The nobleman said to him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
The nobleman said to him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
The man said, Sir, come down before my boy is dead.
The nobleman saith to him, Sir, come down ere my child dieth.
The nobleman said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."
The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
Sir, come down, etc. - He did not think our Lord could cure him without being present, and seems here to feel himself hurt, because our Lord did not come at his first entreaty. It is difficult for a proud man, or a man in office, to humble himself, or to treat even God Almighty with proper respect. The spirit of this man seems not much unlike to that of Naaman the Syrian, 2 Kings 5:11.
Come down ... - The earnestness of the nobleman evinces the deep and tender anxiety of a father. So anxious was he for his son that he was not willing that Jesus should delay a moment - not even to address the people. He still seems to have supposed that Jesus had no power to heal his son except he was present with him.