Nobleman
Nobleman is the rendering of the A. V. at Joh 4:46, of βασιλικός, which is somewhat various in signification: 1, descended from a king; 2, one belonging to the court; 3, a soldier of the king, in which sense it often occurs in Josephus. The second signification seems, however, to be the prevalent one; and the Greek interpreters also favor it. See Robinson, N.T. Lex. s.v. Munter found it likewise in inscriptions. The Syriac has here "a royal servant;" the Ethiopic, "a royal house-servant." This person was, therefore, probably of the court of Herod Antipas, who reigned over Galilee and Persea (Tholuck, Conmmentar zum Johan. 4:46). Some writers have conjectured that this "nobleman" was Chuza, Herod's steward, whose wife afterwards became an attendant on Jesus (Lu 8:3), and is thought to have been converted on this occasion; but of this there is no evidence.
