Yochanan 4:1-42

1 Therefore when Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach knew that the Perushim heard that he makes more talmidim and administers the tevilah of teshuva to more talmidim than Yochanan,

2 Although Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach himself did not personally administer the mikveh mayim’s tevilah—this was administered by his talmidim,

3 Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach left the land of Yehudah and departed again into the Galil.

4 And it was necessary for him to pass through Shomron.

5 Therefore, he comes into a city of Shomron being called Sh’khem near the field which Ya’akov Avinu had given to Yosef Ben Ya’akov. [Gn 33:19; 48:22; Josh 24:32]

6 Now a be’er (well) of Ya’akov was there. Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having become weary from his journey was sitting there at the be’er. The sha’ah (hour, time) was about hashishit (the sixth, noon).

7 An isha of Shomron comes to draw mayim. Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to her, Give me a drink.

8 For Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s talmidim had gone away into the city that they might buy okhel.

9 Therefore, the isha of Shomron says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, How can you, being a Yehudi, ask to be given a drink from me, an isha (woman) from Shomron (Samaria)? (For those who are Yehudim do not associate with those of Shomron) [EZRA 4:3-6; 9:1-10:44].

10 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to her, If you knew the matanah (gift) of Hashem and who it is saying to you, Give me a drink, [BERESHIS 26:19] you would have asked him and he would have given you Mayim Chayyim (Living Water). [YESHAYAH 44:3; 55:1; YIRMEYAH 2:13; 17:13; ZECHARYAH 14:8].

11 The isha (woman) says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, you have no bucket and the be’er is deep. From where then do you have the Mayim Chayyim? [BERESHIS 21:19]

12 Surely you are not greater than Ya’akov Avinu who gave the matanah to us of the be’er (well) and drank from it himself as did his banim (sons) and his tzon (flock)?

13 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Everyone drinking from this mayim (water) will thirst again,

14 But whoever drinks of the mayim (water) which I will give to him will never thirst again, but the mayim (water) which I will give him will become in him a makor (fountain, TEHILLIM 36:10 [9]) of mayim (water, YESHAYAH 12:3; 58:11) springing up unto Chayyei Olam.

15 The isha (woman) says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, give me this mayim that I may not thirst nor come here to draw mayim.

16 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to her, Go, call your ba’al (husband), and come back here.

17 In reply, the isha (woman) said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, I do not have a ba’al. He says to her, Well you spoke, I do not have a ba’al.

18 For beetzem (in fact) chamisha be’alim (five husbands) you had, and the one you have now is not your ba’al (husband). What you have said is emes. [MELACHIM BAIS 17:24; HOSHEA 2:7]

19 The isha says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, I see that you are a navi.

20 Avoteinu on this mountain (Gerizim) worshiped [DEVARIM 11:29; 27:12; YEHOSHUA 8:33] and you say that in Yerushalayim is the place where it is necessary to worship. [DEVARIM 12:5-14; TEHILLIM 122:1-5]

21 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to her, Have emunah (faith), believe me, Isha. A sha’ah (hour, time) comes when neither on this mountain nor in Yerushalayim [Mal 1:11; 1Kg 8:27; Isa 66:1] will you worship HaAv. [Isa 63:16]

22 You worship that of which you do not have da’as [MELACHIM BAIS 17:28-41]; we worship that of which we have da’as, because Yeshu’at Eloheinu (salvation) is from the Yehudim [Isa 2:3; Ro 9:3].

23 But a sha’ah is coming, and now is, when those of the true avodas kodesh will worship HaAv in the Ruach Hakodesh and in Emes, for indeed [Elohim] HaAv is seeking such to worship Him.

24 Hashem is Ruach (Spirit) and it is necessary for the ones worshiping Him to worship in Ruach and Emes. [Ezek 36:26-27; 37:14]

25 The isha says to him, I have da’as that Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach is coming, the one being called the Messiah. When Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach comes, he will proclaim to us everything.

26 Yehoshua says to her, Ani Hu (I am He), the one speaking to you.

27 And at this very moment, the Moshiach’s talmidim arrived, and they were marveling that he was speaking with an isha. No one said, however, What are you seeking? Or, Why do you speak with her?

28 Therefore, the isha left her waterpot and went away into the city and says to the bnei Adam of the city,

29 Come, see an ish who told me everything I have ever done. Surely this one is Moshiach, is he not?

30 They came out of the city and were coming to him.

31 Divaile (meanwhile), Moshiach’s talmidim were asking him, Rebbe, eat.

32 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, I have okhel (food) to eat [IYOV 23:12] of which you have no da’as.

33 Therefore, Moshiach’s talmidim were saying to one another, Surely no one brought him anything to eat?

34 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, My okhel (food) is that I may do the ratzon (will) of the One having sent me and may complete ma’aseh HaElohim [his work, KOHELET 11:5].

35 Do not say, Yet arba’ah chodashim (four months) and then comes the katzir (harvest). Hinei, I say to you, Lift up your eyes and see the sadot (fields) that they are white for the katzir (harvest).

36 The one harvesting receives wages and gathers p’ri (fruit) unto Chayyei Olam, that the one sowing and the other one harvesting may have simcha together.

37 For in this the saying is true, One sows and another reaps. [Job 31: 8; Mic 6:15]

38 I sent you to harvest that upon which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.

39 And from that city of Shomron many had emunah in him, because of the solemn dvar of the isha giving edut: He told me everything I have ever done.

40 Then when those of Shomron came to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, they were asking him to remain with them, and he remained with them there two yamim.

41 And many more put their emunah [in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach], because of his dvar (word).

42 And to the isha they were saying, No longer because of what you spoke do we have emunah (faith), for we ourselves have heard and we have da’as that his one is be’emes the Moshi’a HaOlam (the Savior, Go’el HaOlam).

Yochanan 4:1-42 Meaning and Commentary

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.