John 4:19

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

John 4:19 Meaning and Commentary

John 4:19

The woman saith unto him, Sir
With another countenance, and a different air and gesture, with another accent and tone of speech, dropping her scoffs and jeers:

I perceive that thou art a prophet;
such an one as Samuel was, who could tell Saul what was in his heart, and that his father's asses were found, and where they were, ( 1 Samuel 9:19 1 Samuel 9:20 ) ; and as Elisha, whose heart went with his servant Gehazi, when Naaman turned to him to meet him, and give him presents; and who could tell, ere the king's messenger came to him, that the son of a murderer had sent to take away his head, ( 2 Kings 5:26 ) ( 6:32 ) . And such a prophet, that had such a spirit of discerning, this woman took Christ to be; and who indeed is greater than a prophet, and is the omniscient God; who knows all men's hearts, thoughts, words and actions, and needs not that any should testify of them to him; for he knows what is in them, and done by them; and can tell them all that ever they did, as he did this woman, ( John 4:29 ) . Now in order either to shift off the discourse from this subject, which touched her to the quick; or else being truly sensible of her sin, and willing to reform, and for the future to worship God in the place and manner he had directed, she addressed Christ in the following words.

John 4:19 In-Context

17 The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband:
18 for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.