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 1:50

1:50 Jesus said to him, 3  “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 4 

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 Grk “answered and said to him.” This has been simplified in the translation to “said to him.”

4 sn What are the greater things Jesus had in mind? In the narrative this forms an excellent foreshadowing of the miraculous signs which began at Cana of Galilee.