John 4:53

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.”

King James Version (1611)
So the father knewe that it was at the same houre, in the which Iesus said vnto him, Thy sonne liueth, and himselfe beleeued, and his whole house.

King James Version
So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

English Standard Version
The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household.

New American Standard Bible
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son is alive"; and he himself believed, and his entire household.

New Century Version
The father knew that one o'clock was the exact time that Jesus had said, "Your son will live." So the man and all the people who lived in his house believed in Jesus.

Amplified Bible
Then the father realized that it was at that very hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son lives"; and he and his entire household believed and confidently trusted [in Him as Savior].

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives"; and he himself believed and his whole household.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives"; and he himself believed and his whole household.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the father realized that this was the very hour in which Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And he and all his household believed.

Contemporary English Version
The boy's father realized that at one o'clock the day before, Jesus had told him, "Your son will live!" So the man and everyone in his family put their faith in Jesus.

Complete Jewish Bible
The father knew that that was the very hour when Yeshua had told him, "Your son is alive"; and he and all his household trusted.

Darby Translation
The father therefore knew that [it was] in that hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son lives; and he believed, himself and his whole house.

Easy-to-Read Version
The father knew that one o'clock was the same time that Jesus had said, "Your son will live." So the man and everyone in his house believed in Jesus.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the father knew, that it was the same houre in the which Iesus had said vnto him, Thy sonne liueth. And he beleeued, & all his houshold.

George Lamsa Translation
And his father knew that it was at that very hour when Jesus told him, Your son is healed; so he himself believed and his whole household.

Good News Translation
Then the father remembered that it was at that very hour when Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." So he and all his family believed.

Lexham English Bible
So the father knew that it was that same hour at which Jesus said to him, "Your son will live," and he himself believed, and his whole household.

Literal Translation
Then the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives. And he himself, and his whole house, believed.

American Standard Version
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

Bible in Basic English
It was clear then to the father that this was the very time at which Jesus said to him, Your son is living. And he had faith in Jesus, he and all his family.

Hebrew Names Version
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Yeshua said to him, "Your son lives." He believed, as did his whole house.

International Standard Version
Then the father realized that this was the very hour when Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, along with his whole family.

Etheridge Translation
And his father knew that in that hour it was in which Jeshu said to him, Thy son liveth; and he believed, and all his house.

Murdock Translation
And his father knew, that it was at the hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth. And he believed, and all his house.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
So the father knewe, that it was the same houre, in the which Iesus sayde vnto hym thy sonne lyueth: And he beleued, and all his householde.

English Revised Version
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

World English Bible
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." He believed, as did his whole house.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So the father knew, it was at the same hour, in which Jesus had said to him, Thy son liveth. And himself believed, and his whole house.

Weymouth's New Testament
Then the father recollected that that was the time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son has recovered," and he and his whole household became believers.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the fadir knewe, that thilke our it was, in which Jhesus seide to hym, Thi sone lyueth; and he bileuede, and al his hous.

Update Bible Version
So the father knew that [it was] at that hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives: and himself believed, and his whole house.

Webster's Bible Translation
So the father knew that [it was] at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth: and he himself believed, and his whole house.

New English Translation
Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live," and he himself believed along with his entire household.

New King James Version
So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.

New Living Translation
Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

New Life Bible
The father knew it was the time Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." He and everyone in his house put their trust in Jesus.

New Revised Standard
The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he himself believed, along with his whole household.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So the father took note that it was, in that hour, wherein Jesus said unto him - Thy son, liveth! and he believed, he, and all his house.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The father therefore knew that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him: Thy son liveth. And himself believed, and his whole house.

Revised Standard Version
The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And the father knew that it was the same houre in which Iesus sayde vnto him: Thy sonne liveth. And he beleved and all his housholde.

Young's Literal Translation
then the father knew that [it was] in that hour in which Jesus said to him -- `Thy son doth live,' and he himself believed, and his whole house;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then the father perceaued, that it was aboute the same houre, wherin Iesus sayde vnto him: Thy sonne lyueth. And he beleued with his whole house.

Mace New Testament (1729)
so the father knew that it was at the very same hour, at which Jesus said to him, thy son is well. and he himself believed, and all his family.

Simplified Cowboy Version
The man knew that was the time when Jesus had said his son would be okay. Because of this, everyone in the government officials house believed in Jesus.

Contextual Overview

⁴³After the two days he left for Galilee. Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to. ⁴⁶Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king's court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: "Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe." ⁴⁹ But the court official wouldn't be put off. "Come down! It's life or death for my son." ⁵⁰Jesus simply replied, "Go home. Your son lives." The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, "Your son lives!" ⁵²He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, "The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o'clock." The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, "Your son lives." That clinched it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee. ⁵⁴The Woman at the Well Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee. To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob's well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon. A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, "Would you give me a drink of water?" (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.) The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, "How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans.) Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water." The woman said, "Sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water'? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?" Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." The woman said, "Sir, give me this water so I won't ever get thirsty, won't ever have to come back to this well again!" He said, "Go call your husband and then come back." "I have no husband," she said. "That's nicely put: ‘I have no husband.' You've had five husbands, and the man you're living with now isn't even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough." "Oh, so you're a prophet! Well, tell me this: Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?" "Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God's way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." The woman said, "I don't know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we'll get the whole story." "I am he," said Jesus. "You don't have to wait any longer or look any further." Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn't believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it. The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, "Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?" And they went out to see for themselves. In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, "Rabbi, eat. Aren't you going to eat?" He told them, "I have food to eat you know nothing about." The disciples were puzzled. "Who could have brought him food?" Jesus said, "The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn't you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It's harvest time! "The Harvester isn't waiting. He's taking his pay, gathering in this grain that's ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That's the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.' I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others." Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman's witness: "He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!" They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, "We're no longer taking this on your say-so. We've heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He's the Savior of the world!" After the two days he left for Galilee. Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to. Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king's court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: "Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe." But the court official wouldn't be put off. "Come down! It's life or death for my son." Jesus simply replied, "Go home. Your son lives." The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, "Your son lives!" He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, "The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o'clock." The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, "Your son lives." That clinched it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

at the: Psalms 33:9, Psalms 107:20, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9, Matthew 8:13

and himself: Luke 19:9, Acts 2:39, Acts 16:15, Acts 16:34, Acts 18:8

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 32:8 - Then I Matthew 9:22 - from Matthew 17:18 - from John 4:51 - Thy

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So the father knew that it was at the same hour,.... Precisely;

in that which Jesus said to him, thy son liveth: he had observed what time of day it was, in which he conversed with Jesus; and particularly, when he told him his son was alive and well, and when he took his leave of him; and by comparing the account of his servants, with that, found that things entirely agreed, and that the cure was wrought exactly at the time, that Jesus spoke the words:

and himself believed, and his whole house; when he came home, he related the whole affair to his family, and he and they all believed, that Jesus was the Messiah, and became his disciples and followers: if this nobleman was Chuza, Herod's steward, we have an account of his wife, whose name was Joanna, that she followed Christ, and ministered to him of her substance, with other women, Luke 8:3. There is a story, told by the Jews, and which seems somewhat like to this d;

"it is reported concerning R. Chanina ben Dosa, that when he prayed for the sick, he used to say, זה חי, "this liveth", and this dies; it was said to him, whence knowest thou this? he replied, if my prayer be ready in my mouth, I know that he is accepted (of God, i.e. the sick man for whom he prayed); but if not, I know that he will be snatched away (by the disease):''

upon which the Gemarists give the following relation e;

"it happened that the son of Rabban Gamaliel (the Apostle Paul's master) was sick, he sent two disciples to R. Chanina ben Dosa, to ask mercy for him; when he saw them, he went up to a chamber, and sought mercy for him; and when he came down, he said unto them, לכו שחלצתו חמה, "go your way, for the fever has left him"; they said unto him, art thou a prophet? he replied, I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet; but so I have received, that if my prayer is ready in my mouth, I know that he is accepted; and if not, I know that he shall be snatched away; and they sat and wrote and observed "the very hour"; and when they came to Rabban Gamaliel, he said unto them, this service ye have not been wanting in, nor abounded in; but so the thing was, that in that hour the fever left him, and he asked of us water to drink.''

Which story perhaps is told, to vie with this miracle of Christ, and to obscure the glory of it.

d Misn. Beracot, c. 5. sect. 5. e T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 34. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Himself believed - This miracle removed all his doubts, and he became a real disciple and friend of Jesus.

His whole house - His whole family. We may learn from this,

1. That sickness or any deep affliction is often the means of great good. Here the sickness of the son resulted in the faith of all the family. God often takes away earthly blessings that he may impart rich spiritual mercies.

2. The father of a family may be the means of the salvation of his children. Here the effort of a parent resulted in their conversion to Christ.

3. There is great beauty and propriety when sickness thus results in piety. For that it is sent. God does not willingly grieve or afflict the children of men; and when afflictions thus terminate, it will be cause of eternal joy, of ceaseless praise.

4. There is a special charm when piety thus comes into the families of the rich. and the noble. It is so unusual: their example and influence go so far; it overcomes so many temptations, and affords opportunities of doing so much good, that there is no wonder that the evangelist selected this instance as one of the effects of the power and of the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 4:53. So the father knew — He had the fullest proof that his son's cure was supernatural, and that it was wrought by the Lord Jesus.

Himself believed, and his whole house. — He and his whole family became true converts to the doctrine of the manifested Messiah. The whole family, impressed with the great kindness of God in sending health to the child, were the more easily led to believe in the Lord Jesus. The sickness of the child became the mean of salvation to all the household. They, no doubt, thought at first that God was dealing hardly with them, when threatening to remove the child; but now they see that in very faithfulness God had afflicted them. Let us learn never to murmur against God, or think that he does not act kindly towards us. His wisdom cannot permit him to err; his goodness will not suffer him to do any thing to his creatures but what may be subservient to their best interests. By providential occurrences, apparently the most adverse, he may be securing our eternal salvation.

There is an account in Beracoth, fol. 34, very similar to this of the evangelist, and very possibly stolen from this holy source. "When the son of Rab. Gamaliel fell sick, he sent two of his disciples to R. Chanina, that he would pray to God for him. When he had seen them, he went on the roof of his house and prayed for him. He then came down and said to them, His fever has departed from him. They said unto him, Art thou a prophet? He answered, I am neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet; but when I can recite my prayers readily, I know I shall be heard. They then wrote down the hour; and, when they returned to R. Gamaliel, he said to them, Ye have fulfilled your ministry-in respect to my son, all is complete. In that hour the fever (חמה chomah, ο πυρετος) left him, and he desired water to drink." Schoettgen very properly remarks, Ovum ovo non magis simile est, atque haec fabula narrationi evangelicae. "One egg is not more like to another, than this fable to the evangelical narration."