John 2 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 On the third day two people were going to be married at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there:
1 The third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.
1 Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο ἐν Κανᾶ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἦν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐκεῖ·
2 And Jesus with his disciples came as guests.
2 Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the wedding.
2 ἐκλήθη δὲ καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν γάμον.
3 When they had not enough wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine.
3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”
3 καὶ ὑστερήσαντος οἴνου λέγει ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν· οἶνον οὐκ ἔχουσι.
4 Jesus said to her, Woman, this is not your business; my time is still to come.
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”
4 λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, γύναι; οὔπω ἥκει ἡ ὥρα μου.
5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever he says to you, do it.
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
5 λέγει ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ τοῖς διακόνοις· ὅ τι ἂν λέγῃ ὑμῖν, ποιήσατε.
6 Now six pots of stone, every one taking two or three firkins of water, were placed there for the purpose of washing, as is the way of the Jews.
6 Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.
6 ἦσαν δὲ ἐκεῖ ὑδρίαι λίθιναι ἓξ κείμεναι κατὰ τὸν καθαρισμὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων, χωροῦσαι ἀνὰ μετρητὰς δύο ἢ τρεῖς.
7 Jesus said to the servants, Make the pots full of water. And they made them full to the top.
7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim.
7 λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· γεμίσατε τὰς ὑδρίας ὕδατος. καὶ ἐγέμισαν αὐτὰς ἕως ἄνω.
8 Then he said to them, Now take some, and give it to the master of the feast. So they took it to him.
8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it.
8 καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἀντλήσατε νῦν καὶ φέρετε τῷ ἀρχιτρικλίνῳ. καὶ ἤνεγκαν.
9 After tasting the water which had now become wine, the master of the feast (having no idea where it came from, though it was clear to the servants who took the water out) sent for the newly-married man,
9 When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom
9 ὡς δὲ ἐγεύσατο ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος τὸ ὕδωρ οἶνον γεγενημένον — καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει πόθεν ἐστίν· οἱ δὲ διάκονοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ ἠντληκότες τὸ ὕδωρ — φωνεῖ τὸν νυμφίον ὁ ἀρχιτρίκλινος
10 And said to him, Every man first puts out his best wine and when all have had enough he puts out what is not so good; but you have kept the good wine till now.
10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!”
10 καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· πᾶς ἄνθρωπος πρῶτον τὸν καλὸν οἶνον τίθησι, καὶ ὅταν μεθυσθῶσι, τότε τὸν ἐλάσσω· σὺ τετήρηκας τὸν καλὸν οἶνον ἕως ἄρτι.
11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and let his glory be seen openly; and his disciples put their faith in him.
11 This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
11 Ταύτην ἐποίησε τὴν ἀρχὴν τῶν σημείων ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν Κανᾶ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐφανέρωσε τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they were there not more than two or three days.
12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
12 Μετὰ τοῦτο κατέβη εἰς Καπερναοὺμ αὐτὸς καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἔμειναν οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας.
13 The time of the Passover of the Jews was near and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
13 Καὶ ἐγγὺς ἦν τὸ πάσχα τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ὁ Ἰησοῦς.
14 And there in the Temple he saw men trading in oxen and sheep and doves, and he saw the changers of money in their seats:
14 He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
14 καὶ εὗρεν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τοὺς πωλοῦντας βόας καὶ πρόβατα καὶ περιστεράς, καὶ τοὺς κερματιστὰς καθημένους.
15 And he made a whip of small cords and put them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and the oxen, sending in all directions the small money of the changers and overturning their tables;
15 He made a whip of cords and drove all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables.
15 καὶ ποιήσας φραγέλλιον ἐκ σχοινίων πάντας ἐξέβαλεν ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ, τά τε πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς βόας, καὶ τῶν κολλυβιστῶν ἐξέχεε τὸ κέρμα καὶ τὰς τραπέζας ἀνέστρεψε,
16 And to those who were trading in doves he said, Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a market.
16 To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!”
16 καὶ τοῖς τὰς περιστερὰς πωλοῦσιν εἶπεν· ἄρατε ταῦτα ἐντεῦθεν· μὴ ποιεῖτε τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου οἶκον ἐμπορίου.
17 And it came to the minds of the disciples that the Writings say, I am on fire with passion for your house.
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”
17 ἐμνήσθησαν δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι γεγραμμένον ἐστίν, ὁ ζῆλος τοῦ οἴκου σου καταφάγεταί με.
18 Then the Jews put this question to him: What sign of authority have you to give us, seeing that you do these things?
18 The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?”
18 ἀπεκρίθησαν οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· τί σημεῖον δεικνύεις ἡμῖν ὅτι ταῦτα ποιεῖς;
19 And Jesus said to them, Send destruction on this Temple and I will put it up again in three days.
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
19 ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· λύσατε τὸν ναὸν τοῦτον, καὶ ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις ἐγερῶ αὐτόν.
20 The Jews said, The building of this Temple took forty-six years; and you will put it up in three days!
20 The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?”
20 εἶπον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι· τεσσαράκοντα καὶ ἓξ ἔτεσιν ᾠκοδομήθη ὁ ναὸς οὗτος, καὶ σὺ ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις ἐγερεῖς αὐτόν;
21 But his words were about that holy building which was his body.
21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.
21 ἐκεῖνος δὲ ἔλεγε περὶ τοῦ ναοῦ τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ.
22 So when he had come back again from the dead, the memory of these words came back to the disciples, and they had faith in the holy Writings and in the word which Jesus had said.
22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
22 ὅτε οὖν ἠγέρθη ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐμνήσθησαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τοῦτο ἔλεγε, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν τῇ γραφῇ καὶ τῷ λόγῳ ᾧ εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς.
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, a great number of people came to have faith in his name, after seeing the signs which he did.
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.
23 Ὡς δὲ ἦν ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐν τῷ πάσχα ἐν τῇ ἑορτῇ, πολλοὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, θεωροῦντες αὐτοῦ τὰ σημεῖα ἃ ἐποίει.
24 But Jesus did not have faith in them, because he had knowledge of them all.
24 But Jesus didn’t entrust himself to them, because he knew everyone,
24 αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς οὐκ ἐπίστευεν ἑαυτὸν αὐτοῖς διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν γινώσκειν πάντας,
25 He had no need for any witness about man; for he himself had knowledge of what was in man.
25 and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
25 καὶ ὅτι οὐ χρείαν εἶχεν ἵνα τις μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐγίνωσκε τί ἦν ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
Places
Cana
Cana's exact site is debated — Kafr Kanna and Khirbet Qana near Nazareth are the leading candidates (approximate location). It is remembered as the place of Jesus' first miracle.
Cited in the guide: John 2:1-11; John 4:46
Cross references (23)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 John 4:46; Proverbs 31:10–12; John 1:43; John 21:2; Matthew 12:46
- 2 Matthew 10:40–42; Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Hebrews 13:4; John 1:40–49
- 3 Psalm 104:15; Philippians 4:6; Isaiah 24:11; Matthew 26:28; Ecclesiastes 10:19
- 4 John 7:6; John 13:1; John 7:30; John 8:20; John 12:23
- 5 Genesis 6:22; John 15:14; Hebrews 11:8; Luke 5:5–6; Hebrews 5:9
- 6 John 3:25; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 9:10; Mark 7:2–5; Hebrews 10:22
- 7 2 Kings 4:2–6; John 2:5; 1 Kings 17:13; John 2:3; Mark 11:2–6
- 8 Proverbs 3:5–6; John 2:9; Romans 13:7
- 9 John 4:46; John 7:17; Psalm 119:100
- 10 Revelation 7:16–17; Proverbs 9:1–6; Luke 16:25; Psalm 104:15
- 11 John 20:30–31; John 1:14; John 3:2; John 6:2; John 6:14
- 12 Matthew 12:46; Mark 6:3; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Matthew 4:13; Matthew 13:55–56
- 13 Luke 2:41; John 11:55; John 2:23; Exodus 12:6–14; Deuteronomy 16:1–8
- 14 Luke 19:45–46; Mark 11:15; Mark 11:17; Matthew 21:12–13; Deuteronomy 14:23–26
- 16 Matthew 21:13; Jeremiah 7:11; Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:5–11; Luke 2:49
- 17 Psalm 69:9; Psalm 119:139
- 18 Luke 11:29; Matthew 21:23; John 6:30; Mark 8:11; Mark 11:27–28
- 19 Mark 14:58; Mark 15:29; Matthew 27:40; Matthew 26:60–61; Matthew 12:40
- 21 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Colossians 1:19; Ephesians 2:20–22; Colossians 2:9
- 22 John 12:16; John 14:26; Luke 24:7–8; John 16:4; Psalm 16:10
- 23 John 7:31; John 6:14; Luke 8:13; Ephesians 3:16–17; Galatians 5:6
- 24 John 6:64; Matthew 9:4; Acts 1:24; Hebrews 4:13; 1 Chronicles 28:9
- 25 Matthew 9:4; John 13:11; John 6:64; John 6:61
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Ye know, Brethren, for ye have learnt it as believing in Christ, and continually too do we by our ministry impress it upon you, that the humility of Christ is the medicine of man's swollen pride. For man would not have perished, had he not been swollen up through pride.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
The miracle indeed of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby He made the water into wine, is not marvellous to those who know that it was God's doing. For He who made wine on that day at the marriage feast, in those six water-pots, which He commanded to be filled with water, the self-same does this every year in vines.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
In preaching the word there is some toil, and this Paul declares when he says, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." ( 1 Tim. v.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
First of all, after He had made the water wine at Cana of Galilee, He went up to the festival day of the passover, on which occasion it is written, "For many believed in Him, when they saw the signs which He did," as John the disciple of the Lord records.
For to this power what is added about the resurrection refers, "Who shall awake him?" This means that no man but Himself has raised Him, who also said of His own body, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." And the very nature of His death, that is, the height of the cross, is understood …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)