John 4:46
What does John 4:46 mean?
A plain-English look at John 4:46 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 4:46 means
Jesus returned to Cana of Galilee, the site of His first miracle where He turned water into wine. This revisit connects His current ministry to His earlier acts of power. It is here that He encounters a nobleman from Capernaum whose son is gravely ill. This critical detail sets the stage for the chapter's second major miracle, highlighting the stark human need that Jesus is about to address.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
KJV
King James Version · 1611So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So he came to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And there was a certain man of high position whose son was ill at Capernaum.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus came, therefore, again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine, and there was a certain courtier, whose son was ailing in Capernaum,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He came again therefore into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capharnaum.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain courtier in Capernaum whose son was sick.
Context
This verse reintroduces a familiar location, Cana, where Jesus performed his first sign. It follows His general reception in Galilee in verse 45 and immediately establishes the setting and the dire circumstances for the second major encounter of the chapter: the nobleman's dying son, serving as a powerful contrast to the spiritual thirst of the Samaritan woman.
v.45So when he came into Galilee, the Galilæans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
v.46This passage
v.47When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hosea 5:15
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly.
- Matthew 15:22
And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.
- John 2:1
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
- John 21:2
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
- Matthew 17:14
And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, and saying,
- Matthew 9:18
While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
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