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Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

John 4:12

Are You greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well, and he and his sons and his livestock drank out of it?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jacob;   Jesus, the Christ;   Samaria;   Shechem;   Scofield Reference Index - Bible Prayers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Samaritans;   The Topic Concordance - Thirst;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Samaria, Modern;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Shechem;   Wells and Springs;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John, gospel of;   Women;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - John, Theology of;   Sexuality, Human;   Water;   Woman;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Commentary;   Patience;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jacob;   Samaritans;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Captivity;   Gospels;   Jesus Christ;   Nicodemus;   Samaria;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Animals;   Cattle;   Hour;   Jacob;   Jesus, Life and Ministry of;   John, the Gospel of;   Marriage;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jacob;   Messiah;   Mss;   Shechem;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abraham;   Animals;   Discourse;   Greatness;   Individuality;   John (the Apostle);   Metaphors;   Nation (2);   Perfect Perfection;   Reality;   Samaria, Samaritans;   Water (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jacob's Well;   Samaritans;   Wells;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Mount samaria;   Samaria;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jacob;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Captivities of the Jews;   Ja'cob;   Ja'cob's Well,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Meat;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jacob's Well;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Cattle;   Cistern;   Jacob (1);   Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 2);   Well;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for May 9;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Do you think your water is better than our ancestor Jacob's? He drank from it himself, and it has sustained us and our livestock for generations."
Legacy Standard Bible
Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?"
Bible in Basic English
Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us the fountain and took the water of it himself, with his children and his cattle?
Darby Translation
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?
New King James Version
Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?"
Christian Standard Bible®
You aren't greater than our father Jacob, are You? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock."
World English Bible
Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his sons, and his cattle?"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and himself drank thereof, and his children, and his cattle?
Weymouth's New Testament
Are you greater than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well, and himself drank from it, as did also his sons and his cattle?"
King James Version (1611)
Art thou greater then our father Iacob, which gaue vs the Well, and dranke thereof himselfe, and his children, and his cattell?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Art thou greater then oure father Iacob, which gaue vs this well? And he himself dranke therof, and his children, and his catell.
Mace New Testament (1729)
are you wiser than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, as well as his children, and cattle?
Amplified Bible
"Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and who used to drink from it himself, and his sons and his cattle also?"
American Standard Version
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?
Revised Standard Version
Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Arte thou greater then oure father Iacob which gave vs the well and he him silfe dranke therof and his chyldren and his catell?
Update Bible Version
Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?
Webster's Bible Translation
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his children, and his cattle?
New Century Version
Are you greater than Jacob, our father, who gave us this well and drank from it himself along with his sons and flocks?"
New English Translation
Surely you're not greater than our ancestor Jacob, are you? For he gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock."
Contemporary English Version
Our ancestor Jacob dug this well for us, and his family and animals got water from it. Are you greater than Jacob?"
Complete Jewish Bible
You aren't greater than our father Ya‘akov, are you? He gave us this well and drank from it, and so did his sons and his cattle."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Art thou greater then our father Iacob, which gaue vs the well, and hee himselfe dranke thereof, and his sonnes, and his cattell?
George Lamsa Translation
Why, are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well, and he himself drank from it, and his sons and his sheep?
Hebrew Names Version
Are you greater than our father, Ya`akov, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his sons, and his cattle?"
International Standard Version
You're not greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it, along with his sons and his flocks, are you?"
Etheridge Translation
Art thou greater than our father Jakub, he who gave us this well, and himself drank of it, and his children, and his flocks ?
Murdock Translation
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank from it himself, and his children, and his flocks?
New Living Translation
And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"
New Life Bible
Are You greater than our early father Jacob? He gave us the well. He and his children and his cattle drank from it."
English Revised Version
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?
Berean Standard Bible
Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?"
New Revised Standard
Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Art, thou, greater than, our father Jacob, who gave us the well, - and, himself, out of it drank, and his sons, and his flocks?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank thereof, himself and his children and his cattle?
King James Version
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Lexham English Bible
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?"
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Art thou greater then our father Iacob, which gaue vs the well, and he hym selfe dranke therof, and his chyldren, and his cattell?
Easy-to-Read Version
Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob? He is the one who gave us this well. He drank from it himself, and his sons and all his animals drank from it too."
English Standard Version
Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock."
New American Standard Bible
"You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well and drank of it himself, and his sons and his cattle?"
Good News Translation
It was our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well; he and his children and his flocks all drank from it. You don't claim to be greater than Jacob, do you?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whethir thou art grettere than oure fadir Jacob, that yaf to vs the pit? and he drank therof, and hise sones, and hise beestis.
Young's Literal Translation
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who did give us the well, and himself out of it did drink, and his sons, and his cattle?'

Contextual Overview

4 And it was needful for Him to pass through Samaria. 5 And He came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the piece of land Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 And Jacob's fountain was there. Then being wearied by the journey, Jesus sat thus on the fountain. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman came out of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give Me some to drink. 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city that they might buy provisions. 9 Then the Samaritan woman said to Him, How do You, being a Jew, ask to drink from me, I being a Samaritan woman? For Jews do not deal with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who is the One saying to you, Give Me to drink, you would have asked Him, and He would give you living water. 11 The woman said to Him, Sir, You have no vessel, and the well is deep. From where then do You have living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well, and he and his sons and his livestock drank out of it? 13 Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone drinking of this water will thirst again;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

John 8:53, Isaiah 53:2, Isaiah 53:3, Matthew 12:42, Hebrews 3:3

Reciprocal: Matthew 12:41 - behold John 3:4 - How Revelation 22:14 - may have

Cross-References

Genesis 4:3
And in the end of days, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Jehovah from the fruit of the ground.
Genesis 4:4
And Abel brought, he also, from the firstlings of his flocks, even from their fat. And Jehovah looked to Abel and to his offering.
Genesis 4:14
Behold! You have driven me out from the face of the earth today. And I shall be hidden from Your face. And I shall be a vagabond and a fugitive on the earth. And it will be that anyone who finds me shall kill me.
Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and he called the name of the city according to the name of his son, Enoch.
Genesis 4:18
And Irad was born to Enoch; and Irad fathered Mehujael And Mehujael fathered Methusael; and Methusael fathered Lamech.
Genesis 4:23
And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice, you wives of Lamech; listen to my words; for I have killed a man because of my wound, and a young man because of my hurt.
Genesis 4:24
For Cain is avenged sevenfold, and Lamech seventy seven.
Leviticus 26:20
and your strength shall be consumed in vain, and your land shall not give her produce, and the tree of the land shall not give its fruit.
Leviticus 26:36
And those who are left of you, I shall also bring a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a driven leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as one flees from the sword; and they shall fall when no one pursues.
Psalms 109:10
and let his sons always beg and wander, and seek food out of their ruins;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Art thou greater than our father Jacob,.... A person of greater worth and character than he, who was content to drink of this water; or wiser and more knowing than he, who could find out no better fountain of water in all these parts? she calls Jacob the father of them, according to the common notion and boasting of these people, when it served their turn; otherwise they were not the descendants of Jacob; for after the ten tribes were carried away captive by the king of Assyria, he placed in their room, in the cities of Samaria, men from Babylon, Cuthah Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, Heathenish and idolatrous people; see 2 Kings 17:24. And from these, the then Samaritans sprung; only upon Sanballat's building a temple on Mount Gerizzim, for Manasseh his son-in-law, when put away from the priesthood by the Jews, for his marriage of his daughter, several wicked persons of the like sort, came out of Judea, and joined themselves to the Samaritans: and such a mixed medley of people were they at this time, though they boasted of Jacob as their father, as this woman did; and so to this day, they draw their genealogy from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and particularly call Joseph their father, and say, from whence are we, but from the tribe of Joseph the just, from Ephraim w? as they formerly did x;

"R. Meir saw a Samaritan, he said to him, from whence comest thou? (that is, from what family;) he answered, from the (tribe) of Joseph.''

Which gave us the well; Jacob gave it indeed to Joseph and his posterity, along with the parcel of ground in which it was; see John 4:5; but not to this mixed company:

and drank thereof himself and his children, and his cattle; which shows both the goodness and plenty of the water: though our Lord had spoken of living water, this woman understood him of no other water, but spring water; called living water, from its motion, because it is continually springing up, bubbling, and ever running: so carnal persons, when they hear of spiritual things under earthly metaphors, think of nothing but carnal things; as Nicodemus, when Christ talked of being born again; and the Jews at Capernaum, when he discoursed concerning eating his flesh, and drinking his blood; for spiritual things are neither known nor received by the natural man.

w Epist. Samar. ad Scaliger. in Antiqu. Eccl. Oriental. p. 123, 124, 126. x Bereshit Rabba, sect. 94. fol. 82. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Art thou greater? - Art thou wiser, or better able to find water, than Jacob was? It seems that she supposed that he meant that he could direct her to some living spring, or to some better well in that region, and that this implied more knowledge or skill than Jacob had. To find water and to furnish a good well was doubtless considered a matter of signal skill and success. It was a subject of great importance in that region. This shows how ready sinners are to misunderstand the words of Christ, and to pervert the doctrines of religion. If she had had any proper anxiety about her soul, she would at least have “suspected” that he meant to direct her thoughts to spiritual objects.

Our father Jacob - The Samaritans were composed partly of the remnant of the ten tribes, and partly of people sent from Chaldea; still, they considered themselves descendants of Jacob.

Which gave us - This was doubtless the tradition, though there is no evidence that it was true.

And drank thereof ... - This was added in commendation of the water of the well. A well from which Jacob, and his sons, and cattle had drank must be pure, and wholesome, and honored, and quite as valuable as any that Jesus could furnish. People like to commend that which their ancestors used as superior to anything else. The world over, people love to speak of that which their ancestors have done, and boast of titles and honors that have been handed down from them, even if it is nothing better than existed here - because Jacob’s cattle had drunk of the water.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 4:12. Our father Jacob — The ancient Samaritans were undoubtedly the descendants of Jacob; for they were the ten tribes that revolted in the reign of Rehoboam: but those in our Lord's time were not genuine Israelites, but a corrupted race, sprung from a mixture of different nations, sent thither by Salmanezer, king of the Assyrians. See 2 Kings 17:24.


 
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