John 4

The Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well

1 Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

2 (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples),

3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

4 And it was necessary [for] him to go through Samaria.

5 Now he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

6 And Jacob's well was there, so Jesus, [because he] had become tired from the journey, simply sat down at the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me [water] to drink."

8 (For his disciples had gone away into the town so that they could buy food.)

9 So the Samaritan woman said to him, "How do you, being a Jew, ask from me [water] to drink, [since I] am a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you had known the gift of God and who it is who says to you, 'Give me [water] to drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket and the well is deep! From where then do you get this living water?

12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, [are you], who gave us the well and drank from it himself, and his sons and his livestock?"

13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again.

14 But whoever drinks of this water which I will give to him will never be thirsty for eternity, but the water which I will give to him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or come here to draw [water]!"

16 He said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here."

17 The woman answered and said to him, "I do not have a husband." Jesus said to her, "You have said rightly, 'I do not have a husband,'

18 for you have had five husbands, and [the one] whom you have now is not your husband; this you have said truthfully!"

19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you [people] say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship."

21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, that an hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

22 You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews.

23 But an hour is coming--and now is [here]--when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for indeed the Father seeks such [people] [to be] his worshipers.

24 God [is] spirit, and the ones who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (the one called Christ); "whenever that one comes, he will proclaim all [things] to us."

26 Jesus said to her, "I, the one speaking to you, am [he].

The Disciples and the Harvest

27 And at this [point] his disciples came, and they were astonished that he was speaking with a woman. However, no one said, "What do you seek?" or "Why are you speaking with her?"

28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into the town and said to the people,

29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Perhaps this one is the Christ?"

30 They went out from the town and were coming to him.

31 In the meanwhile the disciples were asking him, saying, "Rabbi, eat [something]!"

32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."

33 So the disciples began to say to one another, "No one brought him [anything] to eat, [did they]?"

34 Jesus said to them, "My food is that I do the will of the one who sent me and complete his work.

35 Do you not say, 'There are yet four months and the harvest comes'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.

36 The one who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, in order that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together.

37 For in this [instance] the saying is true, 'It is one who sows and another who reaps.'

38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have worked, and you have entered into their work."

The Samaritans and the Savior of the World

39 Now from that town many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything that I have done."

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days.

41 And many more believed because of his word,

42 And they were saying to the woman, "No longer because of {what you said} do we believe, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is truly the Savior of the world!"

Return to Galilee

43 And after the two days he departed from there into Galilee.

44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own homeland.

45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, [because they] had seen all [the things] he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had also come to the feast).

A Royal Official’s Son Is Healed

46 Now he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And [there] was at Capernaum a certain royal official whose son was sick.

47 This man, [when he] heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, went to him and asked that he come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.

48 So Jesus said to him, "Unless you [people] see signs and wonders, you will never believe!"

49 The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"

50 Jesus said to him, "Go, your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he departed.

51 Now [as] he was going down, his slaves met him, saying that his child was alive.

52 So he inquired from them the hour at which he had gotten better. Then they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."

53 So the father knew that [it was] that same hour at which Jesus said to him, "Your son will live," and he himself believed, and his whole household.

54 Now this [is] again a second sign Jesus performed [when he] came from Judea into Galilee.

John 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Christ's departure into Galilee. (1-3) His discourse with the Samaritan woman. (4-26) The effects of Christ's conversation with the woman of Samaria. (27-42) Christ heals the nobleman's son. (43-54)

Verses 1-3 Jesus applied himself more to preaching, which was the more ( 1 Corinthians. 1:17 ) his disciples, by employing them to baptize. He teaches us that the benefit of sacraments depends not on the hand that administers them.

Verses 4-26 There was great hatred between the Samaritans and the Jews. Christ's road from Judea to Galilee lay through Samaria. We should not go into places of temptation but when we needs must; and then must not dwell in them, but hasten through them. We have here our Lord Jesus under the common fatigue of travellers. Thus we see that he was truly a man. Toil came in with sin; therefore Christ, having made himself a curse for us, submitted to it. Also, he was a poor man, and went all his journeys on foot. Being wearied, he sat thus on the well; he had no couch to rest upon. He sat thus, as people wearied with travelling sit. Surely, we ought readily to submit to be like the Son of God in such things as these. Christ asked a woman for water. She was surprised because he did not show the anger of his own nation against the Samaritans. Moderate men of all sides are men wondered at. Christ took the occasion to teach her Divine things: he converted this woman, by showing her ignorance and sinfulness, and her need of a Saviour. By this living water is meant the Spirit. Under this comparison the blessing of the Messiah had been promised in the Old Testament. The graces of the Spirit, and his comforts, satisfy the thirsting soul, that knows its own nature and necessity. What Jesus spake figuratively, she took literally. Christ shows that the water of Jacob's well yielded a very short satisfaction. Of whatever waters of comfort we drink, we shall thirst again. But whoever partakes of the Spirit of grace, and the comforts of the gospel, shall never want that which will abundantly satisfy his soul. Carnal hearts look no higher than carnal ends. Give it me, saith she, not that I may have everlasting life, which Christ proposed, but that I come not hither to draw. The carnal mind is very ingenious in shifting off convictions, and keeping them from fastening. But how closely our Lord Jesus brings home the conviction to her conscience! He severely reproved her present state of life. The woman acknowledged Christ to be a prophet. The power of his word in searching the heart, and convincing the conscience of secret things, is a proof of Divine authority. It should cool our contests, to think that the things we are striving about are passing away. The object of worship will continue still the same, God, as a Father; but an end shall be put to all differences about the place of worship. Reason teaches us to consult decency and convenience in the places of our worship; but religion gives no preference to one place above another, in respect of holiness and approval with God. The Jews were certainly in the right. Those who by the Scriptures have obtained some knowledge of God, know whom they worship. The word of salvation was of the Jews. It came to other nations through them. Christ justly preferred the Jewish worship before the Samaritan, yet here he speaks of the former as soon to be done away. God was about to be revealed as the Father of all believers in every nation. The spirit or the soul of man, as influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God, and have communion with him. Spiritual affections, as shown in fervent prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, form the worship of an upright heart, in which God delights and is glorified. The woman was disposed to leave the matter undecided, till the coming of the Messiah. But Christ told her, I that speak to thee, am He. She was an alien and a hostile Samaritan, merely speaking to her was thought to disgrace our Lord Jesus. Yet to this woman did our Lord reveal himself more fully than as yet he had done to any of his disciples. No past sins can bar our acceptance with him, if we humble ourselves before him, believing in him as the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Verses 27-42 The disciples wondered that Christ talked thus with a Samaritan. Yet they knew it was for some good reason, and for some good end. Thus when particular difficulties occur in the word and providence of God, it is good to satisfy ourselves that all is well that Jesus Christ says and does. Two things affected the woman. The extent of his knowledge. Christ knows all the thoughts, words, and actions, of all the children of men. And the power of his word. He told her secret sins with power. She fastened upon that part of Christ's discourse, many would think she would have been most shy of repeating; but the knowledge of Christ, into which we are led by conviction of sin, is most likely to be sound and saving. They came to him: those who would know Christ, must meet him where he records his name. Our Master has left us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God as he did; with diligence, as those that make a business of it; with delight and pleasure in it. Christ compares his work to harvest-work. The harvest is appointed and looked for before it comes; so was the gospel. Harvest-time is busy time; all must be then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, and harvest-work must be done then, or not at all; so the time of the gospel is a season, which if once past, cannot be recalled. God sometimes uses very weak and unlikely instruments for beginning and carrying on a good work. Our Saviour, by teaching one poor woman, spread knowledge to a whole town. Blessed are those who are not offended at Christ. Those taught of God, are truly desirous to learn more. It adds much to the praise of our love to Christ and his word, if it conquers prejudices. Their faith grew. In the matter of it: they believed him to be the Saviour, not only of the Jews but of the world. In the certainty of it: we know that this is indeed the Christ. And in the ground of it, for we have heard him ourselves.

Verses 43-54 The father was a nobleman, yet the son was sick. Honours and titles are no security from sickness and death. The greatest men must go themselves to God, must become beggars. The nobleman did not stop from his request till he prevailed. But at first he discovered the weakness of his faith in the power of Christ. It is hard to persuade ourselves that distance of time and place, are no hinderance to the knowledge, mercy, and power of our Lord Jesus. Christ gave an answer of peace. Christ's saying that the soul lives, makes it alive. The father went his way, which showed the sincerity of his faith. Being satisfied, he did not hurry home that night, but returned as one easy in his own mind. His servants met him with the news of the child's recovery. Good news will meet those that hope in God's word. Diligent comparing the works of Jesus with his word, will confirm our faith. And the bringing the cure to the family brought salvation to it. Thus an experience of the power of one word of Christ, may settle the authority of Christ in the soul. The whole family believed likewise. The miracle made Jesus dear to them. The knowledge of Christ still spreads through families, and men find health and salvation to their souls.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "water" is supplied in the translation as the understood direct object of the verb "give"
• [b]. *Here "water" is supplied in the translation as the understood direct object of the verb "ask"
• [c]. *Here "[since]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("am") which is understood as causal
• [d]. *Here "water" is supplied in the translation as the understood direct object of the verb "give"
• [e]. *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated by the supplied phrase "[are you]" in the translation
• [f]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [g]. *Here "[people]" is supplied in the translation because the Greek pronoun is plural
• [h]. *The word "[here]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [i]. *Here the predicate nominative is supplied from context in the English translation
• [j]. *The word "[point]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [k]. Assuming the term is used here in a generic sense to refer to persons of either gender, it should be translated "people"; if instead the term here refers only to the town leaders or elders who met at the town gate, then "men" would be appropriate
• [l]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [m]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to say")
• [n]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [o]. *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated by the supplied phrase "[did they]" in the translation
• [p]. Some interpreters and Bible translations place the word "already" at the beginning of the next verse: "Already the one who reaps receives wages ..."
• [q]. *The word "[point]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [r]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began asking")
• [s]. Literally "your speaking"
• [t]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had seen") which is understood as causal
• [u]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [v]. *Here "[people]" is supplied in the translation because the Greek verb ("see") is plural
• [w]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was going down")
• [x]. Some manuscripts have "that [it was] at that same hour"
• [y]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN 4

In this chapter the apostle cautions against seducing spirits; advises to try them, and gives rules by which they may be known, and by which they are distinguished from others; and then returns to his favourite subject, brotherly love. He exhorts the saints not to believe every man that came with a doctrine to them, but to try them, since there were many false teachers in the world; and gives a rule by which they may be tried and judged, as that whatever teacher owns Christ to be come in the flesh is of God, but he that does not is not of God, but is the spirit of antichrist that should come, and was in the world, 1Jo 4:1,2, but, for the comfort of those to whom he writes, he observes, that they were of God, and had overcome these false teachers, through the mighty power of the divine Spirit in them, who is greater than Satan, and all his emissaries, 1Jo 4:4. He distinguishes between seducing spirits, and faithful ministers of the word; the former are of the world, speak of worldly things, and worldly men hear them; but the latter are of God, and they that have any spiritual knowledge of God hear them; but such as are not of God do not heal them, by which may he known the spirit of truth from the spirit of error, 1Jo 4:5,6. And then the apostle returns to his former exhortation to brotherly love, which he enforces by the following reasons, because it is of God, a fruit of his Spirit and grace, and because it is an evidence of being born of God, and of having a true knowledge of him; whereas he that is destitute of it does not know him, seeing God is love, 1Jo 4:7,8, and having affirmed that God is love, he proves it, by the mission of his Son, to be a propitiation for the sins of such that did not love him, and that they might live through him; wherefore he argues, that if God had such a love to men, so undeserving of it, then the saints ought to love one another, 1Jo 4:9-11. Other arguments follow, engaging to it, as that God is invisible; and if he is to be loved, then certainly his people, who are visible; and that such who love one another, God dwells in them, and his love is perfected in them; and that he dwells in them is known by the gift of his Spirit to them, 1Jo 4:12,13, and that God the Father so loved the world, as to send his Son to be the Saviour of it, before asserted, is confirmed by the apostles, who were eyewitnesses of it; who also declare, that whoever confesses the sonship of Christ, God dwells in him, and he in God; and who had an assurance of the love of God to them, who is love itself; so that he that dwells in God, and God in him, dwells in love, 1Jo 4:14-16. And great are the advantages arising from hence, for hereby the saints' love to God is made perfect; they have boldness in the day of judgment, since as he is, so are they in this world, and fear is cast out by it, 1Jo 4:17,18, but lest too much should be thought to be ascribed to love, that is said to be owing to the love of God to them, which is prior to theirs to him, and the reason of it, 1Jo 4:19. And the chapter is closed with observing the contradiction there is between a profession of love to God, and hatred of the brethren, seeing God, who is invisible, cannot be loved, if brethren that are seen are hated; and also the commandment, that he that loves God should love his brother also, 1Jo 4:20,21.