John 1:48

1:48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, ¹  “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, ²  I saw you.”

John 5:7

5:7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, ³  I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, ⁴  someone else ⁵  goes down there ⁶  before me.”

John 17:24

17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, ⁷  so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world ⁸ .

¹ tn Grk “answered and said to him.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation to “replied.”

² sn Many have speculated about what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree. Meditating on the Messiah who was to come? A good possibility, since the fig tree was used as shade for teaching or studying by the later rabbis (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 5:11). Also, the fig tree was symbolic for messianic peace and plenty (Mic 4:4, Zech 3:10.)

³ tn Or “Lord.” The Greek κύριος (kurios) means both “Sir” and “Lord.” In this passage the paralytic who was healed by Jesus never acknowledges Jesus as Lord – he rather reports Jesus to the authorities.

⁴ tn Grk “while I am going.”

⁵ tn Grk “another.”

⁶ tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

⁵ tn Grk “the ones you have given me, I want these to be where I am with me.”

⁶ tn Grk “before the foundation of the world.”