The Greek text of this verse is redundant, since there are two words that may mean “second.” Acknowledging this redundance, most translations handle the text as Good News Translation does. Revised Standard Version seems to render each word separately, the first by “now” and the second by “second” (“this was now the second sign”). This same construction appears in 21.16. Second miracle refers the reader back to Jesus’ first miracle in Cana (2.11).

Miracle (literally “sign”) translates the same word used in verse 48. (See the discussion at 2.11.)

A literal translation of verse 54 can be misleading in some languages, since it would imply that on this particular occasion, when Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he performed two miracles. In reality, the reference is to the second of two miracles, performed when Jesus returned to Galilee from Judea on two different occasions. The first relates the turning of water into wine (Chapter 2), and the second, in the present context, is the healing of the official’s son. Both are associated with Cana and both occurred upon a return of Jesus from Judea. In translating this verse it may be necessary to say in some languages “This was the second time that Jesus came from Judea to Galilee and performed a miracle.”

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 .