John 2:12

¶ After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

After {G3326} this {G5124} he went down {G2597} to {G1519} Capernaum {G2584}, he {G846}, and {G2532} his {G846} mother {G3384}, and {G2532} his {G846} brethren {G80}, and {G2532} his {G846} disciples {G3101}: and {G2532} they continued {G3306} there {G1563} not {G3756} many {G4183} days {G2250}.

Afterwards, he, his mother and brothers, and his talmidim went down to K’far-Nachum and stayed there a few days.

After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, andhisbrethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.

Context

This verse marks a transitional moment in Jesus's early public ministry. "After this" directly refers to the miracle at the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). Having revealed His glory to His disciples in Cana, Jesus then travels "down to Capernaum." Geographically, Capernaum was situated on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, a lower elevation than Cana. This city would later become a significant base for Jesus's Galilean ministry, serving as His adopted home for a substantial period (Matthew 4:13). The brief stay of "not many days" suggests this visit was a temporary stopover, perhaps for preparation or a brief respite, before His next significant public appearance, which would be in Jerusalem for the Passover (John 2:13).

Key Themes

  • Transition and Movement: The verse highlights Jesus's purposeful movement from the private setting of Cana to a more public, though brief, presence in Capernaum. This signifies the unfolding of His divine mission, moving from initial revelation to a broader engagement with people and places.
  • Inclusion of Family and Disciples: The presence of "his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples" underscores the early formation of Jesus's entourage. His mother, Mary, who witnessed His first miracle, remains close. His "brethren" (Greek: adelphoi, referring to His physical brothers) are mentioned, indicating the involvement of His earthly family in His early travels. Crucially, the disciples, who had just begun to believe in Him, are also part of this group, learning and observing their Master.
  • Strategic Planning in Ministry: Even seemingly short stays like this "not many days" in Capernaum were part of God's larger plan for Jesus's ministry. It allowed for a temporary gathering, perhaps further instruction of the disciples, and a brief consolidation before the next major phase.

Linguistic Insights

The term "brethren" (Greek: adelphoi) here refers to Jesus's biological brothers, typically identified as James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (cf. Matthew 13:55). Their presence indicates the natural family dynamic accompanying Jesus in His early travels. The phrase "not many days" (Greek: ou pollas hēmeras) emphasizes the brevity of their sojourn in Capernaum, signaling that this was not yet the extended period of ministry Jesus would later conduct there.

Practical Application

John 2:12 reminds us that life, even a divinely appointed one, involves periods of transition and temporary stops. Jesus's journey to Capernaum, accompanied by His family and new followers, illustrates the importance of community and support during new phases. It shows that God often prepares us for significant work through brief, seemingly uneventful periods, allowing for consolidation, learning, and fellowship. For believers today, this verse can encourage us to embrace transitions, to value the presence of both family and spiritual community, and to trust that even short interludes in our journey serve a divine purpose in God's overarching plan for our lives.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 12:46

    ¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

  • John 7:3

    His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

  • John 7:5

    For neither did his brethren believe in him.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:5

    Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

  • Matthew 4:13

    And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

  • Galatians 1:19

    But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

  • Matthew 13:55

    Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

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