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Saturday, October 12th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

John 4:23

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeks such, the ones worshiping Him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - God;   Jacob;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Law;   Prayer;   Samaria;   Shechem;   Worship;   Scofield Reference Index - Bible Prayers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Samaritans;   The Topic Concordance - Worship;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prayer;   Sincerity;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Image;   Shechem;   Wells and Springs;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John, gospel of;   Temple;   Women;   Worship;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Boasting;   Building;   Jesus Christ;   Sexuality, Human;   Temple;   Woman;   Worship;   Zechariah, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Commentary;   Patience;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Samaritans;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gospels;   Jesus Christ;   Leviticus;   Malachi;   Revelation of John, the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - False Worship;   Hour;   Jesus, Life and Ministry of;   John, the Gospel of;   Marriage;   Obedience;   Temple of Jerusalem;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ethics;   Messiah;   Mss;   Prayer;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Character;   Children of God;   Children of God, Sons of God;   Discourse;   Doctrines;   Elect, Election ;   Father, Fatherhood;   Gentiles (2);   Gerizim;   Gospel (2);   Impotence;   Incense;   Individuality;   John (the Apostle);   John, Gospel of (Critical);   Law (2);   Law of God;   Lord's Supper. (I.);   Palestine;   Personality;   Prayer (2);   Presence (2);   Spirit ;   Tithe;   Truth (2);   Worldliness (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Samaritans;   13 To Worship, Serve;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Mount samaria;   Samaria;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ja'cob's Well,;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Holiness;   Semites;   Stephen;   Worship;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for November 1;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
But the time is coming—indeed the clock has already struck noon—when real cowboys will ride for a real God. A real ride with God will come from your soul and be true, not from a building.
Legacy Standard Bible
But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
Bible in Basic English
But the time is coming, and is even now here, when the true worshippers will give worship to the Father in the true way of the spirit, for these are the worshippers desired by the Father.
Darby Translation
But [the] hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for also the Father seeks such as his worshippers.
New King James Version
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
Christian Standard Bible®
But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.
World English Bible
But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such worshipers.
Weymouth's New Testament
But a time is coming--nay, has already come--when the true worshippers will worship the Father with true spiritual worship; for indeed the Father desires such worshippers.
King James Version (1611)
But the houre commeth, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit, and in trueth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the tyme commeth, and is now allready, that the true worshippers shal worshippe the father in sprete and in the trueth: For the father wil haue soch so to worshippe him.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but the time is coming, nay, is very nigh, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth: for they are the worshippers which he requires.
Amplified Bible
"But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers.
American Standard Version
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.
Revised Standard Version
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But the houre commeth and nowe is when the true worshippers shall worshippe the father in sprete and in trouthe. For verely suche the father requyreth to worshippe him.
Update Bible Version
But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such does the Father seek to be his worshipers.
Webster's Bible Translation
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
New Century Version
The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him.
New English Translation
But a time is coming—and now is here—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers.
Contemporary English Version
But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him.
Complete Jewish Bible
But the time is coming — indeed, it's here now — when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But the houre commeth, and nowe is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit, and trueth: for the Father requireth euen such to worship him.
George Lamsa Translation
But the time is coming, and it is here, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father also desires worshippers such as these.
Hebrew Names Version
But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.
International Standard Version
Yet the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spiritin the Spirit">[fn] and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him.John 1:17; Philippians 3:3;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father also requireth worshippers such as these.
Murdock Translation
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father requireth that worshippers be such.
New Living Translation
But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
New Life Bible
The time is coming, yes, it is here now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father wants that kind of worshipers.
English Revised Version
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.
Berean Standard Bible
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.
New Revised Standard
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But there cometh an hour, and, now, is, - when, the real worshippers, shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for, even the Father, is seeking, such as these, as his worshippers.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the hour cometh and now is, when the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to adore him.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the houre commeth, and nowe is, when the true worshippers, shall worshippe the father in spirite, and in the trueth: For such the father also requireth to worshippe hym.
Easy-to-Read Version
But the time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. In fact, that time is now here. And these are the kind of people the Father wants to be his worshipers.
English Standard Version
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
New American Standard Bible
"But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
Good News Translation
But the time is coming and is already here, when by the power of God's Spirit people will worship the Father as he really is, offering him the true worship that he wants.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But the tyme is comun, and now it is, whanne trewe worschiperis schulen worschipe the fadir in spirit and treuthe; for also the fadir sekith suche, that worschipen hym.
Young's Literal Translation
but, there cometh an hour, and it now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also doth seek such to worship him;

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

the hour: John 5:25, John 12:23

true: Isaiah 1:10-15, Isaiah 26:8, Isaiah 26:9, Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:2, Isaiah 58:2, Isaiah 58:8-14, Isaiah 66:1, Isaiah 66:2, Jeremiah 7:7-12, Matthew 15:7-9, Luke 18:11-13

in spirit: Romans 1:9, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:26, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 3:3, Jude 1:20, Jude 1:21

in truth: John 1:17, Joshua 24:14, 1 Samuel 12:24, 1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 32:2, Psalms 51:6, Isaiah 10:20, Jeremiah 3:10, Jeremiah 4:2

the Father seeketh: Psalms 147:11, Proverbs 15:8, Song of Solomon 2:14, Isaiah 43:21, Ezekiel 22:30, 1 Peter 2:9

Reciprocal: Ezra 4:3 - Ye have nothing Isaiah 62:12 - Sought out Isaiah 66:23 - shall all Malachi 3:3 - an John 4:21 - worship John 16:32 - the hour Acts 17:24 - dwelleth Romans 2:29 - which 1 Corinthians 14:15 - I will pray with the spirit Ephesians 5:19 - making Colossians 1:6 - in truth Colossians 1:12 - the Father 1 Timothy 2:8 - pray Revelation 21:22 - I saw Revelation 22:9 - worship God

Cross-References

Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am Jehovah.
Numbers 23:18
And he took up his parable and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, son of Zippor.
Judges 9:7
And they told Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. And he lifted up his voice and cried, and said to them, Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, and God shall listen to you.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers,.... The worshippers of the true God, and who worship in a right manner, whether Jews or Samaritans, or of whatsoever nation:

shall worship the Father; the one true God, the Father of spirits, and of all flesh living:

in spirit; in opposition to all carnal conceptions of him, as if he was a corporeal being, or circumscribed in some certain place, dwelling in temples made with hands, or was to be worshipped with men's hands; and in distinction from the carnal worship of the Jews, which lay greatly in the observation of carnal ordinances: and this shows they should not worship with their bodies only, for bodily exercise profiteth little; but with their souls or spirits, with their whole hearts engaged therein; and by, and under the influence and assistance of the Spirit of God, without whom men cannot perform worship, neither prayer, praise, preaching, or hearing, aright:

and in truth; in opposition to hypocrisy, with true hearts, in the singleness, sincerity, and integrity of their souls; and in distinction from Jewish ceremonies, which were only shadows, and had not the truth and substance of things in them; and according to the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation; and in Christ, who is the truth, the true tabernacle, in, and through whom accent is had to God, prayer is made to him, and every part of religious worship with acceptance: so Enoch is said, פלח בקושטא, "to worship in truth", before the Lord, in the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, in Genesis 5:24. And it may be that the worship of all the three persons in the Godhead, as more distinctly performed under the Gospel dispensation, is here intended: for the words may be thus read, "shall worship the Father, with the Spirit", and with the truth; so the preposition εν, is rendered in Ephesians 6:2; and elsewhere; and then the sense is, they shall "worship the Father"; the first person in the Trinity, who is the Father of Christ, his only begotten Son, and together and equally with him "the Spirit"; the holy Spirit, as the Ethiopic version reads; and Nonnus calls it the divine Spirit: and the rather he may be thought to be intended, since it follows in John 4:24, "the Spirit is God"; for so the words lie in the Greek text; and are so rendered in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions; and therefore is the proper object of religious worship, whose temples the saints are, with whom they have communion, to whom they pray, and in whose name they are baptized: and also together "with the truth"; with Christ the way, the truth, and the life; who is the true God, and eternal life; and who is equally to be worshipped as the Father and Spirit, as he is by the angels in heaven, and by the saints on earth; who pray unto him, trust in him, and are also baptized in his name, as in the name of the other two persons: and the rather this may be thought to be the sense, since Christ is speaking, not of the manner, but of the object of worship, in the preceding verse:

for the Father seeketh such to worship him; it being agreeable to him to be worshipped in the manner, as above related; and his desire is, that the Son and Spirit should be honoured equally as himself; and such worshippers he has found, having made them such, both among the Jews and Gentiles; and such only are acceptable to him; see Philippians 3:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But the hour cometh, and now is - The old dispensation is about to pass away, and the new one to commence. “Already” there is so much light that God may be worshipped acceptably in any place.

The true worshippers - All who truly and sincerely worship God. They who do it with the heart, and not merely in form.

In spirit - The word “spirit,” here, stands opposed to rites and ceremonies, and to the pomp of external worship. It refers to the “mind,” the “soul,” the “heart.” They shall worship God with a sincere “mind;” with the simple offering of gratitude and prayer; with a desire to glorify him, and without external pomp and splendor. Spiritual worship is that where the heart is offered to God, and where we do not depend on external forms for acceptance.

In truth - Not through the medium of shadows and types, not by means of sacrifices and bloody offerings, but in the manner represented or typified by all these, Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 9:24. In the true way of direct access to God through Jesus Christ.

For the Father seeketh ... - Jesus gives two reasons why this kind of worship should take place. One is that God sought it, or desired it. He had appointed the old mode, but he did it because he sought to lead the mind to himself even by those forms, and to prepare the people for the purer system of the gospel, and now he sought or desired that those who worshipped him should worship him in that manner. He intimated his will by Jesus Christ.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. The true worshippers shall worship - in spirit — The worship of the Samaritans was a defective worship - they did not receive the prophetical writings: that of the Jews was a carnal worship, dealing only in the letter, and referring to the spirit and design, which were at a distance, by types and ceremonies. The Gospel of Christ showed the meaning of all these carnal ordinances, and the legal sacrifices, which had all their consummation in his offering of himself: thus a spiritual dispensation took the place of the carnal one which prefigured it. 2. The preaching of the Gospel discovered the true nature of God, of salvation, of the human soul, of earthly and of heavenly things; and, because of this, it is put in opposition to the defective Samaritan worship.


 
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