John 2:8

8 Then He said, "Now, take some out, and carry it to the President of the feast."

John 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

John 2:8

And he saith unto them, draw out now
As soon as ever the vessels were filled with water, without any more delay, he ordered the servants to draw out of those larger, into lesser vessels; he does not say what, water or wine:

and bear unto the governor of the feast;
who either had the ordering and management of the feast, and the command of the whole affair; hence the Ethiopic version calls him, "the master of the waiters", or servants: or he was the chief guest, as the word seems to import, who sat, or rather lay, on the chief couch at the table; and so a proper person to begin with, and put the cup round: or else he might be doctor or chaplain: for such an one was necessary at a marriage; since there were six or seven benedictions to be pronounced; and particularly a blessing was said over the cup of wine; for if there was any wine, a cup of it was brought, and he blessed over it first, and ordered every thing concerning the cup: and this made up seven blessings at such a time ^F25; and therefore was a very fit person to bear the wine to first:

and they bore it;
the servants having drawn out of the stone vessels, by cocks, into smaller ones, carried the liquor, as they were ordered, to the above person.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Maimon. Hilchot Ishot, c. 10. sect. 3, 4.

John 2:8 In-Context

6 Now there were six stone jars standing there (in accordance with the Jewish regulations for purification), each large enough to hold twenty gallons or more.

7 Jesus said to the attendants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them to the brim.

8 Then He said, "Now, take some out, and carry it to the President of the feast."

9 So they carried some to him. And no sooner had the President tasted the water now turned into wine, than--not knowing where it came from, though the attendants who had drawn the water knew--he called to the bridegroom

10 and said to him, "It is usual to put on the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then that which is inferior. But you have kept the good wine till now."