John 1:48 net — Nathanael asked him,“How do you know me?” Jesus replied,“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I…

NET Bible

"Nathanael asked him,“How do you know me?” Jesus replied,“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”"

— John 1:48, NET Bible

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John 1:48 in Other Translations

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John 1 — Context

45

Philip found Nathanael and told him,“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about– Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46

Nathanael replied,“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied,“Come and see.”

47

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

48

Nathanael asked him,“How do you know me?” Jesus replied,“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49

Nathanael answered him,“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!”

50

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

51

He continued,“I tell all of you the solemn truth– you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 1:48 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 1:48 say?
John 1:48 in the NET Bible reads: “Nathanael asked him,“How do you know me?” Jesus replied,“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.””
Where is John 1:48 in the Bible?
John 1:48 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 1, verse 48.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 1:48.
What translation should I read John 1:48 in?
John 1:48 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 1:48?
John 1:48 reads (NET): “Nathanael asked him,“How do you know me?” Jesus replied,“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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