What Does John 2:3 Mean in the King James?

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

John 2:3 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

At Cana, need enters the story as a bare fact, the wine has run out, before anyone names a remedy.

THE MEANING

Here, lack is brought to Jesus in one clear sentence: they have no wine. The need is visible before any remedy is named; no explanation, accusation, or request accompanies it. The scene holds absence in relationship without first making it into a plan.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that a need must arrive with a solution attached is undone here: “They have no wine” is spoken without a plan or a demand.

THE ROOT

ὑστερήσαντος

hysterēsantos

GROWS FROM

ὑστερ-

To be behind, come short, or be in need.

“wanted” in this verse is hysterēsantos. The Greek verb marks a supply coming short, so the phrase holds the wine as an actual lack at the table. Its noun branch names the resulting deficiency, carrying the same seed from the event of falling short to the condition left behind.

ALSO GROWS

hystereō: To fall short; to be in need.

ὑστερέω

This verb names the shortage itself, making the missing wine a condition that has come to the surface.

hysterēma: A lack; a deficiency.

ὑστέρημα

This noun names what remains lacking, carrying the same root from the act of coming short to the resulting absence.

THE PATTERN

Lack enters the shared field when what is absent or insufficient is named plainly.

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:2 · KJVThe widow answers with a concrete inventory: nothing in the house except a pot of oil.

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

John 6:9 · KJVThe small amount is set beside the crowd in the disciple’s question, making the insufficiency explicit.

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

2 Corinthians 8:14 · KJVAbundance and need appear together as a reciprocal supply, so lack is named within relationship.

THE THREAD

I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

1 Corinthians 16:17 · KJV

John’s “wanted” is a form of ⁨ὑστερέω⁩ (hystereō, to fall short or be in need), while the “lacking” here is ⁨ὑστέρημα⁩ (hysterēma, a deficiency), from the same root family. At Cana the shortage is wine; here it is what is missing between people, showing how the same root can name material and relational lack.

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