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

JOHN 2:1KJV
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John 2:1 (KJV)

What does John 2:1 mean?

John 2:1 opens an account at a wedding celebration in Cana, a town in Galilee. The verse places Jesus’ mother among the people present and gives a time marker: “the third day.” The wedding is the setting for what follows.

The narrator tells the story rather than quoting a speaker. Following the account of Jesus meeting Nathanael, the time marker moves the story forward, though the verse leaves its exact starting point unstated. The mention of Jesus’ mother prepares the reader for her part in the conversation that follows.

The Greek behind John 2:1

  • “marriage” — γάμος (gamos): The Greek word can refer to a wedding or a wedding feast. Here, the setting is a celebration with guests, not simply the act of a couple marrying.

Why John 2:1 matters

  • The time marker links the wedding to the sequence of events already underway. “The third day” points back within the story, though readers may count the days differently.
  • Jesus’ mother is introduced before Jesus and his disciples are mentioned as guests. In the following verses, her presence matters because she notices that the wine has run out and speaks to Jesus.
  • Cana is more than a place name in the story. John later connects this event with another visit to Cana, identifying the town as the place where Jesus had made water into wine (John 4:46).

Where else these words appear

“Cana” Greek G2580 · used in 4 verses

  • John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
  • John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
  • John 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

“marriage” Greek G1062 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
  • Matthew 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
  • Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

“third” Greek G5154 · used in 49 verses

  • Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
  • Luke 20:12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
  • 2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

“Galilee” Greek G1056 · used in 62 verses

  • Matthew 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
  • Mark 1:39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
  • Luke 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.