John 2:10

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.

And {G2532} saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Every {G3956} man {G444} at the beginning {G4412} doth set forth {G5087} good {G2570} wine {G3631}; and {G2532} when {G3752} men have well drunk {G3184}, then {G5119} that which is worse {G1640}: but thou {G4771} hast kept {G5083} the good {G2570} wine {G3631} until {G2193} now {G737}.

and said to him, “Everyone else serves the good wine first and the poorer wine after people have drunk freely. But you have kept the good wine until now!”

and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”

and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when men have drunk freely, then that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now.

Commentary

John 2:10 records the master of the feast's commendation to the bridegroom at the wedding in Cana, unaware that Jesus Christ had just miraculously transformed water into the very wine he was praising. This verse highlights the astonishing quality of the wine Jesus provided, surpassing human expectations and traditions.

Context

This verse is central to the account of Jesus' first public miracle, performed at a wedding feast where the wine had run out. The custom was to serve the best wine first, and then, as guests had "well drunk" (meaning they had consumed a good amount), a lesser quality wine might be served. The master's statement underscores the unprecedented nature of the wine presented last, which was in fact the miraculous creation of Jesus. This event, narrated in John 2:11, was a sign revealing Jesus' glory and leading His disciples to believe in Him.

Key Themes

  • Divine Abundance and Superiority: The verse powerfully illustrates that God's provision, especially through Jesus, is not merely sufficient but exceedingly abundant and of the highest quality. Unlike human practice, Christ's "good wine" comes last, signifying His superior blessings.
  • The New Era in Christ: Many commentators see the "good wine" as a symbol of the new covenant and the spiritual blessings brought by Jesus, which are far superior to the old ways or the "wine" of human effort. This echoes the concept of new wine requiring new wineskins, signifying that Christ's message and grace cannot be contained by old religious forms.
  • Unexpected Joy and Blessing: The master's surprise highlights the unexpected and delightful nature of God's interventions. What seemed like a social embarrassment (running out of wine) turned into an occasion for an unparalleled blessing.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "well drunk" translates the Greek word methysthōsin (μεθυσθῶσιν), which can imply having drunk sufficiently or to the point of being satisfied. The point is that after people have had their fill, their discernment might be dulled, making it easier to switch to inferior wine. Yet, Jesus' wine was so remarkably good that it was noticed even then.

The term "good wine" (τὸν καλὸν οἶνον - ton kalon oinon) uses kalon, which denotes not just good in taste, but excellent in quality, morally beautiful, or noble. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of Jesus' provision.

Practical Application

John 2:10 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that with Christ, the best is truly saved for last. This applies to God's ultimate plan for humanity, the future glory awaiting believers, and even to our daily lives where His grace often exceeds our expectations. It invites us to trust in His abundant provision and to anticipate His superior blessings, knowing that His way is always better than ours.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 7:16

    They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

  • Revelation 7:17

    For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

  • Proverbs 9:1

    ¶ Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

  • Proverbs 9:6

    Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

  • Luke 16:25

    But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

  • Genesis 43:34

    And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

  • Proverbs 9:16

    Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: and [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
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