Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”
- KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
- BSB Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
- NKJV Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
- NASB Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus tells Nathanael he believes over a small sign, but he will see far greater things. Faith's beginnings open onto deeper revelation of Christ's glory.
Overview
Jesus gently notes that Nathanael's faith was sparked by one display of insight, then promises 'greater things' still. This sets a pattern in John's Gospel where initial faith grows as Jesus reveals more of Himself through signs and teaching. It assures believers that following Christ leads to ever-fuller knowledge of His glory.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- John 20:29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
- John 11:40Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”
- Luke 1:45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
- Matt 25:29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.
- Luke 7:9When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”
- Matt 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Pastoral
Henry on the prologue — rich on the Word and the incarnation.
Seminary
- ★ Start hereCommentaryThe Gospel According to John (Pillar NT Commentary)D. A. Carson · ~720 pp · Paid · reformed
The go-to mid-level exegetical commentary on John — rigorous and readable.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 1:50 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.