Reference: Nathanael
American
A disciple of Christ, probably the same as BARTHOLOMEW, which see. He was a native of Cana in Galilee, Joh 21:2, and was one of the first to recognize the Messiah, who at their first interview manifested his perfect acquaintance with Nathanael's secret heart and life, Joh 1:45-51. He was introduced by Philip to Jesus, who on seeing him pronounced that remarkable eulogy which has rendered his name almost another word for sincerity: "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." He was one of the disciples to whom Christ appeared at the sea of Tiberias after his resurrection, Joh 21:2; and after witnessing the ascension returned with the other apostles to Jerusalem, Ac 1:4,12-13.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Easton
given or gift of God, one of our Lord's disciples, "of Cana in Galilee" (Joh 21:2). He was "an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile" (Joh 1:47-48). His name occurs only in the Gospel of John, who in his list of the disciples never mentions Bartholomew, with whom he has consequently been identified. He was one of those to whom the Lord showed himself alive after his resurrection, at the Sea of Tiberias.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Fausets
("God given".) Hebrew Nethaneel. Of Cana in Galilee (Joh 1:47; 21:2). Three or four days after the temptation, Jesus when intending to "go forth into Galilee findeth Philip and saith, Follow Me." Philip, like Andrew finding his own brother Simon (Joh 1:41), and the woman of Samaria (Joh 4:28-29) inviting her fellow townsmen, having been found himself by Jesus, "findeth" his friend Nathanael, and saith, "we have found (he should have said, we have been found by: Isa 65:1; Php 3:12 ff, Song 1:4) Him of whom the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph" (he should have said the Son of God). (For the rest, see BARTHOLOMEW.) Tradition makes Nathanael to have been the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana, to which he belonged.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Hastings
1. 1Es 1:8 = 2Ch 35:9 Nethanel. 2. 1Es 9:22 = Ezr 10:22 Nethanel. 3. An ancestor of Judith (Jdt 8:1). 4. Nathanael of Cana in Galilee (Joh 21:2) appears twice in the Fourth Gospel. (1) When told by Philip, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Morish
Nathan'ael
One of whom the Lord said, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." He answered, "Whence knowest thou me?" The Lord told him that he had seen him under the fig tree, where probably he had been in some exercise of soul Godward: we may gather this from Ps 32:2,5, as one in whom is no guile is one who confesses his transgressions to the Lord. At once Nathanael said, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." Joh 1:45-49. Joh 21:2 speaks of Nathanael, of Cana in Galilee, who was with the apostles when they went fishing. This is doubtless the same person. It is thought by many that Nathanael was an apostle, and was the same as Bartholomew, whom John never otherwise mentions.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Smith
Nathan'ael
(gift of God), a disciple of Jesus Christ, concerning whom, under that name at least, we learn from Scripture little more than his birthplace, Cana of Galilee,
Joh 21:2
and his simple, truthful character.
Joh 1:47
The name does not occur in the first three Gospels; but it is commonly believed that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. The evidence for that belief is as follows: St, John who twice mentions Nathanael, never introduces the name of Bartholomew at all. St. Matthew,
St. Mark,
and St. Luke,
Lu 8:14
all speak of Bartholomew but never of Nathanael. If was Philip who first brought Nathanael to Jesus, just as Andrew had brought his brother Simon.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Watsons
NATHANAEL, a disciple of our Lord. He appears to have been a pious Jew who waited for the Messiah: and upon Jesus saying to him, "Before Philip called thee, I saw thee under the fig tree," Nathanael, convinced, by some circumstance not explained, of his omniscience, exclaimed, "Master, thou art the Son of God, and the King of Israel." Many have thought that Nathanael was the same as Bartholomew. The evangelists, who mention Bartholomew, say nothing of Nathanael; and St. John, who mentions Nathanael, takes no notice of Bartholomew. We read at the end of St. John's Gospel, that our Saviour, after his resurrection, manifested himself to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee, as they were fishing in the lake of Gennesareth. We know no other circumstances of the life of this holy man.