John 2:8

George Lamsa Translation

Then he said to them, Draw out now, and bring it to the chief guest of the feast. And they brought it.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Then he said to them, "Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast." So they did what he said.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he sayde vnto them: drawe out now and beare vnto the governer of the feaste. And they bare it.

Hebrew Names Version
He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast." They took it.

International Standard Version
Then he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the man in charge of the banquet." So they took it.

New American Standard Bible
And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." And they took it to him.

New Century Version
Then he said to them, "Now take some out and give it to the master of the feast." So they took the water to the master.

Update Bible Version
And he says to them, Draw out now, and bear to the ruler of the feast. And they bore it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he saith to them, Draw out now, and bear to the governor of the feast. And they bore [it].

English Standard Version
And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.

World English Bible
He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast." They took it.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he saith to them, Draw out now, and carry to the governor of the feast.

Weymouth's New Testament
Then He said, "Now, take some out, and carry it to the President of the feast."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Jhesus seide to hem, Drawe ye now, and bere ye to the architriclyn. And thei baren.

English Revised Version
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bare it.

Berean Standard Bible
"Now draw some out," He said, "and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so,

Contemporary English Version
he said, "Now take some water and give it to the man in charge of the feast." The servants did as Jesus told them,

Amplified Bible
Then He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter [of the banquet]." So they took it to him.

American Standard Version
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bare it.

Bible in Basic English
Then he said to them, Now take some, and give it to the master of the feast. So they took it to him.

Complete Jewish Bible
He said, "Now draw some out, and take it to the man in charge of the banquet"; and they took it.

Darby Translation
And he says to them, Draw out now, and carry [it] to the feast-master. And they carried [it].

Etheridge Translation
He saith to them, Draw now, and carry to the chief of the guests. And they carried.

Murdock Translation
He said to them: Draw now, and carry to the master of the feast. And they carried.

King James Version (1611)
And hee saith vnto them, Drawe out now, and beare vnto the gouernor of the feast. And they bare it.

New Living Translation
he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions.

New Life Bible
Then He said, "Take some out and give it to the head man who is caring for the people." They took some to him.

New Revised Standard
He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then he sayde vnto them, Draw out nowe and beare vnto the gouernour of the feast. So they bare it.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he saith unto them - Draw out now, and be bearing unto the master of the feast. And they bare.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it.

Revised Standard Version
He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he sayth vnto them: drawe out nowe, and beare vnto the gouernour of feast. And they bare it.

Good News Translation
and then he told them, "Now draw some water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast." They took him the water,

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.”

King James Version
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

Lexham English Bible
And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the head steward. So they took it.

Literal Translation
And He said to them, Now draw out and carry to the master of the feast. And they carried it.

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith to them, `Draw out, now, and bear to the director of the apartment;' and they bare.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he sayde vnto the: Drawe out now, & brynge vnto the Master of the feast. And they bare it.

Mace New Testament (1729)
now fill out, said he, and carry it to the steward of the feast, which accordingly they did.

THE MESSAGE
"Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did.

New English Translation
Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the head steward," and they did.

New King James Version
And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.

Simplified Cowboy Version
he said, "Take some out and give it to the person in charge of the party." The staff hurried and did as instructed.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He *said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him.

Contextual Overview

¹ ON the third day there was a marriage feast in Cana, a city of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. ² And Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the marriage feast. ³ And when the wine decreased, his mother said to Jesus, They have no wine. ⁴ Jesus said to her, What is it to me and to you, woman? my turn has not yet come. ⁵ His mother said to the helpers, Whatever he tells you, do it. ⁶ And there were six stone jars placed there for the purification of the Jews, which could hold several gallons each. ⁷ Jesus said to them, Fill the jars with water; and they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ Then he said to them, Draw out now, and bring it to the chief guest of the feast. And they brought it. ⁹ And when the chief guest tasted the water that had become wine, he did not know whence it had come; but the helpers knew, who had drawn the water. Then the chief guest called the bridegroom ¹⁰ And said to him, Every man at first brings the best wine; and when they have drunk, then that which is weak; but you have kept the best wine until now.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Draw: John 2:9, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 3:6, Ecclesiastes 9:6

the governor: Romans 13:7

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 17:15 - vanity Esther 1:8 - the officers Psalms 31:6 - lying Proverbs 30:8 - Remove Romans 1:25 - into a lie

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:24
So the LORD God drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the path to the tree of life.

Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Genesis 13:10
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the land of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of God, like the land of Egypt at the entrance of Zoan.

2 Kings 19:12
Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, such as Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and the inhabitants of Eden who were in Thelasar?

Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD will build Zion; he will build all her waste places; he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be heard in the midst of her, thanksgiving and the voice of singing.

Ezekiel 27:23
Haran and Canneh and Eden, the merchants of Sheba and Assyria, were your merchants.

Ezekiel 28:13
You have been in Eden, the garden of God; you were decked with every precious stone, the sardius, the topaz, and the emerald, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire and pearls; and you have filled your treasuries with gold and your chests with precious stones; you had all of these things from the day you were created.

Ezekiel 31:16
The earth trembled at the sound of its fall, when I brought it down to Sheol with those who go down into the pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and the best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he saith unto them, draw out now,.... As soon as ever the vessels were filled with water, without any more delay, he ordered the servants to draw out of those larger, into lesser vessels; he does not say what, water or wine:

and bear unto the governor of the feast; who either had the ordering and management of the feast, and the command of the whole affair; hence the Ethiopic version calls him, "the master of the waiters", or servants: or he was the chief guest, as the word seems to import, who sat, or rather lay, on the chief couch at the table; and so a proper person to begin with, and put the cup round: or else he might be doctor or chaplain: for such an one was necessary at a marriage; since there were six or seven benedictions to be pronounced; and particularly a blessing was said over the cup of wine; for if there was any wine, a cup of it was brought, and he blessed over it first, and ordered every thing concerning the cup: and this made up seven blessings at such a time y; and therefore was a very fit person to bear the wine to first:

and they bore it; the servants having drawn out of the stone vessels, by cocks, into smaller ones, carried the liquor, as they were ordered, to the above person.

y Maimon. Hilchot Ishot, c. 10. sect. 3, 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Draw out now - This command was given to the servants. It showed that the miracle had been performed immediately. As soon as they were filled the servants were directed to take to the governor of the feast. Jesus made no parade about it, and it does not even appear that he approached the waterpots. He willed it, and it was done. This was a clear exertion of divine power, and made in such a manner as to leave no doubt of its reality.

The governor - One who presided on the occasion. The one who stood at the “head” or upper end of the table. He had the charge of the entertainment, provided the food, gave directions to the servants, etc.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 2:8. Governor of the feast. — The original word, αρχιτρικλινος, signifies one who is chief or head over three couches, or tables. In the Asiatic countries, they take their meals sitting, or rather reclining, on small low couches. And when many people are present, so that they cannot all eat together, three of these low tables or couches are put together in form of a crescent, and some one of the guests is appointed to take charge of the persons who sit at these tables. Hence the appellation of architriclinus, the chief over three couches or tables, which in process of time became applied to the governor or steward of a feast, let the guests be many or few; and such person, having conducted the business well, had a festive crown put on his head by the guests, at the conclusion of the feast. See Ecclesiasticus, 32:1-3. It is very common for the Hindoos to appoint a person who is expert in conducting the ceremonies of a feast to manage as governor. This person is seldom the master of the house.

And they bare it. — A question has been asked, "Did our Lord turn all the water into wine which the six measures contained?" To which I answer: There is no proof that he did; and I take it for granted that he did not. It may be asked, "How could a part be turned into wine, and not the whole?" To which I answer: The water, in all likelihood, was changed into wine as it was drawn out, and not otherwise. "But did not our Lord by this miracle minister to vice, by producing an excess of inebriating liquor?" No; for the following reasons:

1. The company was a select and holy company, where no excess could be permitted. And,

2. Our Lord does not appear to have furnished any extra quantity, but only what was necessary. "But it is intimated in the text that the guests were nearly intoxicated before this miraculous addition to their wine took place; for the evangelist says, οτανμεθυσθωσι, when they have become intoxicated." I answer:

1. It is not intimated, even in the most indirect manner, that these guests were at all intoxicated.

2. The words are not spoken of the persons at that wedding at all: the governor of the feast only states that such was the common custom at feasts of this nature; without intimating that any such custom prevailed there.

3. The original word bears a widely different meaning from that which the objection forces upon it. The verbs μεθυσκω and μεθυω, from μεθυ, wine, which, from μετα θυειν, to drink after sacrificing, signify not only to inebriate, but to take wine, to drink wine, to drink enough: and in this sense the verb is evidently used in the Septuagint, Genesis 43:34; Song of Solomon 5:1; 1 Macc. 16:16; Haggai 1:6; Ecclus. 1:16. And the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 58:11, speaking of the abundant blessings of the godly, compares them to a watered garden, which the Septuagint translate, ως κηπος μεθυων, by which is certainly understood, not a garden drowned with water, but one sufficiently saturated with it, not having one drop too much, nor too little.