Two days later is literally “and on the third day” (Jerusalem Bible “three days later”). Most translations omit “and” from their text, since it is merely a reflection of Semitic style. In Greek the phrase “on the third day” would normally be taken to mean “the day after tomorrow,” since it was generally the practice to count both the first and the last day in any sequence. Other solutions are possible, but it seems best to understand that the wedding occurred two days after the call of Philip and Nathanael, the last day mentioned in the narrative up to this point (1.43). If one sees symbolic significance in the mention of three days, which is quite possible in this particular narrative, it would be best to maintain the explicit mention in the translation.
In the town of Cana in Galilee translates “in Cana of Galilee.” It was known to John’s original readers that Cana was a town, but this information may be missed by present readers unless it is made explicit. It may also be useful in some languages to identify Galilee as a province or region. If so, one may translate “in the town of Cana, which was in the region of Galilee.”
In the New Testament Cana is mentioned only in the Gospel of John (2.1,11; 4.46; 21.2). John may have more than a geographical interest in mind when he mentions Galilee. This was not merely to distinguish Cana in Galilee from other Canas, but to indicate that Jesus’ first miracle took place in Galilee, rather than in Judea, where the hostility against Jesus originated.
As already mentioned, it may be important to indicate that the wedding consists of a “wedding feast” or “a feast to celebrate a marriage.” It is not sufficient to translate merely “marriage,” since the focus is upon the feast celebrating the marriage.
Jesus’ mother is mentioned several times in John’s Gospel, though never by name (2.12; 6.42; 19.25).
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .