John 1:47

John 1:47 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
• New Living Translation (NLT)As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

Context of John 1:47

45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

John 1:47 word by word

Εἶδεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ἰσραηλίτης ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• NathanaelΝαθαναήλNathanaēl · NathanaelG3482
• comingἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
• an IsraeliteἸσραηλίτηςIsraēlitēs · IsraeliteG2475
• indeedἀληθῶςalēthōs · trulyG230
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• noοὐou · noG3756
• guileδόλοςdolos · deceitG1388

Cross-references for John 1:47

• John 8:31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
• Romans 2:28A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
• Romans 9:6It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
• Philippians 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
• Psalms 32:2Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
• Psalms 73:1Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
• 1 Peter 2:1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
• Revelation 14:5No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Commentaries on John 1:47

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 47Behold an Israelite indeed - A worthy descendant of the patriarch Jacob, who not only professes to believe in Israel's God, but who worships him in sincerity and truth, according to his light. In whom is no guile! - Deceitfulness ever has been, and still is, the deeply marked characteristic of the Jewish people. To find a man, living in the midst of so much corruption, walking in uprightness before his Maker, was a subject worthy the attention of God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 47An Israelite indeed - One who is really an Israelite - not by birth only, but one worthy of the name. One who possesses the spirit, the piety, and the integrity which become a man who is really a Jew, who fears God and obeys his law. Compare Romans 9:6; Romans 2:28-29. No guile - No deceit, no fraud, no hypocrisy. He is really what he professes to be - a Jew, a descendant of the patriarch Jacob, fearing and serving God. He makes no profession which he…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 43-51Verses 43-51 See the nature of true Christianity, it is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places, or denominations of men. They should examine for themselves, and they will sometimes find good where they looked for none. Many people are kept from the ways of religion by the unreasonable prejudices they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 47Jesus described Nathanael as a true Israelite. He said there was no deceit (no dishonesty or trickery) in him. This may contrast Nathanael with Jacob, whose early life was marked by deceit. Jacob later received the name Israel (see Genesis 25:27–34; 27:1–36; 32:22–32). In this way, Nathanael shows what God desires Israel to be. God wants his people to be an honest and faithful people.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4747. an Israelite indeed ... no guile--not only no hypocrite, but with a guileless simplicity not always found even in God's own people, ready to follow wherever truth might lead him, saying, Samuel-like, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth" (1Sa 3:10).Read the comment

Topics related to John 1:47

• Character
• Holiness
• Integrity
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Nathanael
• Obedience
• Perfection
• Philip
• Sincerity

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Bartholomew
• Behold
• Believe
• Blood
• Dwell
• Flesh
• Guile
• Israel

Commentaries on John 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings