2:10a

and said: In some languages it may be more natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

He said to the bridegroom

2:10b

Everyone serves the fine wine first: This is a bit of exaggeration to emphasize the point. Normally a bridegroom (or other host) served the best wine at the beginning of the meal.

the fine wine: The phrase the fine wine here means “the wine that has the best taste.” This would probably be the most expensive wine. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

A host always serves the best wine first. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
People always gives the good wine ⌊to their guests⌋ first.

2:10c

and then the cheap wine: The phrase then the cheap wine is a short way of saying “then they will serve the cheap wine.”

the cheap wine: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cheap refers to wine that is not as good quality. It is cheaper and its taste is not as good. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the inferior wine (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the other wine (Contemporary English Version)

after the guests are drunk: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drunk refers to what happens when people drink too much alcohol. The guests would drink enough that their senses were not clear. They would not be able to think well. They would not know or care too much about the quality of the wine. So the host could serve the poorer wine.

In many languages there will be an idiom or euphemism that describes this state. For example:

when everyone has had a lot to drink (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
after the guests have had plenty (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 2:10a

In some languages it is more natural to translate this verse in the order of the events. For example:

When people are drunk, the host serves cheap wine. (God’s Word)
-or-
Later, after the guests have been drinking awhile, they serve the cheaper wine. (New Century Version)

2:10d

But you have saved: The word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as saved means “saved for future use” or “not used yet.” This good wine had not been served to the guests until now.

you: The pronoun you is singular and refers to the bridegroom.

the fine wine until now: The phrase the fine wine here means “the better wine” or “the best wine.” It does not imply that the other wine was of poor quality. This wine that Jesus had made tasted better than the wine the guests drank before. Here is another way to translate this clause:

But you have saved the best wine for now. (God’s Word)

General Comment on 2:10a–d

A literal translation of these words may imply that the leader of the feast criticized the bridegroom. In one sense, this is true. However, he mainly praised the bridegroom. He praised him for the excellent wine that Jesus made. Translate this verse in a way that the readers of your translation will understand this.

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