Jesus asked "What seek ye?" to draw the two out, not to gather information. Barnes says, "This was not asked to obtain 'information.'" It was "not a harsh reproof, forbidding them to follow him," but a sign that "Jesus is ready to hear their requests and to answer them." Gill says Jesus asked "not as ignorant of whom, and what they were seeking," but "to encourage them to speak to him, which, through fear and bashfulness, they might be backward to do." Matthew Henry adds, "Christ takes early cognizance of the first motions of a soul towards him." The two answered with their own question. Barnes says they "probably asked him in order to signify their wish to be with him and to be instructed by him."

The two disciples answered Jesus' question with a question of their own. Jesus answered theirs with an invitation: "Come and see." The text continues, "They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour" (John 1:39). Then Andrew "first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias," and "he brought him to Jesus" (John 1:41-42).

"Rabbi" was a title of respect for a teacher; John translates it "Master," and the Greek he uses is didaskalos, teacher. Barnes notes that it meant literally "a great one," and Gill calls it a title "which now began to be in much use with the Jews."

"Dwellest" translates meno, to stay, remain, or abide. The same verb appears twice in the next verse: they "saw where he dwelt, and abode with him" (John 1:39). Barnes explains that "the tenth hour" was about four in the afternoon by Jewish reckoning, or about ten in the morning by Roman reckoning, and says "It is not certain which he used." Gill gives the same two options. One of the two was Andrew (John 1:40); the other is not named.

"What seek ye?" are the first words Jesus speaks in John's Gospel, and they are a question. He turns toward people who are following Him and invites them to say what they want. Later in this Gospel He asks similar questions at key moments: "Whom seek ye?" to those who came to arrest Him (John 18:4), and "whom seekest thou?" to Mary at the empty tomb (John 20:15).

Jesus does not answer their question with an address but with an invitation into His company. Matthew Henry paraphrases Jesus as saying, "Come and see what a mean lodging I have," so they would not expect worldly advantage, and notes that Jesus invited them at once: "never in better time than now." Barnes, explaining that "What seek ye?" was no reproof, points to Jesus' call, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28).