Bible Strands
John 4:46
So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus returns to Cana after the Galileans welcomed Him following His Jerusalem signs, while a royal official in Capernaum confronts a son dying of illness. The narrative places divine presence and human desperation in immediate proximity.
The words — Ἦλθεν (Ēlthen) translates literally as "He came," and πάλιν (palin) means "again," marking this visit as a deliberate return to a location of prior miraculous activity.
The thread — The Cana setting recalls John 2:1, while the official's crisis parallels the deliverance promised in Psalms 50:15 and the affliction-driven seeking described in Hosea 5:15. The narrative thread moves from geographic return to urgent petition.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that Jesus' presence follows a pattern, not random chance, and requires readers to assess whether they will respond to established power with immediate action or hesitation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
Cross-references
- John 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,
- Psalms 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
- Hosea 5:15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
- Matthew 9:18 While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
- Matthew 15:22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”
- Luke 7:2 There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.
- Luke 8:42 because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying. As Jesus went with him, the crowds pressed around Him,
- Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.
- John 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
- Joshua 19:28 It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.