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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 1:48 - 1:48
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Whence knowest thou me? (Pothen me ginōskeis). Nathanael is astonished at this tribute, at any knowledge about himself by Jesus. He had overheard Christ’s comment and longed to know its source.
Before Philip called thee (Pro tou se Philippon phōnēsai). Idiomatic Greek, pro and the ablative case of the articular aorist active infinitive (tou phōnēsai, from phōneō, to call) with se as the object and Philippon, the accusative of general reference, “before the calling thee as to Philip.”
When thou wast under the fig tree (onta hupo tēn sukēn). “Being under the fig tree,” accusative present participle agreeing with se. The fig tree was a familiar object in Palestine, probably in leaf at this time, the accusative with hupo may suggest that Nathanael had withdrawn there for prayer. Note genitive with hupokatō in Joh 1:50. Jesus saw Nathanael’s heart as well as his mere presence there. He saw him in his worship and so knew him.