Albert Barnes Commentary John 1:49

"Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel." — John 1:49 (ASV)

Rabbi - Master. Applied appropriately to Jesus, and to no one else (Matthew 23:10).

The Son of God - By this title he doubtless meant that he was the Messiah. His conscience told him that he had judged rightly concerning his character, and that therefore he must know the heart and the desires of the mind. If so, he could not be a mere man, but must be the long-expected Messiah.

The King of Israel - This was one of the titles by which the Messiah was expected, and this was the title which was affixed to his cross (John 19:18). This case of Nathanael John adduces as another evidence that Jesus was the Christ. The great purpose he had in writing this Gospel was to collect the evidence that he was the Messiah (John 20:31). A case, therefore, where Jesus searched the heart, and where his knowledge of the heart convinced a pious Jew that he was the Christ, is very properly adduced as important testimony.