John 1:48 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Nathaniel asked Jesus, “How did you know me?” Jesus answered him, “I saw you when you were under that fig tree, [even] before Philip called you.” More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Nathanael said to Jesus, How do You know me? [How is it that You know these things about me?] Jesus answered him, Before [ever] Philip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you. American Standard Version (1901) Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Common English Bible Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Catholic Public Domain Version Nathanael said to him, "From where do you know me?" Jesus responded and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. |
Philip, Bartholomew [i.e., the same as Nathaniel. See John 1:45], Thomas [i.e., the same as Didymus. See John 11:16], Matthew, the tax collector [i.e., the same as Levi. See Mark 2:14], James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus [i.e., the same as Judas, son of James. See Luke 6:16],
But when you pray, go to a private place and after closing the door, pray to your Father who is in a secret place, and [since] He sees in secret places, He will reward you.
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew’s and Peter’s home town. [Note: This town was on the northwest shore of Lake Galilee, a few miles from Capernaum].
So, these people approached [the apostle] Philip, who was from Bethsaida, in Galilee with the request, ‘Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and it [will] be enough for us.”
and He did not need anyone to tell Him about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in the hearts of mankind.
So Jesus, looking up and seeing a large crowd coming to Him, said to Philip [Note: He was one of the apostles, whose home town was at nearby Bethsaida. See 1:44], “Where are we going to buy [enough] bread, so that this crowd can eat?”
Philip answered Him, “Not even two hundred coins’ worth of bread would be enough to feed them if everyone ate only a little bit.” [Note: The amount here indicated was two hundred twelve-hour days of a farm laborer’s pay, or about $21,600 in 2005].
The secrets of his heart will be revealed so that he will fall [to the ground] on his face and worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.
So, do not judge anything until the appointed time, when the Lord returns [i.e., to do the judging] He will both shed light on the hidden things done in the dark and make known the motives of people’s hearts. Then each person [i.e., who deserves it] will receive praise from God.