John 2:8

8 And Jesus said to them, Draw ye now, and bear ye to the master of the feast [+And Jesus saith to them, Draw ye now, and bear to the architricline, that is, prince in the house of three stages]. And they bare.

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

John 2:8 In-Context

6 And there were set six stone cans, after the cleansing of the Jews, holding each two or three metretes. [Forsooth there were put six stone pots, after the cleansing of Jews, taking each two or three measures.]
7 And Jesus saith to them, Fill ye the pots with water. And they filled them, up to the mouth. [Jesus saith to them, Fill ye the pots with water. And they filled them unto the highest part.]
8 And Jesus said to them, Draw ye now, and bear ye to the master of the feast [+And Jesus saith to them, Draw ye now, and bear to the architricline, that is, prince in the house of three stages]. And they bare.
9 And when the master of the feast had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whereof it was, but the ministers knew that drew the water [+soothly the ministers knew, which drew the water], the master of the feast calleth the spouse,
10 and saith to him, Each man setteth first good wine, and when men be filled, then that that is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine into this time. [and saith to him, Each man putteth first good wine, and when men shall be full-filled, then that that is worse; soothly thou hast kept good wine till now.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.