THE THIRD DAY (τη ημερα τη τριτη). "On the day the third" (locative case), from the start to Galilee when Philip was found (John 1:43), seven days since John 1:19.THERE WAS A MARRIAGE (γαμος εγενετο). "A wedding (or marriage festival) took place." See on Matthew 22:8.IN CANA OF GALILEE (εν Καν... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ALSO WAS BIDDEN (εκληθη κα ο Ιησους). First aorist passive indicative of καλεω, "was also invited" as well as his mother and because of her presence, possibly at her suggestion.AND HIS DISCIPLES (κα ο μαθητα). Included in the invitation and probably all of them acquaintances of the family.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE WINE FAILED (υστερησαντος οινου). Genitive absolute with first aorist active participle of υστερεω, old verb from υστερος, late or lacking. See same use in Mark 10:21. A longer Western paraphrase occurs in some manuscripts. It was an embarrassing circumstance, especially to Mary, if part... [ Continue Reading ]
WOMAN (γυνα). Vocative case of γυνη, and with no idea of censure as is plain from its use by Jesus in John 19:26. But the use of γυνα instead of μητερ (Mother) does show her she can no longer exercise maternal authority and not at all in his Messianic work. That is always a difficult lesson for m... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE SERVANTS (τοις διακονοις). See on Matthew 20:26 for this word (our "deacon," but not that sense here).WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT (Hοτ αν λεγη υμιν ποιησατε). Indefinite relative sentence (οτ αν and present active subjunctive, general statement) with aorist active imperative of... [ Continue Reading ]
WATERPOTS (υδρια). Old word from υδωρ (water) and used in papyri for pots or pans for holding money or bread as well as water. These stone (λιθινα as in 2 Corinthians 3:3) jars full of water were kept handy ( SET THERE , κειμενα, present middle participle of κειμα) at a feast for ceremonial cleans... [ Continue Reading ]
FILL (γεμισατε). Effective first aorist active imperative of γεμιζω, to fill full.WITH WATER (υδατος). Genitive case of material.UP TO THE BRIM (εως ανω). "Up to the top." See εως κατω (Matthew 27:51) for "down to the bottom." No room left in the waterpots now full of water.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRAW OUT NOW (Αντλησατε νυν). First aorist active imperative of αντλεω, from ο αντλος, bilge water, or the hold where the bilge water settles (so in Homer). The verb occurs in John 4:7; John 4:15, for drawing water from the well, and Westcott so interprets it here, but needlessly so, since the se... [ Continue Reading ]
TASTED (εγευσατο). First aorist middle indicative of γευομα. As it was his function to do.THE WATER NOW BECOME WINE (το υδωρ οινον γεγενημενον). Accusative case, though the genitive also occurs with γευομα. Perfect passive participle of γινομα and οινον, predicative accusative. The tablemaster... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS BEGINNING OF HIS SIGNS DID JESUS (ταυτην εποιησεν αρχην των σημειων ο Ιησους). Rather, "this Jesus did as a beginning of his signs," for there is no article between ταυτην and αρχην. "We have now passed from the 'witness' of the Baptist to the 'witness' of the works of Jesus" (Bernard). This... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT DOWN TO CAPERNAUM (κατεβη εις Καφαρναουμ αυτος). Second aorist active indicative of καταβαινω. Cana was on higher ground. This brief stay ( NOT MANY DAYS , ου πολλας ημερας) in this important city (Tell Hum) on the north shore of Galilee was with Christ's mother, brothers (apparently frie... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PASSOVER OF THE JEWS (το πασχα των Ιουδαιων). The Synoptics do not give "of the Jews," but John is writing after the destruction of the temple and for Gentile readers. John mentions the passovers in Christ's ministry outside of the one when Christ was crucified, this one and one in John 6:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOSE THAT SOLD (τους πωλουντας). Present active articular participle of πωλεω, to sell. They were in the Court of the Gentiles within the temple precinct (εν τω ιερω), but not in the ναος or temple proper. The sacrifices required animals (oxen, βοας, sheep, προβατα, doves, περιστερας) and "change... [ Continue Reading ]
A SCOURGE OF CORDS (φραγελλιον εκ σχοινιων). The Latin _flagellum_. In papyri, here only in N.T. and note Latin _l_ becomes ρ in _Koine_. Σχοινιων is a diminutive of σχοινος (a rush), old word for rope, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:32.CAST OUT (εξεβαλεν). Second aorist active indicative of εκβ... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THESE THINGS HENCE (Αρατε ταυτα εντευθεν). First aorist active imperative of αιρω. Probably the doves were in baskets or cages and so had to be taken out by the traders.MAKE NOT MY FATHER'S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE (μη ποιειτε τον οικον του πατρος μου οικον εμποριου). "Stop making," it... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBERED (εμνησθησαν). First aorist passive indicative of μιμνησκω, to remind, "were reminded." Westcott notes the double effect of this act as is true of Christ's words and deeds all through John's Gospel. The disciples are helped, the traders are angered.THAT IT IS WRITTEN (οτ γεγραμμενον ε... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SIGN SHEWEST THOU UNTO US? (Τ σημειον δεικνυεις ημιν;). They may have heard of the "sign" at Cana or not, but they have rallied a bit on the outside of the temple area and demand proof for his Messianic assumption of authority over the temple worship. These traders had paid the Sadducees and... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY THIS TEMPLE (λυσατε τον ναον τουτον). First aorist active imperative of λυω, to loosen or destroy. It is the permissive imperative, not a command to do it. Note also ναος, not ιερον, the sanctuary, symbol of God's ναος, in our hearts (1 Corinthians 3:16). There is much confusion about this... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTY AND SIX YEARS WAS THIS TEMPLE IN BUILDING (Τεσσερακοντα κα εξ ετεσιν οικοδομηθη ο ναος ουτος). "Within forty and six years (associative instrumental case) was built (first aorist passive indicative, constative or summary use of the aorist, of οικοδομεω, without augment) this temple." As a m... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE SPAKE OF THE TEMPLE OF HIS BODY (εκεινος δε ελεγεν περ του ναου του σωματος αυτου). Emphatic he (εκεινος) and imperfect tense (he had been speaking). This is John's view as he looks back at it, not what he understood when Jesus spoke the words.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEREFORE HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD (Hοτε ουν ηγερθη εκ νεκρων). First aorist passive indicative of εγειρω, to raise up. And not at first then, but only slowly after the disciples themselves were convinced. Then "they believed the Scripture" (επιστευσαν τη γραφη). They "believed" again. Da... [ Continue Reading ]
IN JERUSALEM (εν τοις Ιεροσολυμοις). The form Ιεροσολυμα as in John 2:13 always in this Gospel and in Mark, and usually in Matthew, though Ιερουσαλημ only in Revelation, and both forms by Luke and Paul.DURING THE FEAST (εν τη εορτη). The feast of unleavened bread followed for seven days right a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JESUS DID NOT TRUST HIMSELF TO THEM (αυτος δε Ιησους ουκ επιστευεν αυτον αυτοις). "But Jesus himself kept on refusing (negative imperfect) to trust himself to them." The double use of πιστευω here is shown by Acts 8:13 where Simon Magus "believed" (επιστευσεν) and was baptized, but was unsave... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BECAUSE HE NEEDED NOT (κα οτ χρειαν ειχεν). Imperfect active, "and because he did not have need."THAT ANY ONE SHOULD BEAR WITNESS CONCERNING MAN (ινα τις μαρτυρηση περ του ανθρωπου). Non-final use of ινα with first aorist active subjunctive of μαρτυρεω and the generic article (περ του ανθρω... [ Continue Reading ]