John 1:38

In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort, this verse is:

Στραφεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ θεασάμενος αὐτοὺς ἀκολουθοῦντας, λέγει αὐτοῖς, Τί ζητεῖτε; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ, Ῥαββί — ὃ λέγεται ἑρμηνευόμενον, Διδάσκαλε — ποῦ μένεις;

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

The New International Version translates the passage as:

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

To the words "Jesus turning ..." St. Cyril notes that Jesus was not ignorant of what they sought, for He knew all things as God, but he asked in order that His question might start a conversation. Bede notes that by their expressive reply, "Rabbi" they honoured Christ, and sought His favour.^[1] Also there is an element in it of them wishing to become His disciples. They ask where he dwells, even though Christ is said to have no proper house, according to the gospel of St. Matthew: “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Lapide comments that, the disciples ask this question, that they may be able to speak privately with Christ, and be instructed by Him in Divine things. "In this they show that they wish to become His friends and servants."^[2]