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The NET Bible®

John 2:9

When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Cana;   Feasts;   Jesus, the Christ;   Mary;   Miracles;   Water;   Wine;   Scofield Reference Index - Miracles;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Entertainments;   Marriage;   Miracles of Christ, the;   Water;   Wine;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Cana;   Feasts;   Miracle;   Smyrna;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Galilee;   Grapes;   John, gospel of;   Marriage;   Miracles;   Palestine;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Clean, Unclean;   Joy;   Miracle;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Marriage;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cana;   Governor;   Marriage-Feasts;   Wine;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Banquets;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Banquet;   Fulfill;   John, the Gospel of;   Mary;   Sign;   Water;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Deacon;   Joy;   Marriage;   Mary;   Meals;   Miracles;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Announcements of Death;   Attributes of Christ;   Banquet;   Brotherhood (2);   Celibacy (2);   Common Life;   Considerateness;   Dates (2);   Example;   Happiness;   Humanity of Christ;   John (the Apostle);   Marriage;   Minister, Ministration;   Miracles;   Pleasure;   Reality;   Ruler (2);   Sea of Galilee;   Service;   Toleration, Tolerance;   Waterpot ;   Wealth (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Governor of the Feast;   Marriage;   Melchisedec, Melchizedek ;   Miracles;   New Testament;   Wine;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Cana;   Veil;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cana;   Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Governor;   Wine;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Architriclinus;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Banquet;   Image;   Make;   Mary;   Master;   Ruler;   Ruler of the Feast;   Triclinium;   Uncleanness;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Brotherly Love;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 17;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom
King James Version (1611)
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the seruants which drew the water knew) the gouernor of the feast called the bridegrome,
King James Version
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
English Standard Version
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom
New American Standard Bible
Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the groom,
New Century Version
When he tasted it, the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine came from, but the servants who had brought the water knew. The master of the wedding called the bridegroom
Amplified Bible
And when the headwaiter tasted the water which had turned into wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew) he called the bridegroom,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom,
Legacy Standard Bible
Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the bridegroom,
Berean Standard Bible
and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
Contemporary English Version
and the man in charge drank some of the water that had now turned into wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants did. He called the bridegroom over
Complete Jewish Bible
The man in charge tasted the water; it had now turned into wine! He did not know where it had come from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. So he called the bridegroom
Darby Translation
But when the feast-master had tasted the water which had been made wine (and knew not whence it was, but the servants knew who drew the water), the feast-master calls the bridegroom,
Easy-to-Read Version
Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew. He called the bridegroom
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe when the gouernour of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, (for he knewe not whence it was: but the seruants, which drewe the water, knewe) the gouernour of ye feast called the bridegrome,
George Lamsa Translation
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
Good News Translation
which now had turned into wine, and he tasted it. He did not know where this wine had come from (but, of course, the servants who had drawn out the water knew); so he called the bridegroom
Lexham English Bible
Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it was from—but the servants who had drawn the water knew—the head steward summoned the bridegroom
Literal Translation
But when the master of the feast tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know from where it was (but the servants drawing the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom,
American Standard Version
And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom,
Bible in Basic English
After tasting the water which had now become wine, the master of the feast (having no idea where it came from, though it was clear to the servants who took the water out) sent for the newly-married man,
Hebrew Names Version
When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom,
International Standard Version
When the man in charge of the banquet tasted the water that had become wine (without knowing where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew), hethe man in charge of the banquet">[fn] called for the bridegroomJohn 4:46;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And when that chief of the guests had tasted those waters which were made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servitors knew, who had filled them with waters,) the chief of the guests called the bridegroom,
Murdock Translation
And when the master of the feast tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know whence it came, (although the waiters knew, as they had filled the pots with water,) the master of the feast called the bridegroom,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wyne, and knewe not whence it was (but the ministers which drewe the water knewe) the gouernour of the feast calleth the brydegrome:
English Revised Version
And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom,
World English Bible
When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And they carried it. When the governor of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine (he knew not whence it was, but the servants, who had drawn the water knew) the governor of the feast calleth the bridegroom,
Weymouth's New Testament
So they carried some to him. And no sooner had the President tasted the water now turned into wine, than--not knowing where it came from, though the attendants who had drawn the water knew--he called to the bridegroom
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne the architriclyn hadde tastid the watir maad wiyn, and wiste not wherof it was, but the mynystris wisten that drowen the watir, the architriclyn clepith the spouse,
Update Bible Version
And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know from where it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calls the bridegroom,
Webster's Bible Translation
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was; (but the servants who drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
New King James Version
When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
New Living Translation
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.
New Life Bible
The head man tasted the water that had become wine. He did not know where it came from but the helpers who took it to him knew. He called the man who had just been married.
New Revised Standard
When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when the master of the feast had tasted the water, now made, wine, and knew not whence it was, - though, they who were ministering, knew, even they who had drawn out the water, the master accosteth the bridegroom,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom,
Revised Standard Version
When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was turned vnto wyne and knewe not whence it was (but the ministres which drue the water knew). He called the brydegrome
Young's Literal Translation
And as the director of the apartment tasted the water become wine, and knew not whence it is, (but the ministrants knew, who have drawn the water,) the director of the feast doth call the bridegroom,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wha the master of ye feast had taisted ye wyne which had bene water, and knewe not whence it came (but the mynisters that drue ye water, knewe it) the Master of the feast called the brydegrome,
Mace New Testament (1729)
as soon as the steward had tasted the water that was made wine, (for he did not know whence it came, but the servants who drew the water knew it,) he called the bridegroom,
THE MESSAGE
When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now!"
Simplified Cowboy Version
The fellow in charge had no idea where the wine had come from, but the servants knew. The guy called the groom over to him and said,

Contextual Overview

1 Now on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no wine left." 4 Jesus replied, "Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come." 5 His mother told the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it." 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, "Fill the water jars with water." So they filled them up to the very top. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the head steward," and they did. 9 When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the water that: John 4:46

but: John 7:17, Psalms 119:100

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:20 - all the waters Judges 14:10 - made there Proverbs 2:13 - walk John 2:8 - Draw

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed.
Genesis 2:9
The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)
Genesis 2:17
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die."
Genesis 3:3
but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.'"
Deuteronomy 6:25
We will be innocent if we carefully keep all these commandments before the Lord our God, just as he demands."
Proverbs 3:18
She is like a tree of life to those who obtain her, and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.
Isaiah 44:25
who frustrates the omens of the empty talkers and humiliates the omen readers, who overturns the counsel of the wise men and makes their advice seem foolish,
Isaiah 47:10
You were complacent in your evil deeds; you thought, ‘No one sees me.' Your self-professed wisdom and knowledge lead you astray, when you say, ‘I am unique! No one can compare to me!'
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I threw it down to Sheol, along with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, all that were well-watered, were comforted in the earth below.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water,.... The Persic version reads, "tasted of the wine", and adds, what is not in the text, "it was of a very grateful savour": but the sense is, he tasted of that which was before water, but now

was made wine; not in such sense as the Papists pretend that the bread and wine, in the Lord's supper, are transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ, by the consecration of the priest; after which they appear to have the same properties of bread and wine as before; but this water, that was turned into wine, ceased to be what it was before, and became what it was not: it had no more the properties, the colour, and taste of water, but of wine; of which the whole company were judges:

and knew not whence it was; from whence it came, where it was had, nor any thing of the miracle that was wrought, and therefore was a proper person to have it put into his hands first; since it cannot be thought he should say what he does in the following verse, from any compact with Christ, or in favour of him.

But the servants which drew the water knew; they knew from whence they had it, out of the water pots; and they knew that they filled them with water; and that that liquor, which the ruler of the feast had in his hands, and commended as most excellent wine, was drawn out of them; and that there was no juggle, nor deceit in the case: and, upon tasting of it,

the governor of the feast called the bridegroom to him; out of the place where he sat, and which might not be far from him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And knew not whence it was - This is said, probably, to indicate that his judgment was not biased by any favor, or any lack of favor, toward Jesus. Had he known what was done, he would have been less likely to have judged impartially. As it is, we have his testimony that this was real wine, and of so fine a body and flavor as to surpass that which had been provided for the occasion. Everything in this miracle shows that there was no collusion or understanding between Jesus and any of the persons at the feast.


 
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