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 4:22 mean?

Explanation

John 4:22 is a statement made by Jesus during a conversation with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well.

The conversation covers matters of worship and the coming of true worshipers who will worship God "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23).

In this specific verse, Jesus makes a distinction between the Samaritans' and the Jews' understanding of worship: "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." The phrase "Ye worship ye know not what" highlights the fact that the Samaritans worshiped without a complete understanding or without the full revelation that the Jews possessed.

Conversely, "we know what we worship" underscores that the Jews had the knowledge and were custodians of the oracles of God.

The statement "for salvation is of the Jews" indicates that the Messiah and the salvation he brings comes from the Jewish people.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The background of John 4:22 is set in first-century Palestine where the Jews and Samaritans had deep-seated animosity towards each other.

Samaritans were descendants of intermarriages between Jews and foreigners during the Assyrian captivity.

They accepted only the first five books of the Old Testament and rejected the temple in Jerusalem, choosing instead Mount Gerizim as their place of worship.

The Jews, on the other hand, considered the Samaritans as apostates or heretics.

The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, therefore, crosses significant social and religious boundaries of the time.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives view this verse in varying lights:

Traditional Christian View: The acknowledgement that salvation comes through the Jews suggests the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy and the Jewish heritage of Jesus, aligning with the belief that Jesus is the savior for all humankind.
Jewish Perspective: Jews may see this verse as validation of their special role in history and their relationship with God as part of the chosen people, though they do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah.
Interfaith View: Some may understand this verse as a call for humility in religious certainty and a reminder that the full understanding of divine worship can transcend religious boundaries.

Practical Applications

Interfaith Dialogue: This verse can encourage open and respectful conversations among people of various religious backgrounds in order to gain a deeper mutual understanding.
Examination of Worship: It can prompt individuals to reflect on their worship practices and seek a more profound understanding of their faith.
Emphasis on Heritage: Believers may be inspired to appreciate and study the history and roots of their faith more extensively.

Cross-References

Romans 3:1-2: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."
Romans 9:4-5: "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;"
Hebrews 7:14: "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."

Language Study

The original Koine Greek of this verse carries important nuances:

"Ye worship" (σέβεσθε, sebesthe): This form implies an ongoing act of reverence or religious devotion.
"We know" (οἴδαμεν, oidamen): Indicates a state of understanding or knowledge.
"Salvation" (σωτηρία, soteria): The term encompasses not just the concept of being saved but also health, well-being, and deliverance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse with other religious texts, one may notice parallels in the claim of exclusive understanding or truth.

For instance, in Hinduism, the Vedas are considered the absolute authority on spiritual matters, while Islam holds the Quran in a similar regard.

The exclusivity in each tradition reflects a certainty in the path to salvation or enlightenment, akin to the Jewish claim in John 4:22.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse itself does not directly engage with scientific topics, but the discussion of worship and understanding may have implications for the study of cognitive science, particularly how individuals and groups comprehend and practice religious beliefs.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer various insights into this verse:

Matthew Henry: Emphasizes the ignorance of the Samaritans in worshipping false gods and the knowledge of the Jews regarding the true God.
William Barclay: Suggests that Jesus recognizes the genuine searching of the Samaritans despite their imperfect knowledge.
**Craig S.

Keener:** Discusses the significance of the Jewish roots of Christianity and the fulfillment of Messianic expectation in Jesus.

NT Wright: Points to this conversation as a foretaste of the worldwide worship that Jesus would initiate, drawing people beyond ethnic and cultural boundaries.

John 4

John 4

What does John 4:22 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 4:22 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?