John 4:51

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told [him], saying, Thy son liveth.

Complete Jewish Bible:

As he was going down, his servants met him with the news that his son was alive

Berean Standard Bible:

And while he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive.

American Standard Version:

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, saying, that his son lived.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} as he^{G846} was now^{G2235} going down^{G2597}, his^{G846} servants^{G1401} met^{G528} him^{G846}, and^{G2532} told^{G518} him, saying^{G3004},^{G3754} Thy^{G4675} son^{G3816} liveth^{G2198}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for John 4:51

John 4:51 is a verse that captures a moment of profound relief and joy for a royal official whose son was at the point of death. The verse is part of a larger narrative in the Gospel of John, where Jesus is presented as the Messiah with the power to heal and to give life. This particular story is set in Cana, the same place where Jesus turned water into wine, signifying the beginning of his public ministry.

In this context, the royal official, likely a man of high social standing and possibly associated with King Herod's court, hears that Jesus has returned to Galilee. Desperate for his son's recovery, he travels approximately 20 miles from Capernaum to seek Jesus' help. The official's plea for Jesus to come to his house to heal his son is met with a gentle rebuke by Jesus, who challenges the people's expectation that they must see signs and wonders to believe. Despite this, Jesus performs the miracle from a distance, telling the man, "Go thy way; thy son liveth."

The verse in question, John 4:51, marks the moment when the official's faith is rewarded. As he is on his way back home, his servants rush to meet him with the news that his son has recovered. The timing of the recovery coincides with the moment Jesus said the boy would live, which serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' divine authority and the efficacy of faith. This event not only leads to the official's entire household believing in Jesus but also underscores key themes in the Gospel of John: the importance of faith, the role of Jesus as the giver of life, and the transformative power of his word. The narrative highlights the universality of Jesus' mission, reaching beyond the Jewish community to include Gentiles, as this official was likely not Jewish. It also emphasizes the idea that physical healing can be a sign of spiritual restoration and life.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
3. Strong's Number: G2235
   There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἤδη
   Transliteration: ḗdē
   Pronunciation: ay'-day
   Description: apparently from ἤ (or possibly ἦ) and δή; even now:--already, (even) now (already), by this time.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2597
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καταβαίνω
   Transliteration: katabaínō
   Pronunciation: kat-ab-ah'-ee-no
   Description: from κατά and the base of βάσις; to descend (literally or figuratively):--come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).
   
5. Strong's Number: G1401
   There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δοῦλος
   Transliteration: doûlos
   Pronunciation: doo'-los
   Description: from δέω; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):--bond(-man), servant.
   
6. Strong's Number: G528
   There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀπαντάω
   Transliteration: apantáō
   Pronunciation: ap-an-tah'-o
   Description: from ἀπό and a derivative of ἀντί; to meet away, i.e. encounter:--meet.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
8. Strong's Number: G518
   There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀπαγγέλλω
   Transliteration: apangéllō
   Pronunciation: ap-ang-el'-lo
   Description: from ἀπό and the base of ἄγγελος; to announce:--bring word (again), declare, report, shew (again), tell.
   
9. Strong's Number: G3004
   There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λέγω
   Transliteration: légō
   Pronunciation: leg'-o
   Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3754
    There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὅτι
    Transliteration: hóti
    Pronunciation: hot'-ee
    Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
    
11. Strong's Number: G4675
    There are 360 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: σοῦ
    Transliteration: soû
    Pronunciation: soo
    Description: genitive case of σύ; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
    
12. Strong's Number: G3816
    There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παῖς
    Transliteration: paîs
    Pronunciation: paheece
    Description: perhaps from παίω; a boy (as often beaten with impunity), or (by analogy), a girl, and (genitive case) a child; specially, a slave or servant (especially a minister to a king; and by eminence to God):--child, maid(-en), (man) servant, son, young man.
    
13. Strong's Number: G2198
    There are 127 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ζάω
    Transliteration: záō
    Pronunciation: dzah'-o
    Description: a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):--life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick.