles.

Sir ( Κυριε ). See 1:38.

Come down ( καταβηθ ). Second aorist active imperative, tense and tone of urgency. Ερε μψ χιλδ διε ( πριν αποθανειν το παιδιον μου ). Regular idiom with πριν in positive clause, second aorist active infinitive of αποθνησκω and accusative of general reference, "before dying as to my child." Bengel notes that he only thought Jesus had power before death as even Martha and Mary felt at first (11:21, 32). But the father's heart goes out to Jesus.

Thy son liveth ( ο υιος σου ζη ). "Thy son is living," and will not now die, Jesus means. Words too good and gracious to be true. His son is healed without Jesus even going to Capernaum, "absent treatment" so to speak, but without the cure being absent.

Believed the word ( επιστευσεν τω λογω ). Instantaneous faith (aorist active indicative), trusted the word (dative case λογω ).

Went his way ( επορευετο ). Inchoative imperfect middle, "started on his way," acted on his faith.

As he was now going down ( ηδη αυτου καταβαινοντος ). Genitive absolute in-spite of the fact that αυτω (associative instrumental case with υπηντησαν aorist active indicative of υπανταω ) is near.

That his son lived ( οτ ο παις αυτου ζη ). Present active indicative preserved in indirect discourse (cf. the words of Jesus in verse 50). Note παις here (only example in John), υιος in 50, παιδιον (diminutive of tenderness) in 49.

Inquired ( επυθετο ). Second aorist middle indicative of πυνθανομα.

Began to mend ( κομψοτερον εσχεν ). Second aorist ingressive active indicative of εχω (took a turn, got better) and comparative of adverb κομψως. Arrian (Epictetus iii. 10.13) has κομψως εχεις from a physician, "Thou hast it fine," "Thou art doing finely." The papyri give several similar examples. Κομψως (neat) is from κομεω, to take care of.

At the seventh hour ( ωραν εβδομην ). The accusative case without a preposition as in Re 3:3, though we have περ ωραν ενατην (about the ninth hour) in Ac 10:3. See the accusative also in Ex 9:18 ταυτην την ωραν αυριον (tomorrow about this hour). The accusative has the notion of extension and can be thus loosely used. It can even mean here "during the seventh hour." In verse 53 the locative is more exact, "at that hour" ( εν εκεινη τη ωρα ). The seventh hour would be (Roman time) seven P.M.

So the father knew ( εγνω ουν ο πατηρ ). Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω. Inferential use of ουν.

Himself believed ( επιστευσεν αυτος ). Not just the word of Jesus (verse 50), but complete faith in Jesus himself as the Messiah, absolute use of πιστευω as in 1:7.

And his whole house ( κα η οικια αυτου ). All his family, the first example of a whole family believing in Jesus like the later case of Crispus (Ac 18:8).