ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 2.1

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:"

"2. and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine." (John 2:1-3, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there."

"2. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage. 3. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”" (John 2:1-3, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:"

"2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine." (John 2:1-3, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And the third day a marriage happened in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there,"

"2. and also Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage; 3. and wine having failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, 'Wine they have not;'" (John 2:1-3, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.