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Selected Verse: John 1:48 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Joh 1:48 |
Strong Concordance |
Nathanael [3482] saith [3004] unto him [846], Whence [4159] knowest thou [1097] me [3165]? Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Before [4253] that Philip [5376] called [5455] thee [4571], when thou wast [5607] under [5259] the fig tree [4808], I saw [1492] thee [4571]. |
|
King James |
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Whence knowest thou me--conscious that his very heart had been read, and at this critical moment more than ever before.
Before Philip called thee--showing He knew all that passed between Philip and him at a distance.
when . . . under the fig tree, &c.--where retirement for meditation and prayer was not uncommon [LIGHTFOOT]. Thither, probably--hearing that his master's Master had at length appeared, and heaving with mingled eagerness to behold Him and dread of deception--he had retired to pour out his guileless heart for light and guidance, ending with such a prayer as this, "Show me a token for good!" (See on Luk 2:8). Now he has it, "Thou guileless one, that fig tree scene, with all its heaving anxieties, deep pleadings and tremulous hopes--I saw it all." The first words of Jesus had astonished, but this quite overpowered and won him. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Whence knowest thou me? - Nathanael was not yet acquainted with the divinity of Christ, and supposed that he had been a stranger to him. Hearing him express a favorable opinion of him, he naturally inquired by what means he had any knowledge of him. His conscience testified to the truth of what Jesus said that he had no guile, and he was anxious to know whence he had learned his character.
Before that Philip called thee - See Joh 1:45.
When thou wast under the fig-tree - It is evident that it was from something that had occurred under the fig-tree that Jesus judged of his character. What that was is not recorded. It is not improbable that Nathanael was accustomed to retire to the shade of a certain tree, perhaps in his garden or in a grove, for the purpose of meditation and prayer. The Jews were much in the habit of selecting such places for private devotion, and in such scenes of stillness and retirement there is something especially favorable for meditation and prayer. Our Saviour also worshipped in such places. Compare Joh 18:2; Luk 6:12. In that place of retirement it is not improbable that Nathanael was engaged in private devotion.
I saw thee - It is clear, from the narrative, that Jesus did not mean to say that he was bodily present with Nathanael and saw him; but he knew his thoughts, his desires, his secret feelings and wishes. In this sense Nathanael understood him. We may learn:
1. that Jesus sees what is done in secret, and is therefore divine.
2. that he sees us when we little think of it.
3. that he sees us especially in our private devotions, hears our prayers, and marks our meditations. And,
4. that he judges of our character chiefly by our private devotions. Those are secret; the world sees them not; and in our closets we show what we are. How does it become us, therefore, that our secret prayers and meditations should be without "guile" and hypocrisy, and such as Jesus will approve! |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Knowest (γινώσκεις)
See on Act 19:15.
Under the fig tree (ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν)
To be construed with εἶδον σε, I saw thee; i.e., I saw thee under the fig tree. The preposition with the accusative case, which implies motion toward, indicates his withdrawal to the shade of the tree for meditation or prayer. See on Joh 1:50. The Jewish writings tell of distinguished rabbis who were accustomed to rise early and pursue their studies under the shade of a fig tree. Compare Mic 4:4; Zac 3:10. Augustine, in his "Confessions," relates of himself: "I cast myself down, I know not how, under a certain fig tree, giving full vent to my tears; and the floods of mine eyes gushed out, an acceptable sacrifice to Thee" (viii. 28). Nathanael asks, "Whence knowest thou me? "Jesus answers, "I saw thee (εἶδον)." |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Under the fig tree I saw thee - Perhaps at prayer. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Whence knowest thou me? - He was not yet acquainted with the divinity of Christ, could not conceive that he could search his heart, and therefore asks how he could acquire this knowledge of him, or who had given him that character. It is the comfort of the sincere and upright, that God knows their hearts; and it should be the terror of the deceitful and of the hypocrite, that their false dealing is ever noticed by the all-seeing eye of God.
Under the fig tree - Probably engaged in prayer with God, for the speedy appearing of the salvation of Israel; and the shade of this fig tree was perhaps the ordinary place of retreat for this upright man. It is not A fig tree, but την συκην, The fig tree, one particularly distinguished from the others. There are many proofs that the Jewish rabbins chose the shade of trees, and particularly the fig tree, to sit and study under. See many examples in Schoettgen. How true is the saying, The eyes of the Lord are through all the earth, beholding the evil and the good! Wheresoever we are, whatsoever we are about, may a deep conviction of this truth rest upon our hearts, Thou God seest Me! |
8 And [2532] there were [2258] in [1722] the same [846] country [5561] shepherds [4166] abiding in the field [63], [2532] keeping [5442] watch [5438] over [1909] their [846] flock [4167] by night [3571].
12 And [1161] it came to pass [1096] in [1722] those [5025] days [2250], that he went out [1831] into [1519] a mountain [3735] to pray [4336], and [2532] continued all night [1273] [2258] in [1722] prayer [4335] to God [2316].
2 And [1161] Judas [2455] also [2532], which [3588] betrayed [3860] him [846], knew [1492] the place [5117]: for [3754] Jesus [2424] ofttimes [4178] resorted [4863] thither [1563] with [3326] his [846] disciples [3101].
45 Philip [5376] findeth [2147] Nathanael [3482], and [2532] saith [3004] unto him [846], We have found [2147] him, of whom [3739] Moses [3475] in [1722] the law [3551], and [2532] the prophets [4396], did write [1125], Jesus [2424] of [575] Nazareth [3478], the son [5207] of Joseph [2501].
10 In that day [03117], saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], shall ye call [07121] every man [0376] his neighbour [07453] under the vine [01612] and under the fig tree [08384].
4 But they shall sit [03427] every man [0376] under his vine [01612] and under his fig tree [08384]; and none shall make them afraid [02729]: for the mouth [06310] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] hath spoken [01696] it.
50 Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Because [3754] I said [2036] unto thee [4671], I saw [1492] thee [4571] under [5270] the fig tree [4808], believest thou [4100]? thou shalt see [3700] greater things [3187] than these [5130].
15 And [1161] the evil [4190] spirit [4151] answered [611] and said [2036], Jesus [2424] I know [1097], and [2532] Paul [3972] I know [1987]; but [1161] who [5101] are [2075] ye [5210]?