John 1:47
New International Version
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

New Living Translation
As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

English Standard Version
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Berean Standard Bible
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

Berean Literal Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and He says concerning him, "Behold, truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit."

King James Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

New King James Version
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

New American Standard Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!”

NASB 1995
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

NASB 1977
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”

Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said about him, “Behold, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”

Amplified Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Here is an Israelite indeed [a true descendant of Jacob], in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor duplicity!”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, “Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him."”

American Standard Version
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Contemporary English Version
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, "Here is a true descendant of our ancestor Israel. And he isn't deceitful."

English Revised Version
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and remarked, "Here is a true Israelite who is sincere."

Good News Translation
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, he said about him, "Here is a real Israelite; there is nothing false in him!"

International Standard Version
Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said about him, "Look, a genuine Israeli, in whom there is no deceit!"

Majority Standard Bible
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

NET Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, "Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"

New Heart English Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit."

Webster's Bible Translation
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Weymouth New Testament
Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, and said of him, "Look! here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceitfulness!"

World English Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and He says concerning him, “Behold, truly an Israelite, in whom is no guile”;

Berean Literal Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and He says concerning him, "Behold, truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit."

Young's Literal Translation
Jesus saw Nathanael coming unto him, and he saith concerning him, 'Lo, truly an Israelite, in whom guile is not;'

Smith's Literal Translation
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and he says of him, Behold truly an Israelite, in whom is no deceit!
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and he said about him, “Behold, an Israelite in whom truly there is no deceit.”

New American Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.”

New Revised Standard Version
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and he said of him, Behold truly an Israelite, in whom there is no guile!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Yeshua saw Nathaniel when he came to him and said about him: “Behold, truly a son of Israel in whom is no deceit.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And Nathaniel said to him: Can any thing good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him: Come and see.

Godbey New Testament
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and says concerning him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.

Haweis New Testament
Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite in reality, in whom there is no guile!

Mace New Testament
Jesus seeing Nathanael coming, said of him, there's a true Israelite, in whom is no guile, how do you know me?

Weymouth New Testament
Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, and said of him, "Look! here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceitfulness!"

Worrell New Testament
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and He saith to him, "Behold, an Israelite, indeed, in whom there is no guile!"

Worsley New Testament
And when Jesus saw Nathaniel coming towards Him, He saith concerning him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile."

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
46“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” 48“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”…

Cross References
Psalm 32:2
Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Zephaniah 3:13
The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.”

Romans 2:28-29
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. / No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

Revelation 14:5
And no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Psalm 73:1
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Isaiah 53:9
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

1 Peter 2:22
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

1 John 3:3
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

Genesis 6:9
This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

2 Corinthians 1:12
For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.

1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.


Treasury of Scripture

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Behold.

John 8:31,39
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; …

Romans 2:28,29
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: …

Romans 9:6
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

in.

Psalm 32:2
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalm 73:1
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

1 Peter 2:1,22
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, …

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John 1
1. The divinity, humanity, office, and incarnation of Jesus Christ.
15. The testimony of John.
39. The calling of Simon and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael














When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching
This phrase sets the scene for a significant encounter. The Greek word for "saw" (εἶδεν, eiden) implies more than just physical sight; it suggests a deep, discerning perception. Jesus, in His divine omniscience, perceives Nathanael's heart and character even before a word is spoken. This moment underscores the truth that God knows us intimately, as expressed in Psalm 139:1-4, where the psalmist acknowledges God's complete knowledge of our thoughts and actions.

He said of him
The act of speaking here is significant. In the Gospel of John, Jesus' words often reveal profound truths. The Greek verb "said" (λέγει, legei) is in the present tense, indicating a timeless truth about Nathanael's character. This reflects the power of Jesus' words, which are not only descriptive but also transformative, as seen throughout His ministry.

Here is a true Israelite
The term "true Israelite" is rich with meaning. The Greek word for "true" (ἀληθῶς, alēthōs) implies genuineness and authenticity. An Israelite, in this context, refers to someone who is not just a descendant of Jacob (Israel) by birth but also in spirit and faith. This echoes Romans 9:6-8, where Paul distinguishes between ethnic Israel and those who are children of the promise. Nathanael embodies the ideal of what it means to be part of God's chosen people, not merely by lineage but by heart.

in whom there is no deceit
The phrase "no deceit" is a powerful commendation. The Greek word for "deceit" (δόλος, dolos) means guile or cunning. Jesus is affirming Nathanael's integrity and sincerity. This is reminiscent of Jacob, whose name means "supplanter" or "deceiver," yet who was transformed by God into Israel. Nathanael stands in contrast to Jacob's early life, embodying the transformation God desires for His people. This integrity is a hallmark of true discipleship, as seen in Psalm 32:2, which blesses the one "in whose spirit there is no deceit."

(47) Jesus saw Nathanael coming.--Nathanael is at once willing that his prejudice should give way before the force of truth. He is coming, when the look directed towards others rests also upon him. It finds the character which it tests earnest and honest. What gave rise to the form in which this is expressed is not stated. There is clearly some unexpressed link with the history of Jacob. The word for "guile" is the same word as the LXX. word for "subtlety" in Genesis 27:35. The thought then is, "Behold one who is true to the name of Israel, and in whom there is nothing of the Jacob (Genesis 27:36). There is something in the words which comes as a revelation to Nathanael. Were they a proof that the Presence before whom he stood read to the very depths of his own thought? Under the shade of a tree, where Jews were accustomed to retire for meditation and prayer, had the Old Testament history of Jacob been present to his mind? Was he too "left alone," and did he "prevail with God?" And does he now hear the inmost thought expressed in words, carrying certainty to his soul, and giving him too the victory of seeing God "face to face with life preserved?" (Genesis 32:24).

Verse 47. - Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him - for Nathanael at once obeyed the summons of Philip - and saith of him; not, to him - saith in the hearing of the unnamed disciple, who could not leave his Master's side. There are numerous indications in ch. 1 and 2 of a qualification of Jesus which, in John 2:25, is described as knowing what was in man. He read the thought and character of Simon and Philip, of Nathanael, and of his mother; and here he makes use of his Divine prerogative and, as on a multitude of other occasions, penetrated the surface to the inner motive and heart. Behold, an Israelite indeed; one who fulfils the true idea of Israel, a prince with God, a conqueror of God by prayer, and conqueror of man by submission, penitence, and restitution; one who has renounced the spirit of supplanter and taken that of penitent. "Confident in self-despair," he has relinquished his own strength, and lays hold of the strength of God, and is at peace. In whom is no guile; i.e. no self-deception, and no disposition to deceive others. The (Psalm 32:1, 2) description of the blessedness of "the man whose transgressions are forgiven,... and in whose spirit [LXX., 'mouth'] there is no guile (δόλος)," is the finest key to the significance of this passage. Christ does not say that this man is sinless, but guileless - free and full in his confession, knowing himself, and sheltering himself under no devices or seeming shows. The publican (it has been well said) was without guile when he cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" The Pharisee was steeped in self-deception and guile when he said, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men." Sincerity, openness of eye, simplicity of speech, no wish to appear other than what he is before God and man, affirms his guilelessness. Alas! the so called Israelite has widely departed from the fundamental idea of such a character, though not more so than Christians have become unlike the ideal disciples of Jesus.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[When] Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

saw
Εἶδεν (Eiden)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

Nathanael
Ναθαναὴλ (Nathanaēl)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3482: Of Hebrew origin; Nathanael, an Israelite and Christian.

approaching,
ἐρχόμενον (erchomenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

He said
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

of
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

him,
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Here
Ἴδε (Ide)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

[is] a true
ἀληθῶς (alēthōs)
Adverb
Strong's 230: Truly, really, certainly, surely. Adverb from alethes; truly.

Israelite,
Ἰσραηλίτης (Israēlitēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2475: An Israelite, one of the chosen people of Israel, a Jew. From Israel; an 'Israelite', i.e. Descendant of Israel.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

whom
(hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

there is
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

no
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

deceit.”
δόλος (dolos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1388: Deceit, guile, treachery. From an obsolete primary verb, dello; a trick, i.e. wile.


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