1.
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
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.
2.
And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
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 .
3.
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
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 .
4.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
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 .
5.
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
servants = free servants. Greek. diakonos. Compare Matthew 20:26 . Mark 9:35 .
Whatsoever, &c. Mary's last-recorded words.
6.
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
Fill. The first sign. Note "Cast", John 21:6 , and see the
Structure in App-176 .
with. Greek. idiom. See note, on App-101 .
8.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
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 .
9.
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,
10.
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
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.
11.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
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 .
believed on . See App-150 . See note on John 1:7 .
12.
After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
13.
And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
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 .
14.
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
temple. Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:16 . those. Denoting a class.
changers of money . Greek. Plural of kermatistes. Occurs only here.
15.
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
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.
16.
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
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 .
17.
And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
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 .
18.
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
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? "
19.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
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 .
20.
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Forty and six years . Begun B.C. 20. See Josephus, Wars, I. xxi. 1.
rear = raise.
21.
But he spake of the temple of his body.
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 .
22.
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
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.
23.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
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.
24.
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
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 .
25.
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
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 ").