Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: 4:43-54

Back in August of this year, a controversy brew over a blog post when the author of that blog said that Jesus healed the Centurion’s παῖς (pais) in Matthew 8:5-13 and in Luke 7:1-10.  The author said that παῖς (pais) was a same sex partner.  Of course, παῖς (pais) doesn’t mean that.  In John 4:43-54, we see a similar story where John uses παῖς (pais) in verse  51.  A παῖς (pais) can be a minor child (boy or girl) or it is sometimes used as a servant.  In this case, John means “a young son”.  In fact, he creates a word play in this entire passage.  In verse 46, John writes: Καὶ ἦν τις βασιλικὸς οὗ ὁ υἱὸς ἠσθένει ἐν Καφαρναούμ. (And there was a royal official whose son was sick in Capernaum.)  Here, John uses the normal word for son υἱὸς (huios).  In verse 49, the royal official says κύριε, κατάβηθι πρὶν ἀποθανεῖν τὸ παιδίον μου (Sir/Lord, come down before my child dies).  παιδίον (paidion) is normally used for a young child.  In verse 50, Jesus replies to him: ὁ υἱός σου ζῇ (your son lives).  Finally, in verse 51 we have: οἱ δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ ὑπήντησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες ὅτι ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ ζῇ. (his slaves met him saying that his child lives.)

It is obvious from this context that παῖς (pais) here was the royal official’s young male child, regardless of John’s word plays.