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 6:17

6:17 got into a boat, and started to cross the lake ³  to Capernaum. ⁴  (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.) ⁵ 

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 “sea.” See the note on “lake” in the previous verse.

⁴ map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-C3; Map3-B2.

⁵ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.