The Meaning of John 4:53 Explained

John 4:53

KJV: So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

YLT: then the father knew that it was in that hour in which Jesus said to him -- 'Thy son doth live,' and he himself believed, and his whole house;

Darby: The father therefore knew that it was in that hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son lives; and he believed, himself and his whole house.

ASV: So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So  the father  knew  that  [it was] at  the same  hour,  in  the which  Jesus  said  unto him,  Thy  son  liveth:  and  himself  believed,  and  his  whole  house. 

What does John 4:53 Mean?

Context Summary

John 4:46-54 - The Reward Of Trusting Jesus' Word
The particular interest of this beautiful incident is in John 4:50. The father had such faith in our Lord's promise that he started off at once on his homeward journey, needing no further assurance that all was well. It would appear, indeed, that he went to some inn or caravansary on his way back, because there would have been ample time between the seventh hour (one o'clock in the day) and nightfall to get from Cana down to Capernaum. Why should he hasten! The boy was living, doing well, since the Master had said so. He was sure of it and thanked God for it and gladly took the opportunity of a quiet night's rest, to sleep off the effects of long watching, intense anxiety, and the swift journey to Cana. When his servants met him with the news that the boy was healed, he inquired at what hour the change had taken place, merely to corroborate his own conclusions. What a happy family that was! This nobleman may have been Chuza, Herod's steward, Luke 8:3, or Manaen, Herod's foster-brother, Acts 13:1. Why should we not have the same simple faith in the word of God's promise! [source]

Chapter Summary: John 4

1  Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her
27  His disciples marvel
31  He declares to them his zeal for God's glory
39  Many Samaritans believe on him
43  He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum

Greek Commentary for John 4:53

So the father knew [εγνω ουν ο πατηρ]
Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō Inferential use of ουν — oun Himself believed Not just the word of Jesus (John 4:50), but complete faith in Jesus himself as the Messiah, absolute use of πιστευω — pisteuō as in John 1:7. And his whole house All his family, the first example of a whole family believing in Jesus like the later case of Crispus (Acts 18:8). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 4:53

John 14:2 House [οἰκίᾳ]
The dwelling-place. Used primarily of the edifice (Matthew 7:24; Matthew 8:14; Matthew 9:10; Acts 4:34). Of the family or all the persons inhabiting the house (Matthew 12:25; John 4:53; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Matthew 10:13). Of property (Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:40). Here meaning heaven. [source]
John 4:52 Inquired [επυτετο]
Second aorist middle indicative of πυντανομαι — punthanomai Began to mend Second aorist ingressive active indicative of εχω — echō (took a turn, got better) and comparative of adverb κομπσως — kompsōs Arrian (Epictetus iii. 10.13) has κομπσως εχεις — kompsōs echeis from a physician, “Thou hast it fine,” “Thou art doing finely.” The papyri give several similar examples. Κομπσως — Kompsōs (neat) is from κομεω — komeō to take care of. At the seventh hour The accusative case without a preposition as in Revelation 3:3, though we have περι ωραν ενατην — peri hōran enatēn (about the ninth hour) in Acts 10:3. See the accusative also in Exodus 9:18 ταυτην την ωραν αυριον — tautēn tēn hōran aurion (tomorrow about this hour). The accusative has the notion of extension and can be thus loosely used. It can even mean here “during the seventh hour.” In John 4:53 the locative is more exact, “at that hour” The seventh hour would be (Roman time) seven p.m. [source]

What do the individual words in John 4:53 mean?

Knew therefore the father that [it was] in that the hour at which said to him - Jesus son of You lives And he believed himself the household of him all
Ἔγνω οὖν πατὴρ ὅτι [ἐν] ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐν εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ἰησοῦς υἱός σου ζῇ καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτὸς οἰκία αὐτοῦ ὅλη

Ἔγνω  Knew 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
πατὴρ  father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
ὅτι  that  [it  was] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐκείνῃ  that 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκεῖνος  
Sense: he, she it, etc.
ὥρᾳ  hour 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ὥρα  
Sense: a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year.
ἐν  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
υἱός  son 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
σου  of  You 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ζῇ  lives 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
ἐπίστευσεν  he  believed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
αὐτὸς  himself 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
οἰκία  household 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οἰκία  
Sense: a house.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.