John 1:48

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Nathanael saith unto him - Whence, dost thou, know, me? Jesus answered, and said unto him - Before Philip called thee, - when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Nathanael sayd vnto him: where knewest thou me? Iesus answered and sayde vnto him: Before that Philip called the when thou wast vnder ye fygge tree I sawe the.

Hebrew Names Version
Natan'el said to him, "How do you know me?" Yeshua answered him, "Before Pilipos called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

International Standard Version
Nathaniel said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

New American Standard Bible
Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

New Century Version
Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me."

Update Bible Version
Nathanael says to him, From where do you know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Nathanael saith to him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.

English Standard Version
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

World English Bible
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Nathanael saith to him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.

Weymouth's New Testament
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. "Before Philip called you," said Jesus, "when you were under the fig-tree I saw you."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Nathanael seide to hym, Wherof hast thou knowun me? Jhesus `answerde, and seide to hym, Bifor that Filip clepide thee, whanne thou were vndur the fige tree, Y saiy thee. Nathanael answerde to hym,

English Revised Version
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Berean Standard Bible
"How do You know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."

Contemporary English Version
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."

Amplified Bible
Nathanael said to Jesus, "How do You know [these things about] me?" Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you."

American Standard Version
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Bible in Basic English
Nathanael said to him, Where did you get knowledge of me? In answer Jesus said, Before Philip was talking with you, while you were still under the fig-tree, I saw you.

Complete Jewish Bible
Natan'el said to him, "How do you know me?" Yeshua answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Darby Translation
Nathanael says to him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.

Etheridge Translation
Nathanael saith to him, Whence knowest thou me ? Jeshu saith to him, While yet Philipos had not called thee, while thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.

Murdock Translation
Nathaniel said to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus said to him: Before Philip called thee when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.

King James Version (1611)
Nathaneel sayeth vnto him, Whence knowest thou me? Iesus answered, and said vnto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast vnder the figge tree, I saw thee.

New Living Translation
"How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."

New Life Bible
Nathanael said to Jesus, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip talked to you, I saw you under the fig tree."

New Revised Standard
Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Nathanael sayde vnto him, Whence knewest thou mee? Iesus answered, and sayd vnto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast vnder the figge tree, I sawe thee.

George Lamsa Translation
Nathanael said to him, Whence do you know me? Jesus said to him. Even before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Revised Standard Version
Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nathanael sayth vnto hym: Whence knewest thou me? Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast vnder the fygge tree, I sawe thee.

Good News Translation
Nathanael asked him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree before Philip called you."

Christian Standard Bible®
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

King James Version
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Lexham English Bible
Nathanael said to him, "From where do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Literal Translation
Nathanael said to Him, From where do You know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called, you being under the fig tree, I saw you.

Young's Literal Translation
Nathanael saith to him, `Whence me dost thou know?' Jesus answered and said to him, `Before Philip's calling thee -- thou being under the fig-tree -- I saw thee.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Nathanael sayde vnto him: From whence knowest thou me? Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him: Before yt Philippe called the, whan thou wast vnder the fygge tre, I sawe the.

Mace New Testament (1729)
said Nathanael to him. before Philip called you, replied Jesus, I saw you under the fig-tree.

THE MESSAGE
Nathanael said, "Where did you get that idea? You don't know me." Jesus answered, "One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree."

New English Translation
Nathanael asked him, "How do you know me?" Jesus replied, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

New King James Version
Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Simplified Cowboy Version
Nate looked questioningly at Jesus and asked, "How would you know anything about me?"Jesus smiled and said, "Because I saw you sittin' underneath that fig tree right before Nate found you."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Legacy Standard Bible
Nathanael *said to Him, "From where do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Contextual Overview

⁴³ On the morrow, he desired to go forth into Galilee. And Jesus findeth Philip, and saith unto him - Be following me! ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip, findeth, Nathanael, and saith unto him - Him, of whom wrote Moses in the law, and the Prophets, have we found. - Jesus, son of Joseph, him from Nazareth! ⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him - Out of Nazareth, can any good thing come? Philip saith unto him - Come, and see! ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming unto him, and saith concerning him - See! Truly, an Israelite, in whom is no guile. ⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him - Whence, dost thou, know, me? Jesus answered, and said unto him - Before Philip called thee, - when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him - Rabbi! thou, art, the Son of God: Thou, art, King, of Israel. ⁵⁰ Jesus answered, and said unto him - Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? A greater thing than these, shalt thou see! ⁵¹ And he saith unto him - Verily, verily, I say unto you: Ye shall see heaven - when set open, and, the messengers of God, ascending and descending unto the Son of Man.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: John 2:25, Genesis 32:24-30, Psalms 139:1, Psalms 139:2, Isaiah 65:24, Matthew 6:6, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 14:25, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 2:19

Reciprocal: Job 31:4 - General Psalms 38:9 - groaning Song of Solomon 8:5 - I raised Hosea 14:8 - I have Luke 19:5 - he looked John 1:42 - Thou art John 4:16 - Go John 4:19 - I perceive

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Nathanael saith unto him, whence knowest thou me?.... This he said as one surprised, that he, who was a stranger to him, should hit upon his general character, and describe the internal state and frame of his soul: this was more surprising to him, than if he had called him by his name Nathanael, as he did Simon; or had said what was the place, of his abode; Cana of Galilee; since this ordinarily was only to be observed, and learned, from a long and familiar acquaintance and conversation: by Nathanael's reply, it looks as if he had no doubt, or fears, about the character Christ gave him; but rather, that he believed it, as every good man must be conscious to himself of his own integrity; only it was amazing to him, how he should know it:

Jesus answered and said unto him; in order to satisfy him, how he could know this inward temper of his mind, and to give him some undeniable proofs of his omniscience, which he himself must acknowledge, being such as none but an all seeing eye could discover:

before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee; in which words Christ gives two instances of his omniscience; the one is, that he knew Philip had called him; he was privy to all that passed between them, though they were alone, and the conversation was had in the most private manner. Christ knew what an account Philip had given of him, and what objection Nathanael had made; and what an invitation Philip had given him to go along with him to Christ, and judge for himself; which is here meant by calling him, and with which he complied: and the other is, that he saw him under the fig tree before that: he was sitting under it, as men in those countries used to do; see Micah 4:4, where he might be reading the Scriptures, and meditating upon them; and if, as some observe, he was reading, and thinking upon Jacob's dream, concerning the ladder which reached from earth to heaven, and on which he saw the angels of God ascending and descending, the words of Christ in John 1:51 must strike him with fresh surprise, and give him another convincing proof of his omniscience: or he might be praying here in secret, and so acted a different part from the generality, of religious men of that nation, who chose to pray in synagogues, and corners of the streets, that they might be seen; and likewise proved him to be what Christ had said of him, a true and rare Israelite, without guile and hypocrisy, which were so visible and prevailing among others. It was usual with the doctors to read, and study in the law, under fig trees, and sometimes, though rarely, to pray there. It is said t,

"R. Jacob, and his companions, were "sitting", studying in the law, תחות חדא תאינה, "under a certain fig tree".''

And the rule they give about praying, on, or under one, is thus u:

"he that prays on the top of an olive tree, or on the top of a "fig tree", or on any other trees, must come down, and "pray below".''

It is said of Nathanael, in the Syriac dictionary x; that his mother laid him under a fig tree, when the infants were slain, i.e. at Bethlehem; which, if it could be depended upon, must be to Nathanael a surprising and undeniable proof of the deity of Christ, and of his being the true Messiah; since, at that time, he was an infant of days himself, and was the person Herod was seeking to destroy, as the Messiah, and king of the Jews.

t T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 5. 3. Vid. Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 16. 4. u Ib col. 1. & T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 16. 1. x Bar Bahluli apud Castell. Lexic. Polyglott. col. 8437.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whence knowest thou me? - Nathanael was not yet acquainted with the divinity of Christ, and supposed that he had been a stranger to him. Hearing him express a favorable opinion of him, he naturally inquired by what means he had any knowledge of him. His conscience testified to the truth of what Jesus said that he had no guile, and he was anxious to know whence he had learned his character.

Before that Philip called thee - See John 1:45.

When thou wast under the fig-tree - It is evident that it was from something that had occurred under the fig-tree that Jesus judged of his character. What that was is not recorded. It is not improbable that Nathanael was accustomed to retire to the shade of a certain tree, perhaps in his garden or in a grove, for the purpose of meditation and prayer. The Jews were much in the habit of selecting such places for private devotion, and in such scenes of stillness and retirement there is something especially favorable for meditation and prayer. Our Saviour also worshipped in such places. Compare John 18:2; Luke 6:12. In that place of retirement it is not improbable that Nathanael was engaged in private devotion.

I saw thee - It is clear, from the narrative, that Jesus did not mean to say that he was bodily present with Nathanael and saw him; but he knew his thoughts, his desires, his secret feelings and wishes. In this sense Nathanael understood him. We may learn:

1.That Jesus sees what is done in secret, and is therefore divine.

2.That he sees us when we little think of it.

3.That he sees us especially in our private devotions, hears our prayers, and marks our meditations. And,

4.That he judges of our character chiefly by our private devotions. Those are secret; the world sees them not; and in our closets we show what we are. How does it become us, therefore, that our secret prayers and meditations should be without “guile” and hypocrisy, and such as Jesus will approve!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 48. Whence knowest thou me? — He was not yet acquainted with the divinity of Christ, could not conceive that he could search his heart, and therefore asks how he could acquire this knowledge of him, or who had given him that character. It is the comfort of the sincere and upright, that God knows their hearts; and it should be the terror of the deceitful and of the hypocrite, that their false dealing is ever noticed by the all-seeing eye of God.

Under the fig tree — Probably engaged in prayer with God, for the speedy appearing of the salvation of Israel; and the shade of this fig tree was perhaps the ordinary place of retreat for this upright man. It is not A fig tree, but την συκην, THE fig tree, one particularly distinguished from the others. There are many proofs that the Jewish rabbins chose the shade of trees, and particularly the fig tree, to sit and study under. See many examples in Schoettgen. How true is the saying, The eyes of the Lord are through all the earth, beholding the evil and the good! Wheresoever we are, whatsoever we are about, may a deep conviction of this truth rest upon our hearts, Thou God seest ME!