The Meaning of John 4:54 Explained

John 4:54

KJV: This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

YLT: this again a second sign did Jesus, having come out of Judea to Galilee.

Darby: This second sign again did Jesus, being come out of Judaea into Galilee.

ASV: This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judaea into Galilee.

Discover John 4:54

CONTEXT: What is the Context of John 4:54?

MEANING: What does John 4:54 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in John 4:54 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in John 4:54?

What is the context of John 4:54?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This [is] again the second miracle [that] Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

What does John 4:54 Mean?

Verse Meaning

John interestingly identified this miracle as the second sign that Jesus did even though He did other miracles in both Galilee and Judea after He changed the water to wine (cf. John 2:23; John 3:2). Moreover this is the second of several miracles that John labeled in his Gospel as signs, but he numbered only the first two. All this evidence points to his regarding the first and second signs as similar and related to each other. The structure of this part of John"s narrative, as I have sought to explain it above, accounts for his view of this second sign.

John explained further that Jesus performed this sign after He had come out of Judea into Galilee. This appears to be another geographical notice designed to help the reader follow Jesus" movements. It also suggests a contrast between the unbelief that marked Judea and the faith that was more prominent in Galilee.

This miracle, as the first one that John described, had a limited audience. Only the family and household servants of the official knew of it at first. This was typical of Jesus" ministry. While Jesus performed many public miracles, and huge crowds followed Him because they witnessed them, they had the desired impact on relatively few individuals (cf. John 1:11-12).

John recorded many witnesses to Jesus" identity in his record of Jesus" early ministry (chs2-4). The first sign testified to His creative power to change the quality of things. ^[1] His cleansing of the temple showed His authority over the institutions of Judaism. Nicodemus testified to Jesus having come from God and His role as an authoritative teacher. John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus" identity as the Messiah. The Samaritan woman implied that Jesus was omniscient. Many other Samaritans acknowledged Jesus as the Savior of the world. The official whose son Jesus healed from afar came to recognize Him as the healer whose word can overcome the problem of distance as well as disease. ^[2] The first sign in John"s Gospel shows Jesus" power over time, and the second sign shows His power over space. John the Apostle also called Him the Son of God, the giver of eternal life, and the One from heaven. This section of the book, therefore, makes an important contribution to the advance of John"s argument and the fulfillment of his purpose ( John 20:30-31).

Context Summary

John 4:46-54 - The Reward Of Trusting Jesus' Word

The particular interest of this beautiful incident is in John 4:50. The father had such faith in our Lord's promise that he started off at once on his homeward journey, needing no further assurance that all was well. It would appear, indeed, that he went to some inn or caravansary on his way back, because there would have been ample time between the seventh hour (one o'clock in the day) and nightfall to get from Cana down to Capernaum. Why should he hasten! The boy was living, doing well, since the Master had said so. He was sure of it and thanked God for it and gladly took the opportunity of a quiet night's rest, to sleep off the effects of long watching, intense anxiety, and the swift journey to Cana. When his servants met him with the news that the boy was healed, he inquired at what hour the change had taken place, merely to corroborate his own conclusions. What a happy family that was! This nobleman may have been Chuza, Herod's steward, Luke 8:3, or Manaen, Herod's foster-brother, Acts 13:1. Why should we not have the same simple faith in the word of God's promise! [source]

Chapter Summary: John 4

¹ Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her
²⁷ His disciples marvel
³¹ He declares to them his zeal for God's glory
³⁹ Many Samaritans believe on him
⁴³ He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum

Greek Commentary for John 4:54

The second sign that [δευτερον σημειον]
No article, simply predicate accusative, “This again a second sign did Jesus having come out of Judea into Galilee.” The first one was also in Cana (John 2:1.), but many were wrought in Jerusalem also (John 2:23). [source]

This is again the second miracle, etc. []
Literally, this did Jesus again as a second sign. The pleonasm in again, the second, is only apparent. Other miracles had indeed been wrought between these two; but John emphasizes these two as marking Jesus' coming from Judaea to Galilee. The healing of the nobleman's child was the second miracle, only in respect of its taking place upon Jesus' withdrawal from Judaea into Galilee. Hence the again. He wrought a miracle again, when He again came into Galilee, and this miracle was the second, as marking His second coming. [source]

What do the individual words in John 4:54 mean?

This [is] now again [the] second sign did - Jesus having come out of - Judea into - Galilee

Τοῦτο δὲ πάλιν δεύτερον σημεῖον ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλθὼν ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν

Τοῦτο	This [is]
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: οὗτος Sense: this.
δὲ	now
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
πάλιν	again
Parse: Adverb Root: πάλιν Sense: anew, again.
δεύτερον	[the] second
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: δεύτερον Sense: the second, the other of two.
σημεῖον	sign
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: σημεῖον Sense: a sign, mark, token.
ὁ	-
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς	Jesus
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ἐλθὼν	having come
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἔρχομαι Sense: to come.
ἐκ	out of
Parse: Preposition Root: ἐκ Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
τῆς	-
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰουδαίας	Judea
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: Ἰουδαία Sense: in a narrower sense, to the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea.
εἰς	into
Parse: Preposition Root: εἰς Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὴν	-
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Γαλιλαίαν	Galilee
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: Γαλιλαία Sense: the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan.

What are the major concepts related to John 4:54?

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Similar Scriptures for John 4:54

		John 4:45 [2]
		John 2:1-11 [2]