John 4:31-38
New English Translation
Workers for the Harvest
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him,[a] “Rabbi, eat something.”[b] 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 So the disciples began to say[c] to one another, “No one brought him anything[d] to eat, did they?”[e] 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me[f] and to complete[g] his work.[h] 35 Don’t you say,[i] ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up[j] and see that the fields are already white[k] for harvest! 36 The one who reaps receives pay[l] and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. 37 For in this instance the saying is true,[m] ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”
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- John 4:31 tn Grk “were asking him, saying.”
- John 4:31 tn The direct object of φάγε (phage) in Greek is understood; “something” is supplied in English.
- John 4:33 tn An ingressive imperfect conveys the idea that Jesus’ reply provoked the disciples’ response.
- John 4:33 tn The direct object of ἤνεγκεν (ēnenken) in Greek is understood; “anything” is supplied in English.
- John 4:33 tn Questions prefaced with μή (mē) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here it is “did they?”).
- John 4:34 sn The one who sent me refers to the Father.
- John 4:34 tn Or “to accomplish.”
- John 4:34 tn The substantival ἵνα (hina) clause has been translated as an English infinitive clause.sn No one brought him anything to eat, did they? In the discussion with the disciples which took place while the woman had gone into the city, note again the misunderstanding: The disciples thought Jesus referred to physical food, while he was really speaking figuratively and spiritually again. Thus Jesus was forced to explain what he meant, and the explanation that his food was his mission, to do the will of God and accomplish his work, leads naturally into the metaphor of the harvest. The fruit of his mission was represented by the Samaritans who were coming to him.
- John 4:35 tn The recitative ὅτι (hoti) after λέγετε (legete) has not been translated.
- John 4:35 tn Grk “lift up your eyes” (an idiom). BDAG 357 s.v. ἐπαίρω 1 has “look up” here.
- John 4:35 tn That is, “ripe.”
- John 4:36 tn Or “a reward”; see L&N 38.14 and 57.173. This is something of a wordplay.
- John 4:37 tn The recitative ὅτι (hoti) after ἀληθινός (alēthinos) has not been translated.
John 4:31-38
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.(A) 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.(B) 36 The reaper is already receiving[a] wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.(C) 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’(D) 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
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- 4.36 Or
. . . the fields are already ripe for harvesting. The reaper is receiving
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