John 4:50

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.

Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Go thy way {G4198}; thy {G4675} son {G5207} liveth {G2198}. And {G2532} the man {G444} believed {G4100} the word {G3056} that {G3739} Jesus {G2424} had spoken {G2036} unto him {G846}, and {G2532} he went his way {G4198}.

Yeshua replied, “You may go, your son is alive.” The man believed what Yeshua said and left.

“Go,” said Jesus. “Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at His word and departed.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way.

Context

This verse concludes the account of Jesus' second miracle in Cana of Galilee, following the turning of water into wine. A royal official (or nobleman) from Capernaum, whose son was at the point of death, came to Jesus, pleading for Him to come and heal his child. Jesus' initial response in John 4:48 ("Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe") seemed to challenge the man's faith, as he was seeking a physical manifestation. However, the nobleman persisted, and in this verse, Jesus speaks the word that brings about the miraculous healing from a distance, demonstrating His divine authority and power.

Key Themes

  • The Power of Jesus' Word: The most striking aspect of this miracle is that Jesus heals the boy without being physically present. His spoken word alone carries the power to bring life and health. This illustrates Jesus' unique authority and omnipotence, showing that His power transcends physical proximity and human limitations. It reinforces the concept that Jesus Himself is the Word of God incarnate.
  • Faith and Belief: The nobleman's response is pivotal: "And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him." He did not wait for visual confirmation or a physical sign before departing. His immediate departure signifies a deep, unwavering trust in Jesus' statement. This highlights a profound form of faith – believing without seeing, which Jesus often commended.
  • Obedience Based on Faith: The man's belief was immediately followed by action: "and he went his way." This demonstrates that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but leads to obedient response and confident action, even when the outcome is not yet visible.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "liveth" is zē (ζῇ), which is in the present tense. This emphasizes the immediate and ongoing reality of the son's life, not that he "would live" in the future, but that he "is living" at that very moment Jesus spoke the word. The word for "believed" is episteusen (ἐπίστευσεν), an aorist tense verb, indicating a decisive, complete act of faith by the nobleman at that specific moment.

Practical Application

This passage offers profound lessons for believers today. It encourages us to place our complete trust in Jesus' word, even when circumstances seem dire or when immediate physical evidence is absent. The nobleman's story reminds us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Our belief in Christ's promises should lead us to act in confidence, knowing that His word is true and powerful, capable of accomplishing what He declares, regardless of the distance or the impossibility of the situation from a human perspective.

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 8:13

    And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

  • Mark 7:29

    And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

  • Mark 7:30

    And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

  • Luke 17:14

    And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

  • Romans 4:20

    He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

  • Romans 4:21

    And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

  • Acts 14:9

    The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

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