Bible Commentaries
John 2

Verse 1

the third day . Of this first week: i.e. the third day after the last event (John 1:4-51 ), i.e. the seventh day. Compare the 1st (John 1:19-28 ); 2nd (29-34); 3rd (John 1:35-42 ); 4th (John 1:43-51 ). In Genesis, after six days there comes a marriage.

was = took place.

marriage = marriage feast, as in Matthew 22:2 , &c. Sometimes lasting a week.

in . Greek en. App-104 .

Cana of Galilee . Now Kefr Kenna, on the road from Nazareth to Tiberias. So called to distinguish it from Cana in Asher.

Jesus. App-98 .

was there : i.e. was already there when the Lord arrived.

Verse 2

called = invited.

disciples . Probably six in number: viz. Andrew, Simon, Philip, Nathanael (John 1:40-51 ), with James and John (Mark 1:16-20 ). See App-141 .

to . Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 3

when , &c. = when wine failed. Quite a serious calamity.

wine . Greek. oinos. The only word for wine in the N.T. Septuagint for Hebrew. yayin. App-27 . (Also for Tirash ( App-27 ) in Genesis 27:28 . Judges 9:13 .Joel 1:10; Joel 1:10 ).

the mother of Jesus . Never called Mary in this Gospel. She became John's "mother" (John 19:26 , John 19:27 ),

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .

Verse 4

Woman. Quite a respectful form of address. Not as in Eng. In Greek authors = Madam. what, &c. A Hebraism (2 Samuel 16:10 ).

Mine hour, &c. Marking a crisis, which is noted in John 2:11 . A characteristic expression in this Gospel. See note on John 7:6 .

Verse 5

servants = free servants. Greek. diakonos. Compare Matthew 20:26 . Mark 9:35 .

Whatsoever, &c. Mary's last-recorded words.

Verse 6

six waterpots . See App-176 .

waterpots = jars. Occurs only here, John 2:7 , and John 4:28 .

after the manner, &c. Proportioned to the number of the guests.

after = according to. Greek kata. App-104 . the Jews. See note on John 1:19 .

firkins . See App-51 .

Verse 7

Fill. The first sign. Note "Cast", John 21:6 , and see the

Structure in App-176 .

with. Greek. idiom. See note, on App-101 .

Verse 8

Draw out. Greek. antleo. Occurs only here, John 2:9 ; John 4:7 , John 4:15 .

governor, &c. Occurs only here, and John 2:9 . See Genesis 24:13 , Genesis 24:20 .

Verse 9

ruler, &c. Same word as "governor", &c.

was made = had become.

knew. Greek. oida. App-132 . See note on John 1:26 . Not the same word as in verses: John 2:24 , John 2:25 .

not . Greek. ou. App-105 .

but , &c. See note on "and we", &c., John 1:14 .

drew = had drawn.

Verse 10

Every man , &c. This is man's way: i.e. to give the good thing first, and the worse thing after. God's way is always the opposite. See note on Exodus 15:2 .

man. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

well drunk = drunk freely.

worse = inferior.

Verse 11

beginning, &c. Our attention is thus called to the order.

miracles = the signs. A characteristic word in this Gospel. See p. 1511, and App-176 .

manifested forth . See App-106 . Compare John 21:1 , John 21:14 .

His glory. This is the key to the signification of the eight signs of this Gospel ( App-176 ). See note on John 1:14 .

disciples believed , &c. Compare verses: John 2:17 , John 2:22 . Four hundred and fifty years since the Jews had seen a miracle. The last was in Daniel 6:0 .

believed on . See App-150 . See note on John 1:7 .

Verse 12

After . Greek. meta. App-104 .

down. True geographically. Compare "up", John 2:13 .

Capernaum. Now Tell Hum.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

continued. Greek. meno. See note on John 1:32 , and p. 1511.

Verse 13

the Jews' passover . After the revival under Ezra and Nehemiah corruption proceeded apace (see notes on p. 1296), and the Lord found the nation as described in Malachi. Hence, what were once "the feasts of Jehovah" are spoken of as what they had then become, "feasts of the Jews" (John 5:1 ; John 6:4 ; John 7:2 ; John 11:55 ; John 19:42 ). See note on John 1:19 ,

passover . Greek. pascha, Aramaic. See App-94 .

went up. Greek. anabaino, same word as "ascending", John 1:51 Compare "down", John 2:12 .

Verse 14

temple. Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:16 . those. Denoting a class.

changers of money . Greek. Plural of kermatistes. Occurs only here.

Verse 15

made a scourge = plaited a whip. Occurs only here.

of = from. Greek. ek. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: John 21:25 .

small cords = rush-ropes. Greek. schoinion. Only here and in Acts 27:32 .

drove . . . out = cast out. Not the same event as in Matthew 21:12 , Matthew 21:13 .Mark 11:15 , Mark 11:16 . Luke 19:45 , Luke 19:46 .

them all = all: i.e. the animals, both the sheep and the oxen and the sellers.

and = both,

changers . Greek. kollubistes (from kollubes, a small coin). Occurs only here.

money = small coin. Greek. Plural of kerma. Occurs only here.

Verse 16

not . Greek. me. App-105 . Not the same word as in verses: John 2:2 , John 2:9 , John 2:12 , John 2:24 , John 2:25 .

My Father's house . This was at the beginning of His ministry. At the end He called it "your house" (Matthew 23:38 ).

My Father's. A characteristic expression in this gospel. Occurs thirty-five times. See p. 1511.

merchandise. Greek. emporion = market-place (not emporia, which = the traffic itself). On the later occasion the words naturally differ. Compare Matthew 22:5 .

Verse 17

it was written = it is (or standeth) written. Compare John 6:31 , John 6:45 ; John 8:17 ; John 10:34 ; John 12:14 . The zeal, &c. Quoted from Psalms 69:9 . See the rest of the verse in Romans 15:3 , and other parts of the Psa. in John 15:25 (John 2:4 ); John 19:28 (John 2:21 ). Romans 11:9 , Romans 11:10 (John 2:22 ). Acts 1:20 (John 2:25 ). See App-107 . of. Genitive of' Relation. App-17 . Compare John 3:3 .

Verse 18

answered . . . said . See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 and App-122 .

sign . Same as "miracle", John 2:11 .

seeing, &c. Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ) = "What sign shewest thou to us [that Thou art the Messiah], seeing that Thou doest these things? "

Verse 19

Destroy, &c. The Lord's enemies remembered His words, and perverted them: saying, "I will destroy", &c. See Matthew 26:61 ; Mark 14:58 .

this. See on Matthew 16:18 .

Temple . Greek. naos. See note on Matthew 23:16 .

raise . . . up . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

Verse 20

Forty and six years . Begun B.C. 20. See Josephus, Wars, I. xxi. 1.

rear = raise.

Verse 21

But He spake, &c. Figure of speech Epitrechon ( App-6 ). For other examples, See John 7:39 ; John 12:33 ; John 21:19 .

he . Greek. ekeinos. Emph. in contrast with "thou" in John 2:20 . See note on John 1:18 .

spake = was speaking. Greek. lego of -se concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

of = that is to say. Genitive of Apposition. App-17 .

Verse 22

from = out from. Greek. ek. App-104 .

the dead. No Article = dead people. See note on Matthew 17:9 , and App-139 .

remembered. Compare John 2:17 . They remembered it after His resurrection, and believed it. Contrast His enemies. See note on John 2:19 .

said = spake. Greek. lego, as in John 2:21 .

believed. App-150 . See note on John 1:7 .

the scripture: i.e. that the scripture was true. Here, probably, Psalms 16:10 . The word graphe Occurs twelve times in John: here; John 5:39 ; John 7:38 , John 7:42 ; John 10:35 ; John 13:18 ; John 17:12 ; John 19:24 , John 19:28 , John 19:36 , John 19:37 ; John 20:9 .

word . Greek. logos. See on Mark 9:32 .

said. Greek. epo.

Verse 23

Now when, &c. Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ) in the triple definitions (for emph.)

at = in. Greek. en. App-104 .

believed in . See App-150 . Same as John 2:11 , denoting a definite act.

in. Greek. eis. App-104 .

His name = Him (emph.) See note on Psalms 20:1 .

when they saw = beholding. Greek theoreo. App-133 .

did = was doing.

Verse 24

But Jesus : i.e. But Jesus [for His part].

commit = trust. Same word as "believed "in John 2:23 , but not the same tense. Here it denotes a continual action or habit. Greek pisteuo. App-150 . See note on John 1:7 .

because . Greek. dia. App-104 .John 2:2 .

He = He Himself.

knew. Greek. ginosko. App-182 . See note on John 1:10 .

Verse 25

testify = bear witness. See note on John 1:7 .

what was in man . This attribute elsewhere attributed only to Jehovah (Jeremiah 17:10 ; Jeremiah 20:12 ). Here this knowledge was universal ("all", John 2:24 ), and individual ("man ").