John 4
The Message
The Woman at the Well
4 1-3 Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.
4-6 To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon.
7-8 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)
9 The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”
11-12 The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?”
13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”
16 He said, “Go call your husband and then come back.”
17-18 “I have no husband,” she said.
“That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.”
19-20 “Oh, so you’re a prophet! Well, tell me this: Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?”
21-23 “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
23-24 “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”
25 The woman said, “I don’t know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we’ll get the whole story.”
26 “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.”
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.
28-30 The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves.
It’s Harvest Time
31 In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, “Rabbi, eat. Aren’t you going to eat?”
32 He told them, “I have food to eat you know nothing about.”
33 The disciples were puzzled. “Who could have brought him food?”
34-35 Jesus said, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!
36-38 “The Harvester isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.”
39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness: “He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!” They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”
* * *
43-45 After the two days he left for Galilee. Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to.
46-48 Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king’s court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.”
49 But the court official wouldn’t be put off. “Come down! It’s life or death for my son.”
50-51 Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.”
The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!”
52-53 He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, “The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o’clock.” The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, “Your son lives.”
53-54 That settled it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee.
John 4
Wycliffe Bible
4 Therefore as Jesus knew, that the Pharisees heard, that Jesus maketh and baptizeth more disciples than John,
2 though Jesus baptized not, but his disciples,
3 he left Judaea, and went again into Galilee.
4 And it behooved him to pass by Samaria.
5 Therefore Jesus came into a city of Samaria, that is called Sychar, beside the place [beside the manor, or field], that Jacob gave to Joseph, his son.
6 And the well of Jacob was there; and Jesus was weary of the journey, and sat thus upon the well [soothly Jesus made weary of the journey, sat thus on the well]. And the hour was, as it were the sixth.
7 And a woman came from Samaria, to draw water. And Jesus saith to her, Give me [to] drink.
8 And his disciples were gone into the city, to buy meat.
9 Therefore that woman of Samaria saith to him, How thou, that art a Jew, askest of me a drink, that am a woman of Samaria [which am a woman of Samaria]? for [the] Jews used not to deal with [the] Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered, and said to her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is, that saith to thee, Give me [to] drink, thou peradventure wouldest have asked of him, and he should have given to thee quick water.
11 The woman saith to him, Sire, thou hast not wherein to draw [Sire, neither thou hast in what thing thou shalt draw], and the pit is deep; whereof then hast thou quick water?
12 Whether thou art greater than our father Jacob, that gave to us the pit? and he drank thereof, and his sons, and his beasts.
13 Jesus answered, and said to her, Each man that drinketh of this water, shall thirst again;
14 but he that drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall not thirst without end [shall not thirst into without end]; but the water that I shall give him, shall be made in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith to him, Sire, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus saith to her, Go, call thine husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered, and said, I have none husband [I have not an husband]. Jesus saith to her, Thou saidest well, That I have none husband [For I have not an husband];
18 for thou hast had five husbands, and he that thou hast, is not thine husband [and he whom thou hast now, is not thine husband]. This thing thou saidest soothly.
19 The woman saith to him, Lord, I see, that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this hill, and ye say, that at Jerusalem is a place, where it behooveth to worship.
21 Jesus saith to her, Woman, believe thou to me, for the hour shall come, when neither in this hill, neither in Jerusalem [nor in Jerusalem], ye shall worship the Father.
22 Ye worship that that ye know not; we worship that that we know; for health is of the Jews.
23 But the time is come [But the hour cometh], and now it is, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for also the Father seeketh such, that worship him.
24 God is a Spirit, and it behooveth them that worship him, to worship in spirit and truth.
25 The woman saith to him, I know that Messias is come, that is said Christ; therefore when he cometh [therefore when he shall come], he shall tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith to her, I am he, that speaketh with thee. [Jesus saith to her, I am, that speak with thee.]
27 And at once [And anon] his disciples came, and wondered, that he spake with the woman; nevertheless no man said to him, What seekest thou, or, What speakest thou with her?
28 Therefore the woman left her water pot, and went into the city, and said to the men [and saith to the men],
29 Come ye, and see a man, that said to me all things that I have done; whether he be Christ? [Come ye, and see a man, that said to me all things what ever I have done; whether he is Christ?]
30 And they went out of the city, and came to him.
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, and said, Master, eat. [In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, or Master, eat.]
32 But he said to them, I have meat to eat, that ye know not.
33 Therefore the disciples said together, Whether any man hath brought him meat to eat [Whether any man brought to him to eat]?
34 Jesus saith to them, My meat is, that I do the will of him that sent me, [and] that I perform the work of him.
35 Whether ye say not, that yet four months be, and ripe corn cometh? Lo! I say to you, lift up your eyes, and see ye the fields, for now they be white to reap.
36 And he that reapeth taketh hire, and gathereth fruit into everlasting life; that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, have joy together.
37 In this thing is the word true, For one is that soweth, and another that reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap, that that ye have not travailed; other men have travailed, and ye have entered into their travails.
39 And of that city many [of the] Samaritans believed in him, for the word of the woman, that bare witnessing, That he said to me all things that I have done [For he said to me all things, whatever I did].
40 Therefore when Samaritans came to him, they prayed him to dwell there [they prayed him, that he should dwell there]; and he dwelt there two days.
41 And many more believed for his word,
42 and said to the woman, That now not for thy speech we believe; for we have heard, and we know, that this is verily the Saviour of the world.
43 And after two days he went out from thence [Forsooth after two days he went thence], and went into Galilee.
44 And he [Jesus] bare witnessing, that a prophet in his own country hath none honour. [Soothly he Jesus bare witnessing, for a prophet in his own country hath not honour, or worship.]
45 Therefore when he came into Galilee, men of Galilee received him, when they had seen all things that he had done in Jerusalem in the feast day; for also they had come to the feast day.
46 Therefore he came again into the Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a little king, whose son was sick at Capernaum. [Therefore he came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And some little king was, whose son was sick at Capernaum.]
47 When this had heard, that Jesus should come from Judaea into Galilee, he went to him, and prayed him, that he should come down, and heal his son; for he began to die.
48 Therefore Jesus said to him, But ye see tokens and great wonders, ye believe not.
49 The little king saith to him, Lord, come down, before that my son die.
50 Jesus saith to him, Go, thy son liveth. The man believed to the word, that Jesus said to him, and he went.
51 And now when he came down [Soothly now him coming down], the servants came to meet him, and told to him, and said [saying], That his son lived.
52 And he asked of them the hour, in which he was amended. And they said to him, For yesterday in the seventh hour the fever left him.
53 Therefore the father knew, that that hour it was, in which Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth; and he believed, and all his house.
54 Jesus did again this second token, when he came from Judaea into Galilee.
John 4
Revised Standard Version
Jesus and the Woman of Samaria
4 Now when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 He had to pass through Samar′ia. 5 So he came to a city of Samar′ia, called Sy′char, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 There came a woman of Samar′ia to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samar′ia?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?” 13 Jesus said to her, “Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 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. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
27 Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, “What do you wish?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the city and were coming to him.
31 Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has any one brought him food?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. 36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Jesus Returns to Galilee
43 After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast.
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Caper′na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live”; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.