Bible Strands
John 4:47
When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The royal official, whose son lies dying in Capernaum, travels to Cana to find Jesus after learning of his arrival from Judea to Galilee. He directly petitions Jesus to descend to his house and save his child's life.
The words — The participle ἀκούσας (akousas) literally means "having heard," marking the official's immediate action upon receiving news. The perfect tense ἥκει (hēkei) translates as "had come," emphasizing Jesus' completed movement out of Judea into Galilee.
The thread — The pattern of people gathering upon hearing Jesus' location appears in Mark 2:1 and Mark 6:55, while the official's urgent plea for mercy mirrors the blind man's cry in Mark 10:47.
Why it lands — The text records a physical journey driven by imminent loss and a direct request for intervention. It requires the reader to weigh the urgency of human desperation against the subsequent challenge to belief presented in the following dialogue.
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
When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
Cross-references
- Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home,
- Mark 6:55 and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was.
- Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
- Luke 7:6 So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.
- Luke 8:41 Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,
- John 4:3 He left Judea and returned to Galilee.
- John 11:21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
- John 11:32 When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
- Acts 9:38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”
- Psalms 46:1 For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.