John 1:50

50 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!"

John 1:50 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:50

Jesus answered and said unto him
Not as reproving him for his faith, as if he was too credulous, and too easily gave into the belief of Christ, as the Son of God, and true Messiah, upon these single expressions of his; but as approving of it, and surprised at it:

because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest
thou?
some read the words, not by way of interrogation, but as an assertion; "thou believest", or "hast believed", as the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Persic versions:

thou shall see greater things than these;
meaning that he should have larger discoveries of his person, nature, and perfections, and should see things done by him, much more surprising than any thing he had seen yet; referring to the miracles of raising the dead, casting out devils, and healing all manner of diseases.

John 1:50 In-Context

48 Nathanael said to him, "From where do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, [when you] were under the fig tree, I saw you."
49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!"
50 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!"
51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly I say to all of you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.