John 1:49

49 Nathanael answered and said unto Him, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel."

John 1:49 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:49

Nathanael answered and saith unto him
Being fully convinced of his omniscience by these instances:

Rabbi;
that is, master, as it is interpreted in ( John 1:38 ) , and is not here, because it is there:

thou art the Son of God;
not by creation, for this would be to say no more of him, than may be said of every man; nor by adoption, for in that sense Nathanael himself was a Son of God, and many others; nor on account of his wonderful incarnation, which, it is very likely, at this time Nathanael knew nothing of; nor by reason of his resurrection from the dead, which, as yet, was not, and still less might be known by this person; nor because of his office, as Mediator, for this is expressed in the next clause; but by nature, as being of the same essence, and possessed of the same perfections God is; and of which he was convinced by the instances he gave of his omniscience; for it was from hence, and no other consideration, that he concludes him to be the Son of God: wherefore this phrase must be understood of him, not as Mediator, but as a divine person; as the natural, essential, and eternal Son of God; and who is truly and properly God: he adds,

thou art the King of Israel;
having in view, no doubt, the passage in ( Psalms 2:6 Psalms 2:7 ) , where the characters of Son of God, and King of Zion, meet in the same person: not King of Israel, in a literal sense; though he was the son of David, and a descendant of his in a right line, and was of the royal line, and had a legal right to the throne of Israel; and Nathanael might have a view to this, being tinctured with the common national prejudice, that the Messiah would be a temporal prince: but his kingdom is not of this world; nor with observation; but is spiritual; and he is a King over Israel in a spiritual sense, even of saints, whether Jews or Gentiles: whom he conquers by his power, and rules in their hearts by his Spirit, and grace; and protects, and defends them from all their enemies.

John 1:49 In-Context

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"

48 Nathanael said unto Him, "How knowest Thou me?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."

49 Nathanael answered and said unto Him, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel."

50 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."

51 And He said unto him, "Verily, verily I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."