John 4:39 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

NIV: Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.'

NASB: Now from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, 'He told me all the things that I have done.'

CSB: Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, "He told me everything I ever did."

NLT: Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, 'He told me everything I ever did!'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”

This is an interesting verse for several reasons. First of all, in that time and place, the testimony of a woman was considered unreliable. Women could only testify in court if three or four of them had co-witnessed the same event. And yet, it was the word of a woman which brought these Samaritans to meet Jesus (John 4:28–30). Strictly speaking, this verse is not saying that the people of town were saved on account of the woman's story. Rather, it was her story which led them to meet Jesus, resulting in their belief and salvation.

The other interesting point is that Jesus' extensive knowledge is specifically mentioned. In that place and time, a woman's opinion might have been pointless under normal circumstances. However, this particular woman might well have had less-than-honorable connections to other men in town (John 4:17–18). When she said that Jesus knew "all" she had done, that might have made some people nervous enough to go investigate.

This is also a prime example of why evangelism efforts are never wasted. There is no such thing as a person too far gone, too sinful, or too unimportant to share the gospel with. A lowly, outcast Samaritan woman was so impressed by Jesus that she sparked a revival in her town! The impact of her actions are still being felt in the Christian world today.

John 4:27–45 is an object lesson for the disciples. Jesus has just finished a conversation with a Samaritan woman, while the disciples were in town buying food. As it turns out, this supposedly unclean woman will soon bring back many people to meet Christ, while the disciples have brought no one. Jesus explains that some work to plant spiritual seeds, while others might be the ones collecting the harvest. Both are valuable and we should be ready for opportunities in either case.

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. Jesus both confronts her about her sin, and comforts her with the truth of the gospel. In particular, He explains that even though He knows her sins, He still seeks after her, and those like her. The woman returns to town, eventually bringing many people to meet Jesus. The disciples, meanwhile, have to be reminded of the purpose of their mission. Jesus also heals the son of a government official in a way that demonstrates the importance of trusting faith, rather than reliance on spectacle.

John chapter 4 continues the use of contrast. Jesus goes from conversing with an educated, powerful, prestigious man to talking to an outcast, unlearned, self-conscious woman. The combination of this passage, along with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, makes an important spiritual point. The gospel is for all people, in all places, and all times. Christ can reach each person exactly where he or she needs to be reached.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.