John 2

1 On the third [following, after two days] day a wedding [marriage, nuptials, celebration of a marriage] took place [happened, occurred, was held] at Cana [a town, a village] in Galilee [a region, a district]. Jesus’ [the son of God, the Messiah] mother [parent, caregiver, the one who gave birth to Jesus] was there [present, in attendance, at that location], word study 2 and Jesus [the Son of God, Joshua] and His disciples [learners, followers] had also been invited [called, summoned] to the wedding [marriage ceremony, nuptials]. word study 3 When the wine ran out [failed, was lacking], Jesus’ mother [the one who gave birth to the Savior] said to Him, “They have [are lacking, do not possess] no [absolutely none, not any] more wine.” word study 4 “Woman [a female, possibly a term of respect], why does this concern [involve or affect] us [me and you, Jesus and his mother]?” Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] replied. “My [belonging to me, as the Messiah] hour [a specific time, a moment of destiny] has not yet [at this point in time, before the appointed moment] come [arrived or been fulfilled].” word study 5 His mother [a nurturing caregiver] said to the servants [attendants or waiters], “Do [to make or perform] whatever [anything that] He [Jesus] tells [speaks or commands] you [to those who are listening].” word study 6 Now six [exactly, precisely] stone [made of rock] water jars [containers, pots] had been set [placed, appointed] there [in that location] for the Jewish [of Judah] rites [customs, practices] of purification [cleansing]. Each [individually, ana] could hold [contain, make room for] from twenty to thirty [two or three metretes, or firkins] gallons [a standard unit of capacity, a measure]. word study 7 Jesus [the Son of God, Joshua] told the servants [the attendants], “Fill [to fill completely] the jars [or, waterpots] with water [literal or figurative].” So they filled [to the point of abundance] them to the brim [until full]. word study 8 “Now [at this present moment, immediately] draw [scoop up, ladle out] some out,” He said [to them, commanded], “and take [bear, carry, lead] it to the [head, governor of the] master of the banquet [head waiter, ruler of the feast].” They did [carried out, obeyed, bore] so, word study 9 and the master [head waiter, governor] of the banquet tasted the water [literal and spiritual refreshment] that had been turned into wine. He did not know [was unaware, lacked understanding] where it was from [its source, origin], but the servants [attendants, waiters] who had drawn [scooped up, retrieved] the water knew [were aware, had insight]. Then he called [summoned, addressed] the bridegroom [the newly married man, the husband] aside [privately, to a separate place] word study 10 and said, “Everyone [all people, every man] serves the fine [good, excellent] wine first, and then the cheap [lesser, inferior] wine [ordinary drink] after the guests are drunk [intoxicated, under the influence]. But you have saved the fine [best, choice] wine until now [at this moment, presently]!” word study 11 Jesus performed this [first miracle, beginning of signs], the first of His signs [indications of divine power], at Cana [a town] in Galilee [a region of ministry]. He thus [in this way, by this act] revealed [made visible, manifested] His glory [honor, praise, divine nature], and His disciples [learners, followers] believed [trusted, had faith] in Him. word study 12 After this [following these events], He went down [came or descended] to Capernaum [a town in Palestine] with [accompanied by, in the company of] His mother [parent, caregiver] and brothers [male siblings, fellow believers] and His disciples [learners, followers], and they stayed [remained, abided] there [in that place] a few [not many, several] days [periods of 24 hours, time]. word study 13 When the Jewish [of the Jews, relating to Judah] Passover [festival commemorating Israel’s escape from Egypt] was near [at hand, approaching], Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] went up [ascended, traveled to a higher location] to Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine, the holy city]. word study 14 In the temple [courtyard, sacred area] courts He found men selling [trading, exchanging] cattle [oxen, large animals], sheep [domesticated animals], and doves [symbols of peace, innocence], and money changers [exchangers of currency, converters] seated [sitting, positioned] at their tables [exchange stations, business areas]. word study 15 So He made a whip [out of small cords, a scourge] out of cords and drove all [every single one, both] from the temple courts [the sacred precincts, the house of God], both sheep [domesticated animals] and cattle [oxen]. He poured out [emptied, scattered] the coins [small money, currency] of the money changers [those exchanging coins for a fee, profiteers] and overturned [threw down, turned upside down] their tables [the places of exchange, the benches]. word study 16 To those selling [trading, exchanging] doves [symbolic of peace and innocence] He said, “Get these [things, merchandise] out of here [from this place, hence]! How dare you [what right do you have] turn My Father’s [paternal, heavenly] house [temple, dwelling place] into a [place of] marketplace [trade, commerce]!” word study 17 His disciples [learners, followers] remembered [brought to mind, recalled] that it is written [recorded, inscribed]: “Zeal [passionate enthusiasm, dedication] for Your house [dwelling place, temple] will consume [eat me up, devour] Me [completely, utterly].” word study 18 On account of this [because of these actions], the Jews [from the tribe of Judah, Jewish leaders] demanded [asked with authority], “What sign [miraculous token, proof of authority] can You show [exhibit, demonstrate] us to prove [demonstrate, validate] Your authority [power, right] to do [perform, accomplish] these things [actions, deeds]?” word study 19 Jesus [the Son of God, Joshua, God is salvation] answered, “Destroy [loose, tear down, send destruction on] this temple [a sacred place of worship, the inner sanctuary], and in three [a specific number of] days I will raise [arise, stand up, resurrect] it up again [from the dead, to new life].” word study 20 “This temple [a sacred place of worship, the inner sanctuary] took forty-six years [a period of testing and trial] to build,” the Jews [people of Jewish descent, from the tribe of Judah] replied, “and You [the Messiah, the Son of God] are going to raise it up [to resurrect, to restore to its former glory] in three days [a short period of time]?” word study 21 But Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] was speaking [to say, declare] about [concerning, regarding] the temple [a sacred place of worship] of His [belonging to Him, His own] body [the whole physical person, flesh]. word study 22 After He was raised [out of the grave] from the dead, His disciples [learners, followers] remembered [recalled to mind, thought of again] that He had said [spoken, uttered] this. Then they believed [trusted in, had faith in] the Scripture [holy Writings, God’s Word] and the word [message, teaching] that Jesus [God is salvation, the Messiah] had spoken [said, declared]. word study 23 While He was [present, residing] in Jerusalem [the holy city, capital of Palestine] at the Passover [festival commemorating Israel’s escape from Egypt] Feast, many people [a large crowd, multitude] saw [beheld, witnessed] the signs [miraculous works, tokens of divine power] He was doing [performing, accomplishing] and believed [trusted, had faith] in His name [character, authority, reputation]. word study 24 But Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] did not entrust [commit, trust] Himself [his person, identity] to them, for [because of, due to] He knew [was aware of, had insight into] them all [every person, everything about them]. word study 25 He did not need [have no requirement for] any testimony [witness or evidence] about man [human nature, people], for [because, since] He knew [was aware of, understood] what was [existed, was present] in [within, among] a man [a human being, person]. word study