John 4

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

And he must needs go through Samaria.

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

And many more believed because of his own word;

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

What does John 4:17 mean?

Explanation

John 4:17 is a verse from the New Testament of the Bible in which Jesus Christ reveals his supernatural knowledge about the personal life of a Samaritan woman he met at Jacob's well.

In this particular verse, the woman acknowledges that she does not have a husband.

Jesus confirms her statement and goes further to reveal that she has had five husbands, and the man she is with now is not her husband.

This interaction is significant as it shows Jesus' insight into personal histories and conditions, making it clear that he possesses knowledge beyond the natural realm.

The verse bridges the literal interaction with the spiritual and moral insight that Jesus provides, indicating his divinity and understanding of human nature.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This interaction takes place during Jesus' journey through Samaria, a region between Judea and Galilee.

Samaritans were considered outsiders by Jews because of their mixed heritage and differing worship practices, which centered around Mount Gerizim instead of Jerusalem.

During this time, gender and societal norms would have made it unusual for a rabbi, such as Jesus, to speak openly with a woman, especially one with such a personal history.

This context emphasizes Jesus' disregard for social barriers and his focus on addressing the spiritual needs of individuals, regardless of their gender or background.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse showcases several key insights:

Omniscience: Jesus' knowledge of the woman's marital status implies his omniscience, a divine attribute pointing to his deity.
Grace: Jesus does not condemn the woman for her past but instead offers her a chance for spiritual renewal, embodying the Christian concept of grace.
Truth: The verse highlights the importance of truth in Jesus' teachings.

The woman is honest with Jesus, and He acknowledges her truthfulness before revealing deeper insights into her life.

Salvation for all: The encounter underlines the Christian belief that Jesus' message of salvation was intended for all people, Jews and Samaritans alike.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, John 4:17 encourages believers to:

Be truthful: It inspires individuals to live in honesty and authenticity, both with themselves and in their interactions with others.
Seek spiritual renewal: Just as Jesus offered the Samaritan woman living water, believers are reminded to seek spiritual fulfillment in Christ.
Break social barriers: This verse is an example of inclusivity, showing how one should reach out beyond social divides to connect with and understand others.
Recognize the universality of Christ's message: It exemplifies the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry, highlighting that his teachings are meant for everyone.

Cross-References

John 4:18 (KJV): "For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly."
John 2:25 (KJV): "And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."
Hebrews 4:13 (KJV): "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrase from the woman is "οὐκ ἔχω ἄνδρα" (ouk echo andra), meaning "I have no husband." The Greek verb "ἔχω" (echo) means "to have" or "to possess." The term "ἄνδρα" (andra) is the accusative form of "ἀνήρ" (anēr), which means "man" or "husband." Jesus’ response uses "καλῶς" (kalōs), meaning "well" or "rightly," affirming the woman's statement as accurate but incomplete, which he then completes with further revelation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, divine figures often exhibited supernatural knowledge, such as the Oracle at Delphi in Greek mythology or various deities in Egyptian myths who could predict and influence the future.

This verse shows a comparable characteristic in Jesus to those divine figures.

However, in Christianity, Jesus' knowledge serves as a vehicle for personal transformation rather than as a means to reveal destiny or fortune.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science primarily operates within the domain of empirical evidence and does not generally deal with miraculous knowledge or divine characteristics.

Nevertheless, psychology might offer insight into the human aspect of the interaction, such as the social dynamics at play or the psychological effect of being deeply understood by another person, even if it is a divine figure like Jesus.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have interpreted this verse in different ways:

Traditional Commentators: They emphasize the divine nature of Jesus and highlight his ability to know the hearts and histories of individuals.
Feminist Theologians: Some place focus on the dynamics of gender and societal norms present in the encounter, applauding Jesus for elevating the status of the Samaritan woman despite her social standing.
Historical-Critical Scholars: They might analyze the cultural and historical context of Samaria and the significance of Jesus breaking the social norms of his time.
Pastoral Commentators: They often reflect on the personal and spiritual implications of the exchange, using it to discuss themes of confession, forgiveness, and redemption.

John 4

John 4

What does John 4:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 4:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?