John 1:48

εἶδεν … ἐρχόμενον. This shews that Jesus did not overhear Nathanael’s question. S. John represents his knowledge of Nathanael as miraculous: as in John 1:42 He appears as the searcher of hearts.

ἀληθῶς. In character as well as by birth. The guile may refer to the ‘subtilty’ of Jacob (Genesis 27:35) before he became Israel: ‘Lo a son of Israel, who is in no way a son of Jacob.’ The ‘supplanter’ is gone; the ‘prince’ remains. His guilelessness is shewn in his making no mock repudiation of Christ’s praise: he is free from ‘the pride that apes humility.’ It is shewn also in the manner of his conversion. Like a true Israelite he longs for the coming of the Messiah, but he will not too lightly believe in the joy that has come, nor does he conceal his doubts. But as soon as he has’ come and seen,’ he knows, and knows that he is known: thus ‘I know Mine and Mine know Me’ (John 10:14) is fulfilled beforehand.

S. John uses ἀληθῶς about 8 times, and in the rest of N.T. it occurs about 8 times (see on John 1:8).