John 2 · Verse 1

John 2:1

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

John 2:1, King James Version

John 2:1 in other translations

BSB	On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,
WEB	The third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.
ASV	And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
YLT	And the third day a marriage happened in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there,
DARBY	And on the third day a marriage took place in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
BBE	On the third day two people were going to be married at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there:
Webster	And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there.

What does John 2:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Joh 2:1-12. First Miracle, Water Made Wine--Brief Visit to Capernaum.

1. third day--He would take two days to reach Galilee, and this was the third. mother there--it being probably some relative's marriage. John never names her [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 1. And the third day. On the third day after his conversation with Nathanael.

Cana. This was a small town about 15 miles north-west of Tiberias and 6 miles north-east of Nazareth. It is now called Kefr Kenna, is under the government of a Turkish officer, and contains perhaps three hundred inhabitants, chiefly Catholics. The natives still pretend to show the place where the water was turned into wine, and even one of the large stone water-pots.

"A Greek church," says Professor Hackett
(Illustrations of Scripture, p. 322),
"stands at the entrance of the town, deriving its
special sanctity, as I understood, from its
being supposed to occupy the site of the house in which
the marriage was celebrated to which Jesus and his
friends were invited. A priest to whom we were referred
as the custodian soon arrived, in obedience to our call,
and unlocked the doors of the church. It is a low stone
building, wretchedly neglected and out of repair."

"The houses," says Dr. Thomson (The Land and the Book,
vol. 2. p. 126),

"were built of limestone, cut and laid up after the fashion
still common in this region, and some of them may have been
inhabited within the last fifty years. There are many
ancient cisterns about it, and fragments of water-jars
in abundance, and both reminded us of the beginning
of miracles. Some of my companions gathered bits of
these water-jars as mementoes--witnesses they could
hardly be, for those of the narrative were of stone,
while these were baked earth."

"The place is now quite deserted. Dr. Thomson (ibid.) says:
"There is not now a habitable house in the humble village
where our blessed Lord sanctioned, by his presence and
miraculous assistance, the all-important and world-wide
institution of marriage."

It was called Cana of Galilee to distinguish it from another Cana in the tribe of Ephraim, Josh 16:9. This was the native place of Nathanael, Jn 21:2.

The mother of Jesus. Mary. It is not improbable that she was a relative of the family where the marriage took place.

(a) "Cana of Galilee" Josh 19:28, Jn 4:46

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The miracle at Cana in Galilee, where our Lord changed water into wine, Joh 2:1-11. He goes to Capernaum, Joh 2:12. He purges the temple at the feast of the passover, Joh 2:13-17. The Jews require a miracle, as a proof that he had authority to do these things, Joh 2:18. In answer he refers to his own death and resurrection, Joh 2:19-22. Many believe on him while at the feast of the passover, to whom Jesus would not trust himself, Joh 2:23-25. Verse 1 Cana of Galilee - This was a small city in the tribe of Asher, Jos 19:28, and by saying this was Cana of Galilee, the evangelist distinguishes it from another Cana, which was in the tribe of Ephraim, in the Samaritan country. See Jos 16:8; Jos 17:9. Some suppose that the third day, mentioned here, refers to the third day of the marriage feast: such feasts lasting among the Jews seven days. See Jdg 14:12, Jdg 14:17, Jdg 14:18, and Bishop Pearce. The mother of Jesus was there - Some of the ancients have thought that this was the marriage of John the evangelist, who is supposed to have been a near relative of our Lord. See the sketch of his life prefixed to these notes.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 2:1-11

It is very desirable when there is a marriage, to have Christ own and bless it. Those that would have Christ with them at their marriage, must invite him by prayer, and he will come. While in this world we sometimes find ourselves in straits, even when we think ourselves in fulness. There was want at a marriage feast. Those who are come to care for the things of the world, must look for trouble, and count upon disappointment. In our addresses to Christ, we must humbly spread our case before him, and then refer ourselves to him to do as he pleases. In Christ's reply to his mother there was no disrespect. He used the same word when speaking to her with affection from the cross; yet it is a standing testimony against the idolatry of after-ages, in giving undue honours to his mother. His hour is come when we know not what to do. Delays of mercy are not denials of prayer. Those that expect Christ's favours, must observe his orders with ready obedience. The way of duty is the way to mercy; and Christ's methods must not be objected against. The beginning of Moses' miracles was turning water into blood, Ex 7:20; the beginning of Christ's miracles was turning water into wine; which may remind us of the difference between the law of Moses and the gospel of Christ. He showed that he improves creature-comforts to all true believers, and make them comforts indeed. And Christ's works are all for use. Has he turned thy water into wine, given thee knowledge and grace? it is to profit withal; therefore draw out now, and use it. It was the best wine. Christ's works commend themselves even to those who know not their Author. What was produced by miracles, always was the best in its kind. Though Christ hereby allows a right use of wine, he does not in the least do away his own caution, which is, that our hearts be not at any time overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, Lu 21:34. Though we need not scruple to feast with our friends on proper occasions, yet every social interview should be so conducted, that we might invite the Redeemer to join with us, if he were now on earth; and all levity, luxury, and excess offend him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 2:1 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532

τῇtēaon theG3588

ἡμέρᾳhēmeradayG2250

τῇtēa<the>G3588

τρίτῃtritēthirdG5154

γάμοςgamosa weddingG1062

ἐγένετοegenetotook placeG1096

ἐνeninG1722

ΚανὰKanaCanaG2580

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

Γαλιλαίας,Galilaiasof Galilee,G1056

καὶkaiandG2532

ἦνēnwasG1510

ἡhētheG3588

μήτηρmētērmotherG3384

τοῦtou<the>G3588

ἸησοῦIēsouof JesusG2424

ἐκεῖ·ekeithere;G1563

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 2:1

John 4:46
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
Proverbs 31:10-12
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
John 1:43
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
John 21:2
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Matthew 12:46
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Proverbs 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
John 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Psalms 128:1-4
A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
Genesis 2:18-25
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Christ turns water into wine;
12 departs into Capernaum,
13 and to Jerusalem,
14 where he purges the temple of buyers and sellers.
18 He foretells his death and resurrection.
23 Many believe because of his miracles, but he will not trust himself with them.

A.M. 4034. A.D. 30. the third.
1:43
a marriage.
Ge 1:27,28; 2:18-25; Ps 128:1-4; Pr 18:22; 19:14; 31:10-12
Eph 5:30-33; 1Ti 4:1-3; Heb 13:4
Cana.
4:46; 21:2; Jos 19:28
Kanah.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

John 2:1
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
John 2:2
And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

Read all of John 2

John 2:1 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y AL tercer día hiciéronse unas bodas en Caná de Galilea; y estaba allí la madre de Jesús.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et le troisième jour, il y eut une noce à Cana de Galilée, et la mère de Jésus était là.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und am dritten Tage war eine Hochzeit zu Kana in Galiläa; und die Mutter Jesu war daselbst.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et die tertia nuptiæ factæ sunt in Cana Galilææ, et erat mater Jesu ibi.