Bible Commentaries
John 4

Verse 1

therefore . See John 3:22 .

the Lord . App-98 . B.C. For the occurances of this absolute title in John, see John 6:23 ; John 11:2 ; John 20:20 ; and Compare John 20:2 , John 20:13 , John 20:18 , John 20:25 ; John 21:7 .

knew = came to know. Greek ginosko. App-132 . See note on John 1:10 . Compare John 2:24 .

Pharisees . App-120 . (John never refers to the Sadducees by name).

Jesus . App-98 .

made , &c. = is making and baptizing.

baptized . App-115 .

Verse 2

Though = And yet.

baptized. It was not the practice of Jesus to baptize. Imperf. Tense.

not . Greek. ou . App-105 . Compare John 3:22 .

Verse 3

again . See John 1:43 .

into . Greek. eis. App-104 .

Galilee . See App-169 .

Verse 4

He must needs = it was necessary [for] Him. See Josephus, Life, 52. Antiquities xx. vi. 1. A necessity not only geographical, but including the Divine counsels.

go = pass. Greek. dierchomai. Compare John 8:59 .

through. Greek dia. App-104 .John 4:1 .

Verse 5

Then = Therefore.

to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Sychar . Now 'Askar. A village on the slope of Mount Ebal and north of Jacob's well.

parcel of ground = field or land.

that Jacob gave. Compare Genesis 33:19 ; Genesis 48:22 .Joshua 24:32 .

Verse 6

Jacob's well . Compare Genesis 49:22 .

well = spring. Greek. pege. Not the same word as in verses: John 4:11 , John 4:12 , but as in John 4:14 .

with = from. Greek. ek. App-104 .

sat = was sitting.

on : or by. Greek. epi. App-104 . Compare John 5:2 .

the sixth hour . Of the day, i.e. noon. See on John 1:39 , and App-165 .

Verse 7

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

Give Me, &c. The first word. Note the seven ( App-10 ) times the Lord spoke to the woman, and the gradual ascent to the final declaration in John 4:26 .

Verse 8

For , &c. See note on John 4:34 .

unto . Greek. eis. App-104 .

to = in order that (Greek. hina) they might.

meat. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Species), App-6 for all kinds of food.

Verse 9

How, &c. See note on John 3:4 .

askest. Greek. aiteo. App-134 . 4, as in John 4:10 .

of = from. Greek. para. App-104 .

which am = being.

the Jews . . . the . No articles.

have . . . dealings = have . . . familiar intercourse. Greek. sunchraomai. Occurs only here.

no. Greek. ou. App-105 .

Verse 10

answered and said . A Hebraism. See Deuteronomy 1:41 and App-122 .

If thou, &c. Assuming the hypothesis as a fact. App-118 .

knewest = hadst known. Greek. oida. App-132 . See note on John 1:26 .

the gift. See note on "How", John 3:4 . Greek. dorea. Occurs only here in the Gospels, elsewhere only in Acts 2:38 ; Acts 8:20 ; Acts 10:45 ; Acts 11:17 . Romans 5:15 , Rom 5:17 . 2 Corinthians 9:15 .Ephesians 3:7 ; Ephesians 4:7 . Hebrews 6:4 . Note the eight gifts in this Gospel (John 4:10 ; John 10:11 ; John 13:15 ; John 14:16 , John 14:27 ; John 17:8 , John 17:14 , John 17:22 ).

living : i.e. perennial, unfailing. Understood by all Jews, from Jeremiah 2:13 ; Jeremiah 17:13 .Zechariah 14:8 . Greek. zao, a word characteristic of this Gospel. See note on p. 1511.

Verse 11

Sir . App-98 .

well = a well dug out. Not the same word as in verses: John 4:6 , John 4:14 . deep. In 1869 it was 105 feet, and had 15 feet of water.

Verse 12

Art thou , &c., or Surely Thou art not ( App-105 ).

thereof = out of (Greek. ek. App-104 .) it.

and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

children = sons. App-108 .

cattle . Greek. Plural of thremma. Occurs only here.

Verse 13

Whosoever drinketh = Every one who is in the habit of drinking.

shall = will.

Verse 14

whosoever drinketh = he who may have drunk (Greek. an, with Subjunctive Aor.)

never thirst = by no means (Greek. ou me. App-105 ) thirst for ever ( App-151 ).

be = become. in. Greek en. App-104 .

well = fountain, as in John 4:6 . Not as in verses: John 4:11 , John 4:12 .

springing up = welling up.

everlasting . App-161 .

life . See note on John 1:4 , and App-170 .

Verse 15

unto. Greek pros. App-104 .

that. Greek. hina. See John 1:7 .

not. Greek me. App-106 .

come hither. Some texts read dierchomai (as in John 4:4 ) = come all the way hither (through, or across the plain).

Verse 16

husband . Greek. aner. App-123 .

Verse 17

well. Compare John 8:48 ; John 13:13 .Matthew 15:7 . Mark 12:32 .Luke 20:39 .

Verse 18

in . Omit.

truly = true. See note on John 8:33 and App-175 .

Verse 19

I perceive. Greek. thebreo. App-133 . See The Didache xi. John 4:5 ; and Compare John 4:42 here.

prophet. See App-49 .

Verse 20

worshipped. App-137 .

this mountain . Gerizim. The well was at its foot. (See Deuteronomy 27:12 .)

men ought = it is necessary.

Verse 21

Woman. See on John 2:4 .

believe Me. App-150 . See note on John 1:7 . This formula occurs only here and 14. 11.

neither . . . nor . Greek. oute . . . oute.

at. Greek. en. App-104 .

the Father. See App-98 , and note on John 1:14 .

Verse 22

Ye worship . . . what. See 2 Kings 17:24-34 , esp. John 4:33 .

salvation = the salvation [which the prophets foretold]. Compare Luke 2:30 .

Verse 23

cometh, and now is = is coming, and is now on its way. Its coming depended on the repentance of the nation, when all the prophecies would have been fulfilled. See Acts 3:18-26 .

true = real. See note on John 1:9 . App-175 .

worshippers. Greek. proskunetes. Only here.

spirit. App-101 .

in . No Preposition with the second "in". truth. App-175 . See note on John 1:14 .

Verse 24

God. See App-98 ., with Art. Contrast John 1:1 .

a Spirit = spirit: i.e. not flesh, or material substance. Not "a" Spirit.

must . Note this absolute condition. Compare John 4:4 ; John 3:7 , John 3:14 , John 3:30 ; John 9:4 ; John 10:16 ; John 12:34 ; John 20:9 , &c.

Verse 25

Messias = Messiah. App-98 .

Christ . See App-98 .

is come = comes, or shall have come.

tell. Greek. anangello. See John 5:15 ; John 16:13 , John 16:14 , John 16:15 , John 16:25 (shew). Compare App-121 John 5:6 .

Verse 26

That speak, &c. = I am [He) Who am speaking, &c. This is the seventh and last of the Lord's seven utterances, and marks the climax. See note on John 4:7 , and App-176 .

speak = am talking.

Verse 27

upon . Greek. epi. App-104 .

marvelled. All the texts read "were wondering". Greek. thaumazo. First occurance Matthew 8:10 .

talked = was talking.

with. Greek. meta. App-104 .

the woman = a woman. One of six things forbidden to a Rabbi by the Talmud; and she being a Samaritan caused the greater wonder.

Verse 28

men . Greek. Plural of anthropos. App-123 .

Verse 29

see. App-133 .

that ever = whatsoever.

is not this? = can this be?

Verse 30

Then. All the texts omit.

out of . Greek. ek. App-104 .

came = were coming.

Verse 31

prayed = were asking. Greek. erotao. App-134 .

Master. Greek. Rabbi. App-98 .

Verse 32

meat . Greek. brosis = eating. Not the same word as in John 4:34 .

of . Omit "of".

Verse 33

to. Greek. pros. App-104 .

Verse 34

meat. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Species), App-6 , for all kinds of food. Greek. broma. Not the same word as in John 4:33 .

to do = in order to do. Emphasizing the object and end, not the act. Compare Luke 2:49 ; Luke 4:4 .

will. App-102 .

sent. Greek. pempo. App-174 . See note on John 1:22 .

finish . Greek. teleioo. A characteristic word of this Gospel; here, John 5:36 ; John 17:4 , John 17:23 ; John 19:28 . See p. 1511.

work. A characteristic word of this Gospel, most frequently in plural. See p. 1511.

Verse 35

Say not ye. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 .

behold. Greek. idou. App-133 . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

look on. Greek. theaomai. App-133 .

already. This does not refer to the present mission field, but to the then present expectation of national re pentance (on which the glorious harvest was conditional; by the proclamation of the kingdom. See App-119 .

Verse 36

eternal. App-151 .

Verse 37

herein = in (Greek. en) this.

is = i.e. is [exemplified] the true saying.

saying . Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

One . . . another . Greek. allos. App-124 .

Verse 38

sent. App-174 .

other men. Greek. Plural of allos.

laboured = have laboured.

are entered = have entered.

their : i.e. John the Baptist and the Lord.

Verse 39

believed on . App-150 . See note on John 1:7 .

for = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .John 4:2 .

testified = bore witness. See note on John 1:7 .

Verse 40

besought = asked. Greek. erotao. App-134 .

tarry. Greek. meno. See note on "abode", John 1:32 .

with. Greek. para. App-104 .

abode . Greek. meno, as above.

two days. See note on John 4:43 .

Verse 41

believed. App-150 .

because of . Greek dia. App-104 .John 4:2 . word. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 42

said = were saying: i.e. as one and another spoke.

not = no longer. Greek. ouketi.

indeed = truly. Compare App-175 ., and p. 1511.

Christ = All the texts omit "the Christ", but not the Syriac. See App-94 , note 3.

Saviour. In John only here, and 1 John 4:14 . See note on Matthew 1:21 .

the world. Greek. kosmos. App-129 ., i.e. of the Gentiles as well as the Jews. See note on John 1:9 .

Verse 43

after two days. See John 11:6 , and compare with the Seventh Sign. App-176 .

after . Greek. meta. App-104 .

two = the two; viz, those mentioned in John 4:40 .

Verse 44

For Jesus , &c. Note the parenthetical explanation, and see note on "and we beheld", John 1:14 .

a prophet. Figure of speech Parcemia. App-169 .

his own country = h is native place. See John 7:41 , John 7:42 . Which was Galilee ( App-169 ). The Lord had proved the truth of this proverb before He went to Cana (from Nazareth), as recorded in Luke 4:16-30 . See App-97 . The Lord went and returned thither, notwithstanding that experience.

Verse 45

received . Greek. dechgmai. Only occurance here in John.

seen. Greek. horao. App-183 .

Verse 46

again . . . Cana, &c. Referring to John 2:1 . made. Not the same word as "made" in John 2:9 .

nobleman = a royal officer. Probably belonging to the court of Herod Antipas ( App-109 ). Greek. basilikos. Occurs only here; John 4:49 . Acts 12:20 , Acts 12:21 ; and James 2:8 .

Capernaum . App-169 .

Verse 47

at the point of death = about to die. Not the same miracle as that of the centurion's servant recorded in Matthew 8:5-12 and Luke 7:1-10 . The two miracles differ as to time, place, person, pleading, plea, disease, the Lord's answer, and the man's faith, as may be easily seen by comparing the two as to these details.

Verse 48

Except = If not. Greek ean me. App-118 and App-105 .

signs . See note on John 2:11 . signs and wonders. See App-176 .

not = in no wise. Greek. ou me. App-105 .

Verse 49

ere = before. See note on Matthew 1:18 .

child . Greek. paidion. App-108 .

Verse 50

liveth . Greek. zao. A word characteristic of this Gospel. See p. 1511, and compare App-170 .

Verse 51

And = But already.

servants = bond-servants.

met. Greek apantao, but all the texts read hupantao.

son = boy. Greek. pais. App-108 .

Verse 52

Then = Therefore.

when = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) which.

amend = get better. Greek. kompsoteron echo. Occurs only here in N.T.

the seventh hour = 1 o'clock p.m. Compare App-165 .

Verse 54

the second miracle = a second sign. Having thus begun to number the signs in this Gospel, we may continue to do so, and complete the whole (eight). See App-176 . See note on John 2:11 .