John 4:52

Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

Then {G3767} enquired he {G4441} of {G3844} them {G846} the hour {G5610} when {G1722}{G3739} he began {G2192} to amend {G2866}. And {G2532} they said {G2036} unto him {G846},{G3754} Yesterday {G5504} at the seventh {G1442} hour {G5610} the fever {G4446} left {G863} him {G846}.

So he asked them at what time he had gotten better; and they said, “The fever left him yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon.”

So he inquired as to the hour when his son had recovered, and they told him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”

So he inquired of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

Commentary

John 4:52 marks a pivotal moment in the story of the nobleman's son, providing concrete confirmation of Jesus' healing power and the nobleman's faith. After Jesus declared, "Thy son liveth" (John 4:50), the nobleman believed and began his journey back to Capernaum. This verse describes his inquiry upon returning home, seeking exact details about his son's recovery.

Context

This verse is the culmination of a significant healing miracle performed by Jesus. A certain nobleman, likely a royal official serving Herod Antipas, traveled from Capernaum to Cana, about 20 miles, to implore Jesus to heal his dying son. Unlike some who sought a sign, this nobleman demonstrated faith by believing Jesus' word spoken from a distance, without Jesus physically visiting his son. The servants' testimony in this verse serves to precisely corroborate the timing of Jesus' command with the moment of the son's recovery, solidifying the miracle for the nobleman and his household.

Key Themes

  • The Authority of Jesus' Word: The central theme here is the absolute power and authority embedded in Jesus' spoken word. The son's fever left him precisely at the "seventh hour," the very moment Jesus declared, "Thy son liveth." This demonstrates that Jesus' power transcends physical presence and distance, a concept also seen in the healing of the centurion's servant.
  • Confirmation of Faith: The nobleman's diligent inquiry about the exact time of recovery shows his desire to connect the miracle directly to Jesus' word. The servants' precise answer provides undeniable confirmation, strengthening his initial belief and leading to his entire household's faith (John 4:53). This highlights how God often confirms His work to build greater faith.
  • Divine Precision and Timing: The specific mention of the "seventh hour" (typically around 1 PM, Roman time) underscores the meticulous and perfect timing of God's intervention. There was no gradual improvement; the fever "left him" instantaneously, confirming the divine origin and immediate effect of the healing.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "the fever left him" uses the Greek word aphēken (ἀφῆκεν), which means "to send away," "to dismiss," or "to let go." This emphasizes the complete and sudden departure of the illness, not a slow recovery. It signifies an instantaneous and definitive healing. The nobleman's initial inquiry about when his son "began to amend" (καλῶς ἔχειν - kalōs echein, meaning "to be well" or "to be in a good state") is answered by the servants' testimony of the fever's immediate departure, underscoring the miraculous nature over a natural recovery process.

Practical Application

John 4:52 serves as a powerful reminder that God's promises and power are precise and reliable. Like the nobleman, we are called to exercise faith in Jesus' word, even when circumstances seem dire or when the answer isn't immediately visible. This account encourages us to look for the confirmation of God's work in our lives, whether through answered prayers, changed circumstances, or the testimony of others. It strengthens our belief that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, and that Jesus' word holds ultimate authority over all things.

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

No cross-references found.