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Selected Verse: John 4:52 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Joh 4:52	King James	Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The seventh hour - About one o'clock in the afternoon. The same hour - The very time when Jesus spoke. The fever left him - It seems that it left him suddenly and entirely; so much so that his friends went to inform the father, and to comfort him, and also, doubtless, to apprise him that it was not necessary to ask aid from Jesus. From this miracle we may learn, 1. That Jesus has an intimate knowledge of all things. He knew the case of this son - the extent of his disease where he was and thus had power to heal him. 2. That Jesus has almighty power. Nothing else could have healed this child. Nor could it be pretended that he did it by any natural means. He was far away from him, and the child knew not the source of the power that healed him. It could not be pretended that there was any collusion or jugglery. The father came in deep anxiety. The servants saw the cure. Jesus was at a distance. Everything in the case bears the mark of being the simple energy of God - put forth with equal ease to heal, whether far or near. Thus, he can save the sinner. 3. We see the benevolence of Jesus. Ever ready to aid, to heal, or to save, he may be called on at all times, and will never be called on in vain.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

The seventh hour - About one o'clock in the afternoon.

The same hour - The very time when Jesus spoke.

The fever left him - It seems that it left him suddenly and entirely; so much so that his friends went to inform the father, and to comfort him, and also, doubtless, to apprise him that it was not necessary to ask aid from Jesus. From this miracle we may learn,

1. That Jesus has an intimate knowledge of all things. He knew the case of this son - the extent of his disease where he was and thus had power to heal him.

2. That Jesus has almighty power. Nothing else could have healed this child. Nor could it be pretended that he did it by any natural means. He was far away from him, and the child knew not the source of the power that healed him. It could not be pretended that there was any collusion or jugglery. The father came in deep anxiety. The servants saw the cure. Jesus was at a distance. Everything in the case bears the mark of being the simple energy of God - put forth with equal ease to heal, whether far or near. Thus, he can save the sinner.

3. We see the benevolence of Jesus. Ever ready to aid, to heal, or to save, he may be called on at all times, and will never be called on in vain.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Then (οὖν) Not a particle of time, but of sequence. Rev., so he inquired. Began to amend (κομψότερον ἔσχεν) A peculiar phrase, occurring only here in the New Testament. Literally, had himself better. Κομψότερον is from κομψός, well-dressed, well-cared-for, elegant; and this from κομέω, to take care of. The idea of the phrase is conveyed in the familiar English expression: He is doing well, or nicely, or bravely. A parallel is cited by the commentators from Arrian: "When the doctor comes in, you must not be afraid as to what he will say; nor if he says, 'You are doing bravely' (κόμψως ἔχεις), must you give way to excessive joy." At the seventh hour (ὥραν ἐβδόμην) The accusative case denotes not a point of time, but duration: during the seventh hour. Fever (πυρετός) From πῦρ, fire. So the Latin febris, which is f for ferbris, from ferveo, to glow with heat. Left (ἀφῆκεν) Literally, sent him away. See on Joh 4:3.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Then (οὖν)

Not a particle of time, but of sequence. Rev., so he inquired.

Began to amend (κομψότερον ἔσχεν)

A peculiar phrase, occurring only here in the New Testament. Literally, had himself better. Κομψότερον is from κομψός, well-dressed, well-cared-for, elegant; and this from κομέω, to take care of. The idea of the phrase is conveyed in the familiar English expression: He is doing well, or nicely, or bravely. A parallel is cited by the commentators from Arrian: "When the doctor comes in, you must not be afraid as to what he will say; nor if he says, 'You are doing bravely' (κόμψως ἔχεις), must you give way to excessive joy."

At the seventh hour (ὥραν ἐβδόμην)

The accusative case denotes not a point of time, but duration: during the seventh hour.

Fever (πυρετός)

From πῦρ, fire. So the Latin febris, which is f for ferbris, from ferveo, to glow with heat.

Left (ἀφῆκεν)

Literally, sent him away. See on Joh 4:3.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
He asked the hour when he amended - The more exactly the works of God are considered, the more faith is increased.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

He asked the hour when he amended - The more exactly the works of God are considered, the more faith is increased.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Then inquired he of them the hour - The servants, overjoyed to find their master's son so suddenly restored, set off to meet him, that they might impart to him tidings which they knew would be so very agreeable; and he, intent on having his faith settled, began immediately to inquire what time it was when the fever left him, to see whether his cure was the effect of some natural cause, or whether it was done by the power of Christ. Yesterday at the seventh hour - At the time we would call one o'clock. Dr. Macknight thinks the Roman hour is intended; i.e. seven o'clock in the evening; and this he thinks is the reason why our Lord did not accompany the nobleman: for, as Cana was a day's journey from Capernaum, had our Lord gone at that hour he must have traveled in the night, from which it might have been inferred that he could not cure the child without being personally present. Harmony, vol. i. p. 52.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Then inquired he of them the hour - The servants, overjoyed to find their master's son so suddenly restored, set off to meet him, that they might impart to him tidings which they knew would be so very agreeable; and he, intent on having his faith settled, began immediately to inquire what time it was when the fever left him, to see whether his cure was the effect of some natural cause, or whether it was done by the power of Christ.

Yesterday at the seventh hour - At the time we would call one o'clock. Dr. Macknight thinks the Roman hour is intended; i.e. seven o'clock in the evening; and this he thinks is the reason why our Lord did not accompany the nobleman: for, as Cana was a day's journey from Capernaum, had our Lord gone at that hour he must have traveled in the night, from which it might have been inferred that he could not cure the child without being personally present. Harmony, vol. i. p. 52.

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