John 2:8

8 and he saith to them, `Draw out, now, and bear to the director of the apartment;' 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

John 2:8 In-Context

6 And there were there six water-jugs of stone, placed according to the purifying of the Jews, holding each two or three measures.

7 Jesus saith to them, `Fill the water-jugs with water;' and they filled them -- unto the brim;

8 and he saith to them, `Draw out, now, and bear to the director of the apartment;' and they bare.

9 And as the director of the apartment tasted the water become wine, and knew not whence it is, (but the ministrants knew, who have drawn the water,) the director of the feast doth call the bridegroom,

10 and saith to him, `Every man, at first, the good wine doth set forth; and when they may have drunk freely, then the inferior; thou didst keep the good wine till now.'