John 1:47-48

Context

1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed,¹ “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”² 1:48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied,³ “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree,⁴ I saw you.”

[1:47] ¹tn Grk “said about him.”

[1:47] ²tn Or “treachery.”

[1:48] ³tn Grk “answered and said to him.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation to “replied.”

[1:48] ⁴sn 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.)