JHN 2:1-11

The Wedding at Cana

1And on the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. [2:2] Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. [2:3] When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." [2:4] Jesus said to her, "Woman, what is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come." [2:5] His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it." [2:6] Now six stone water jars were standing there for the Jewish purification rites, each holding two or three metretae. [2:7] Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them to the brim. [2:8] And he said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. [2:9] When the master of the feast tasted the water that had become wine — and he did not know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew — the master of the feast called the bridegroom [2:10] and said to him, "Every man sets out the good wine first, and when they have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the good wine until now." [2:11] This, the beginning of his signs, Jesus did at Cana of Galilee, and he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Galilee, weddings were multi-day communal events, central to village life and social cohesion. Running out of wine would have been a profound social embarrassment, threatening the host’s honor and hospitality, which were paramount in this honor-shame culture. The six stone water jars, used for Jewish purification rituals , highlight the intersection of Jewish religious practice and daily life. Jesus’ response to his mother, addressing her as 'woman' , was not disrespectful but a formal term used in public discourse. The transformation of water into wine, and in such abundance (120-180 gallons), would have been seen as a sign of divine provision and blessing, echoing prophetic imagery of abundance in the Messianic age. The servants’ obedience to Mary’s instruction reflects the hierarchical household structure, where her authority as Jesus’ mother was recognized. The miracle’s timing ('not yet is come the hour') hints at Jesus’ emerging Messianic identity, understood within Jewish expectations of God’s intervention.

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How other translations render this

JHN 2:1

KJV: And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
BSB: On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesusʼ mother was there,
Koinōnos: And on the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

JHN 2:2

KJV: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
BSB: and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
Koinōnos: Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.

JHN 2:3

KJV: And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
BSB: When the wine ran out, Jesusʼ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”
Koinōnos: When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine.

JHN 2:4

KJV: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
BSB: “Woman, what is that to you and to Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
Koinōnos: Jesus said to her, "Woman, what is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.

JHN 2:5

KJV: His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
BSB: His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
Koinōnos: His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it.

JHN 2:6

KJV: And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
BSB: Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.
Koinōnos: Now six stone water jars were standing there for the Jewish purification rites, each holding two or three metretae.

JHN 2:7

KJV: Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
BSB: Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
Koinōnos: Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them to the brim.

JHN 2:8

KJV: And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
BSB: “Now draw some out,” He said, “and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so,
Koinōnos: And he said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.

JHN 2:9

KJV: When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
BSB: and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
Koinōnos: When the master of the feast tasted the water that had become wine — and he did not know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew — the master of the feast called the bridegroom

JHN 2:10

KJV: And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
BSB: and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”
Koinōnos: and said to him, "Every man sets out the good wine first, and when they have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the good wine until now.

JHN 2:11

KJV: This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
BSB: Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Koinōnos: This, the beginning of his signs, Jesus did at Cana of Galilee, and he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 2:4

woman?:The term translated 'woman' here was a common, respectful form of address for women of all ages and statuses in the ancient world, not implying disrespect or a lack of familial affection.

JHN 2:6

purification:The word translated 'purification' refers specifically to ritual cleansing practices prescribed by Jewish law, not general hygiene.
metretae:The 'metretae' was a large liquid measure, roughly equivalent to 10-12 gallons (38-45 liters), indicating a substantial quantity.

JHN 2:10

they may have drunk freely:The phrase translated 'they may have drunk freely' implies having drunk to the point of intoxication, not merely having had enough to drink.