The Wedding at Cana: Water Turned into Wine

And on the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. And when the[a] wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine!” And Jesus said to her, “What does your concern have to do with me,[b] woman? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it!”[c]

Now six stone water jars were set there, in accordance with the ceremonial cleansing of the Jews, each holding two or three measures.[d] Jesus said to them, “Fill the water jars with water.” And they filled them to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some[e] out and take it[f] to the head steward. So they took it.[g] Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it was from—but the servants who had drawn the water knew—the head steward summoned the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone[h] serves the good wine first, and whenever they are drunk, the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of signs Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee, and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus’ First Journey to Jerusalem

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, and his mother and brothers[i] and his disciples, and they stayed there a few[j] days. 13 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

The Cleansing of the Temple

14 And he found in the temple courts[k] those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated. 15 And he made a whip of cords and[l] drove them[m] all out of the temple courts,[n] both the sheep and the oxen, and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their[o] tables. 16 And to the ones selling the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!”[p] 17 His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[q]

18 So the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign do you show to us, because you are doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up!” 20 Then the Jews said, “This temple has been under construction[r] forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus at the Passover

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name because they[s] saw his signs which he was doing. 24 But Jesus himself did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people,[t] 25 and because he did not need[u] anyone to testify[v] about man, for he himself knew what was in man.[w]

Footnotes

  1. John 2:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“ran out”)
  2. John 2:4 Literally “to me and to you”
  3. John 2:5 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  4. John 2:6 A “measure” was about 9 gallons (40 liters)
  5. John 2:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. John 2:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. John 2:8 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  8. John 2:10 Literally “every man”
  9. John 2:12 Some manuscripts have “his brothers”
  10. John 2:12 Literally “not many”
  11. John 2:14 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  12. John 2:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“made”) has been translated as a finite verb
  13. John 2:15 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  14. John 2:15 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  15. John 2:15 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  16. John 2:16 Literally “a market house”; or “a house of merchants” (an allusion to Zech 14:21)
  17. John 2:17 A quotation from Ps 69:9
  18. John 2:20 This translation of the aorist verb is based on a very close parallel in Ezra 5:16 (LXX), where it is clear from the following verb that the construction had not yet been completed
  19. John 2:23 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as causal
  20. John 2:24 The Greek term is masculine and thus refers to “all people” rather than “all things” (which would be neuter)
  21. John 2:25 Literally “have need that”
  22. John 2:25 Literally “should testify”
  23. John 2:25 *Here “man” has been retained rather than the generic “people” to maintain the connection with the following verse

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews’ manner of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the [a]ruler of the feast. And they bare it. And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water [b]now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom, 10 and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when men have drunk freely, then that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of his signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.

13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew their tables; 16 and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise. 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, [c]Zeal for thy house shall eat me up. 18 The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this [d]temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this [e]temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the [f]temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake this; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did. 24 But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, 25 and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning [g]man; for he himself knew what was in man.

Footnotes

  1. John 2:8 Or, steward
  2. John 2:9 Or, that it had become
  3. John 2:17 Ps. 69:9.
  4. John 2:19 Or, sanctuary
  5. John 2:20 Or, sanctuary
  6. John 2:21 Or, sanctuary
  7. John 2:25 Or, a man; for . . . the man.

The Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me?[a] My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Caper′na-um, with his mother and his brethren[b] and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for thy house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign have you to show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; 24 but Jesus did not trust himself to them, 25 because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.

Footnotes

  1. 2.4 What have you to do with me? While this expression always implies a divergence of view, the precise meaning is to be determined by the context, which here shows that it is not an unqualified refusal, still less a rebuke.
  2. 2.12 brethren: See note on Mt 12.46.