John 4 · Verse 47

John 4:47

When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

John 4:47, King James Version

John 4:47 in other translations

BSB	When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.
WEB	When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
ASV	When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
YLT	he, having heard that Jesus is come out of Judea to Galilee, went away unto him, and was asking him that he may come down and may heal his son, for he was about to die.
DARBY	He, having heard that Jesus had come out of Judaea into Galilee, went to him and asked him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.
BBE	When it came to his ears that Jesus had come from Judaea into Galilee, he went to him and made a request that he would come down to his son, who was near to death, and make him well.
Webster	When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

What does John 4:47 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 4:46-47

46-47. nobleman--courtier, king's servant, or one connected with a royal household; such as Chuza (Lu 8:3), or Manaen (Ac 13:1). heard that Jesus was come out of Judea--"where he had doubtless seen or heard what things Jesus had done at Jerusalem" (Joh 4:45), [Bengel]. come down--for Capernaum was down on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Read the full comment on John 4:46-47 →

Barnes' Notes

Verse 47. He went unto him. Though high in office, yet he did not refuse to go personally to Jesus to ask his aid. He felt as a father; and believing, after all that Jesus had done, that he could cure his son, he travelled to meet him. If men receive benefits of Christ, they must come in the same manner. The rich and the poor, the high and the low, must come personally as humble suppliants, and must be willing to bear all the reproach that may be cast on them for thus coming to him. This man showed strong faith in being willing thus to go to Jesus, but he erred in supposing that Jesus could heal only by his being present with his son.

Would come down. It is probable that the miracles of Jesus heretofore had been performed only on those who were present with him, and this nobleman seems to have thought that this was necessary. One design of Jesus in working this miracle was to show him that this was not necessary. Hence he did not go down to Capernaum, but healed him where he was.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 4:43-54

The father was a nobleman, yet the son was sick. Honours and titles are no security from sickness and death. The greatest men must go themselves to God, must become beggars. The nobleman did not stop from his request till he prevailed. But at first he discovered the weakness of his faith in the power of Christ. It is hard to persuade ourselves that distance of time and place, are no hinderance to the knowledge…

Read the full comment on John 4:43-54 →

John 4:47 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.

οὗτοςhoutosHeG3778

ἀκούσαςakousashaving heardG191

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424

ἥκειhēkeihad comeG2240

ἐκekout ofG1537

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

ἸουδαίαςIoudaiasJudeaG2449

εἰςeisintoG1519

τὴνtēn<the>G3588

Γαλιλαίαν,GalilaianGalilee,G1056

ἀπῆλθενapēlthenwentG565

πρὸςprostoG4314

αὐτὸνautonHimG846

καὶkaiandG2532

ἠρώταērōtawas askingG2065

ἵναinathatG2443

καταβῇkatabēaHe may come downG2597

καὶkaiandG2532

ἰάσηταιiasētaiHe may healG2390

αὐτοῦautouhisG846

τὸνton<the>G3588

υἱόν·huionson;G5207

ἤμελλενēmellenhe was aboutG3195

γὰρgarforG1063

ἀποθνῄσκειν.apothnēskeinto die.G599

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

Cross references for John 4:47

Acts 9:38
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
John 11:32
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Luke 7:6-8
Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mark 10:47
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Luke 8:41
And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
Mark 6:55-56
And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
John 11:21
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 4:3
He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.
Mark 2:1-3
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
John 4:54
This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee.
Psalms 46:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

he heard.
Mr 2:1-3; 6:55,56; 10:47
that he.
11:21,32; Ps 46:1; Lu 7:6-8; 8:41; Ac 9:38

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

Context

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.
John 4:47
When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
John 4:48
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

Read all of John 4

John 4:47 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Este, como oyó que Jesús venía de Judea á Galilea, fué á él, y rogábale que descendiese, y sanase á su hijo, porque se comenzaba á morir.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	celui-ci, ayant entendu dire que Jésus était venu de la Judée en Galilée, s’en alla vers lui, et le pria de descendre et de guérir son fils; car il allait mourir.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als dieser gehört hatte, daß Jesus aus Judäa nach Galiläa gekommen sei, ging er zu ihm hin und bat ihn,daß er herabkomme und seinen Sohn heile; denn er lag im Sterben.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Hic cum audisset quia Jesus adveniret a Judæa in Galilæam, abiit ad eum, et rogabat eum ut descenderet, et sanaret filium ejus: incipiebat enim mori.