Discovery BoxJohn 1:48 
Context1:48 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
Context1:50 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.
