John 1:49

Rabbi. See on v. 38.

Son of God. See on Luke 1:35. The profound impression made by Christ’s declaration (v. 47) is clearly evident from Nathanael’s forthright and unqualified profession of faith (v. 49). Evidently it was his earnest desire for clearer light concerning the Baptist’s identification of Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (vs. 29, 36) and as “the Son of God” (v. 34), that had led him to seek an appropriate place for meditation and prayer (see DA 140). In response to that prayer he was now provided with convincing evidence that Jesus was divine. Jesus often read men’s inmost thoughts and the hidden secrets of their lives, thereby giving them evidence of His divinity (see on Mark 2:8). For later declarations by the disciples of faith in the divinity of Jesus see Matt. 14:33; 16:16; John 6:69; 16:30; etc.

King of Israel. An additional Messianic title by which Nathanael acknowledged Jesus as the One the prophets promised should “restore again the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6). This title was equivalent to the expression “son of David” (see on Matt. 1:1; Mark 10:48; cf. Zech. 6:13).