Bible Strands
John 4:50
“Go,” said Jesus. “Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at His word and departed.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a royal official who has just pleaded for Him to descend before his son dies. The conversation occurs while the official remains at a distance, prior to Jesus traveling to Capernaum.
The words — The Greek imperative πορεύου (poreuou) literally commands "do go" or "depart," and the phrase υἱός σου ζῇ (huios sou zēi) states "your son lives." These terms pair a direct dismissal with an immediate declaration of life.
The thread — Jesus’ spoken word producing immediate results appears in Matthew 8:13 and Mark 7:29, where His declarations align with the recipients' faith. This narrative pattern supports the theological observation in Romans 4:20 that faith is strengthened by trusting God’s promise.
Why it lands — The text records the man taking Jesus at His word and departing before any sign of healing. It asks the reader to act on a spoken promise without demanding prior evidence.
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
Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
Cross-references
- Matthew 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
- Mark 7:29 Then Jesus told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”
- Romans 4:20 Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
- Luke 17:14 When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.
- Mark 9:23 “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”
- John 11:40 Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
- Acts 14:9 This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.
- Hebrews 11:19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
- 1 Kings 17:13 “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son,