1.
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
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 .
2.
(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Though = And yet.
baptized. It was not the practice of Jesus to baptize. Imperf. Tense.
not . Greek. ou . App-105 . Compare John 3:22 .
3.
He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
again . See John 1:43 .
into . Greek. eis. App-104 .
Galilee . See App-169 .
4.
And he must needs go through Samaria.
5.
Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
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 .
6.
Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
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 .
7.
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
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 .
8.
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
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.
9.
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10.
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
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.
11.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12.
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
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.
13.
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Whosoever drinketh = Every one who is in the habit of drinking.
shall = will.
14.
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
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 .
15.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16.
Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
husband . Greek. aner. App-123 .
17.
The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
well. Compare John 8:48 ; John 13:13 .Matthew 15:7 . Mark 12:32 .Luke 20:39 .
18.
For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
in . Omit.
truly = true. See note on John 8:33 and App-175 .
19.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20.
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
worshipped. App-137 .
this mountain . Gerizim. The well was at its foot. (See Deuteronomy 27:12 .)
men ought = it is necessary.
21.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Ye worship . . . what. See 2 Kings 17:24-34 , esp. John 4:33 .
salvation = the salvation [which the prophets foretold]. Compare Luke 2:30 .
23.
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.
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 .
24.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
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.
25.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
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 .
26.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
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.
27.
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
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.
28.
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
men . Greek. Plural of anthropos. App-123 .
29.
Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
see. App-133 .
that ever = whatsoever.
is not this? = can this be?
30.
Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
Then. All the texts omit.
out of . Greek. ek. App-104 .
came = were coming.
31.
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
prayed = were asking. Greek. erotao. App-134 .
Master. Greek. Rabbi. App-98 .
32.
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
meat . Greek. brosis = eating. Not the same word as in John 4:34 .
of . Omit "of".
33.
Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
to. Greek. pros. App-104 .
34.
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
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.
35.
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
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 .
36.
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
eternal. App-151 .
37.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
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 .
38.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
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.
39.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40.
So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41.
And many more believed because of his own word;
42.
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
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 .
43.
Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
44.
For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
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.
45.
Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
received . Greek. dechgmai. Only occurance here in John.
seen. Greek. horao. App-183 .
46.
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
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 .
47.
When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
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.
48.
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
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 .
49.
The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
ere = before. See note on Matthew 1:18 .
child . Greek. paidion. App-108 .
50.
Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
liveth . Greek. zao. A word characteristic of this Gospel. See p. 1511, and compare App-170 .
51.
And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
And = But already.
servants = bond-servants.
met. Greek apantao, but all the texts read hupantao.
son = boy. Greek. pais. App-108 .
52.
Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
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 .
53.
So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
54.
This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
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 .