John - 2:5



5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it."

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of John 2:5.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.
His mother says to the servants, Whatever he may say to you, do.
His mother saith to the ministrants, 'Whatever he may say to you, do.'
His mother said to the attendants, "Whatever he tells you to do, do it."
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

His mother saith to the servants. Here the holy Virgin gives an instance of true obedience which she owed to her Son, [1] when the question related, not to the relative duties of mankind, but to his divine power. She modestly acquiesces, therefore, in Christ's reply; and in like manner exhorts others to comply with his injunctions. I acknowledge, indeed, that what the Virgin now said related to the present occurrence, and amounted to a declaration that, in this instance, she had no authority, and that Christ would do, according to his own pleasure, whatever he thought right. But if you attend closely to her design, the statement which she made is still more extensive; for she first disclaims and lays aside the power which she might seem to have improperly usurped; and next, she ascribes the whole authority to Christ, when she bids them do whatever he shall command. We are taught generally by these words, that if we desire any thing from Christ, we will not obtain our wishes, unless we depend on him alone, look to him, and, in short, do whatever he commands On the other hand, he does not send us to his mother, but rather invites us to himself.

Footnotes

1 - "a son Fils."

His mother saith - It is evident from this verse that his mother did not understand what he had said as a harsh reproof and repulse, but as an indication of his willingness at the proper time to furnish wine. In all this transaction he evinced the appropriate feelings of a son toward a mother.

His mother saith, etc. - The virgin seems to have understood our Lord as hinted above. It was not yet time to grant them a supply, because the want had not as yet been generally felt. But, silently receiving the respectful caution, she saw that the miracle should be wrought when it best suited the purposes of the Divine wisdom.

His mother said unto the servants,.... She took the reproof in good part, and by the words he said, and the manner in which he spoke them, or by the looks he gave, and the gestures he might use, she hoped, and even believed, that the thing she moved for would be done; and therefore went immediately to the servants, and gave them the following instructions:
whatsoever he saith unto you, do it; punctually observe and obey his orders in every circumstance.

Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. She evidently understood from the manner, if not the words, of his reply that he would relieve the difficulty.

His mother saith to the servants - Gathering from his answer he was about to do something extraordinary.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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