John 2:10

And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now.
- King James Version

and *said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when {the people} have drunk freely, {then he serves} the poorer {wine; but} you have kept the good wine until now."
- New American Standard Version (1995)

and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when `men' have drunk freely, `then' that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And said to him, Every man first puts out his best wine and when all have had enough he puts out what is not so good; but you have kept the good wine till now.
- Basic English Bible

and says to him, Every man sets on first the good wine, and when [men] have well drunk, then the inferior; thou hast kept the good wine till now.
- Darby Bible

And saith to him, Every man at the beginning presenteth good wine; and when men have well drank, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
- Webster's Bible

and said to him, "It is usual to put on the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then that which is inferior. But you have kept the good wine till now."
- Weymouth Bible

and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!"
- World English Bible

and seith to hym, Ech man settith first good wiyn, and whanne men ben fulfillid, thanne that that is worse; but thou hast kept the good wiyn `in to this tyme.
- Wycliffe Bible

and saith to him, `Every man, at first, the good wine doth set forth; and when they may have drunk freely, then the inferior; thou didst keep the good wine till now.'
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for John 2:10

2:10 And saith - St. John barely relates the words he spoke, which does not imply his approving them. When they have well drunk - does not mean any more than toward the close of the entertainment.

People's Bible Notes for John 2:10

Joh 2:10 Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine. The language of the ruler is sportive, but still he states a custom. The best wine was offered when the appetite of the guests was sharpest and most critical. Have well drunk. Not intoxicated, but have drunk considerable. Satan gives his good wine first; so the drunkard finds it; so did the prodigal son. Afterwards he gives the bitter; red eyes, pain, hunger, wretchedness. Thou hast kept the good wine until now. What meaneth Christ making wine? In Palestine there were three kinds of wine: (1) Fermented wines, which, however, were very unlike our fiery liquors, and contained only a small per cent of alcohol. These were mixed with two or three parts of water. The fermented wine was only intoxicating when used in enormous quantities. (2) The unfermented juice of the grape. (3) An intoxicating drink called "new wine" in Ac 2:13. Whedon says: ``We see no reason for supposing that the wine of the present occasion was that upon which Scripture places its strongest interdict (Pr 20:1 23:31; Isa 22:13), rather than that eulogized as a blessing (Ps 104:15; Isa 55:1). Even adopting the view that it was fermented wine, it was totally unlike the fiery and undiluted drinks sold as wines in saloons, used in many families, offered at hotels and wine parties, and even poured out at communion tables. In the use of the usual wine of Palestine there is not the slightest apology for drinking as a beverage the alcoholic drinks which are the curse of our times. With regard to them the only safe rule is "to touch not, taste not, handle not" (Col 2:21).''