John 4
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
John chapter 4 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
41 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from 3 Fathers — Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, and Saint Augustine of Hippo.
John 4
1Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and was baptizing more disciples than JohnὩς οὖν ἔγνω ὁ Κύριος ὅτι ἤκουσαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ὅτι Ἰησοῦς πλείονας μαθητὰς ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει ἢ Ἰωάννης—
2(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples),καίτοιγε Ἰησοῦς αὐτὸς οὐκ ἐβάπτιζεν, ἀλλ᾽ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ—
3He left Judea and went away into Galilee.ἀφῆκε τὴν Ἰουδαίαν, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν.
4But He needed to pass through Samaria.Ἔδει δὲ αὐτὸν διέρχεσθαι διὰ τῆς Σαμαρείας.
5Therefore He came to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near the piece of land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph.Ἔρχεται οὖν εἰς πόλιν τῆς Σαμαρείας λεγομένην Συχάρ, πλησίον τοῦ χωρίου ὃ ἔδωκεν Ἰακὼβ Ἰωσὴφ τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ·
6Now Jacob's well was there. Therefore Jesus, having become tired from the journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ πηγὴ τοῦ Ἰακώβ. Ὁ οὖν Ἰησοῦς κεκοπιακὼς ἐκ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας ἐκαθέζετο οὕτως ἐπὶ τῇ πηγῇ. Ὥρα ἦν ὡσεὶ ἕκτη.
7A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”Ἔρχεται γυνὴ ἐκ τῆς Σαμαρείας ἀντλῆσαι ὕδωρ· λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Δός μοι πιεῖν.
8(For His disciples had gone away into the city, that they might buy provisions).Οἱ γὰρ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπεληλύθεισαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἵνα τροφὰς ἀγοράσωσι.
9Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ ἡ Σαμαρεῖτις, Πῶς σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ὢν παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ πιεῖν αἰτεῖς, οὔσης γυναικὸς Σαμαρείτιδος;—Οὐ γὰρ συγχρῶνται Ἰουδαῖοι Σαμαρείταις.
10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you had known the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given to you living water.”Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Εἰ ᾔδεις τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τίς ἐστιν ὁ λέγων σοι, Δός μοι πιεῖν, σὺ ἂν ᾔτησας αὐτόν, καὶ ἔδωκεν ἄν σοι ὕδωρ ζῶν.
11The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?Λέγει αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή, Κύριε, οὔτε ἄντλημα ἔχεις, καὶ τὸ φρέαρ ἐστὶ βαθύ· πόθεν οὖν ἔχεις τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν;
12Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”Μὴ σὺ μείζων εἶ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἰακώβ, ὃς ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν τὸ φρέαρ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔπιε, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θρέμματα αὐτοῦ;
13Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Πᾶς ὁ πίνων ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος τούτου, διψήσει πάλιν·
14but whoever drinks of the water which I shall give him will by no means ever thirst again. But the water which I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life.”ὃς δ᾽ ἂν πίῃ ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος οὗ ἐγὼ δώσω αὐτῷ, οὐ μὴ διψήσῃ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ἀλλὰ τὸ ὕδωρ ὃ δώσω αὐτῷ γενήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ πηγὴ ὕδατος ἁλλομένου εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”Λέγει πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡ γυνή, Κύριε, δός μοι τοῦτο τὸ ὕδωρ, ἵνα μὴ διψῶ, μηδὲ ἔρχομαι ἐνθάδε ἀντλεῖν.
16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ὕπαγε, φώνησον τὸν ἄνδρα σου, καὶ ἐλθὲ ἐνθάδε.
17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have said well, ‘I have no husband,’Ἀπεκρίθη ἡ γυνὴ καὶ εἶπεν, Οὐκ ἔχω ἄνδρα. Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Καλῶς εἶπας ὅτι Ἄνδρα οὐκ ἔχω·
18for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in this you have said truly.”πέντε γὰρ ἄνδρας ἔσχες, καὶ νῦν ὃν ἔχεις οὐκ ἔστι σου ἀνήρ· τοῦτο ἀληθὲς εἴρηκας.
19The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.Λέγει αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή, Κύριε, θεωρῶ ὅτι προφήτης εἶ σύ.
20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship.”Οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ προσεκύνησαν· καὶ ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐστὶν ὁ τόπος ὅπου δεῖ προσκυνεῖν.
21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Γύναι, πίστευσόν μοι ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα, ὅτε οὔτε ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ οὔτε ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις προσκυνήσετε τῷ πατρί.
22You worship what you do not know; we Jews worship what we know, because salvation is of the Jews.Ὑμεῖς προσκυνεῖτε ὃ οὐκ οἴδατε· ἡμεῖς προσκυνοῦμεν ὃ οἴδαμεν· ὅτι ἡ σωτηρία ἐκ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐστίν.
23But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.Ἀλλ᾽ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσι τῷ πατρὶ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ· καὶ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν.
24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”Πνεῦμα ὁ Θεός· καὶ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν, ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ δεῖ προσκυνεῖν.
25The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will proclaim to us all things.”Λέγει αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή, Οἶδα ὅτι Μεσίας ἔρχεται—ὁ λεγόμενος Χριστός· ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, ἀναγγελεῖ ἡμῖν πάντα.
26Jesus said to her, “I am He, the One speaking to you.”Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἐγώ εἰμι, ὁ λαλῶν σοι.
27And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He was speaking with a woman; however no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You speaking with her?”Καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἦλθον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν ὅτι μετὰ γυναικὸς ἐλάλει· οὐδεὶς μέντοι εἶπε, Τί ζητεῖς; ἤ, Τί λαλεῖς μετ᾽ αὐτῆς;
28The woman then left her water jar, went her way into the city, and said to the men,Ἀφῆκεν οὖν τὴν ὑδρίαν αὐτῆς ἡ γυνή, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, καὶ λέγει τοῖς ἀνθρώποις,
29“Come, see a Man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”Δεῦτε, ἴδετε ἄνθρωπον, ὃς εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα· μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός;
30They went out of the city and were coming to Him.Ἐξῆλθον ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτόν.
31But in the meantime the disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”Ἐν δὲ τῷ μεταξὺ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταί, λέγοντες, Ῥαββί, φάγε.
32But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Ἐγὼ βρῶσιν ἔχω φαγεῖν ἣν ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε.
33Therefore the disciples were saying to one another, “Has anyone brought Him something to eat?”Ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, Μή τις ἤνεγκεν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν;
34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἐμὸν βρῶμά ἐστιν, ἵνα ποιῶ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πέμψαντός με, καὶ τελειώσω αὐτοῦ τὸ ἔργον.
35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and the harvest comes’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and see the fields, for they are already white for harvest!Οὐχ ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι Ἔτι τετράμηνός ἐστι, καὶ ὁ θερισμὸς ἔρχεται; Ἰδού, λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐπάρατε τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑμῶν, καὶ θεάσασθε τὰς χώρας, ὅτι λευκαί εἰσι πρὸς θερισμὸν ἤδη.
36And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.Καὶ ὁ θερίζων μισθὸν λαμβάνει, καὶ συνάγει καρπὸν εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον· ἵνα καὶ ὁ σπείρων ὁμοῦ χαίρῃ καὶ ὁ θερίζων.
37For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’Ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ ὁ λόγος ἐστὶν ὁ ἀληθινός, ὅτι Ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ σπείρων, καὶ ἄλλος ὁ θερίζων.
38I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”Ἐγὼ ἀπέστειλα ὑμᾶς θερίζειν ὃ οὐχ ὑμεῖς κεκοπιάκατε· ἄλλοι κεκοπιάκασι, καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν κόπον αὐτῶν εἰσεληλύθατε.
39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman testifying, “He told me everything I ever did.”Ἐκ δὲ τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης πολλοὶ ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτὸν τῶν Σαμαρειτῶν διὰ τὸν λόγον τῆς γυναικὸς μαρτυρούσης ὅτι Εἶπέ μοι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα.
40So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.Ὡς οὖν ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ Σαμαρεῖται, ἠρώτων αὐτὸν μεῖναι παρ᾽ αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐκεῖ δύο ἡμέρας.
41And many more believed because of His word.Καὶ πολλῷ πλείους ἐπίστευσαν διὰ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ,
42Then they were saying to the woman, “No longer because of your speech do we believe, for we ourselves have heard and know that this is truly the Christ, the Savior of the world.”τῇ τε γυναικὶ ἔλεγον ὅτι Οὐκέτι διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιὰν πιστεύομεν· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν, καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου, ὁ Χριστός.
43Now after the two days He went out from there and went to Galilee.Μετὰ δὲ τὰς δύο ἡμέρας ἐξῆλθεν ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν.
44For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.Αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐμαρτύρησεν ὅτι προφήτης ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ πατρίδι τιμὴν οὐκ ἔχει.
45Therefore when He came into Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things which He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also went to the feast.Ὅτε οὖν ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, ἐδέξαντο αὐτὸν οἱ Γαλιλαῖοι, πάντα ἑωρακότες ἃ ἐποίησεν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐν τῇ ἑορτῇ· καὶ αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἦλθον εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν.
46Then Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick in Capernaum.Ἦλθεν οὖν πάλιν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν Κανᾶ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, ὅπου ἐποίησε τὸ ὕδωρ οἶνον. Καὶ ἦν τις βασιλικός, οὗ ὁ υἱὸς ἠσθένει ἐν Καπερναούμ.
47When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him that He might come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.Οὗτος ἀκούσας ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἥκει ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, ἀπῆλθε πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἠρώτα αὐτὸν ἵνα καταβῇ καὶ ἰάσηται αὐτοῦ τὸν υἱόν· ἔμελλε γὰρ ἀποθνῄσκειν.
48Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”Εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς αὐτόν, Ἐὰν μὴ σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἴδητε, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε.
49The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”Λέγει πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλικός, Κύριε, κατάβηθι πρὶν ἀποθανεῖν τὸ παιδίον μου.
50Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” And the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and went away.Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Πορεύου· ὁ υἱός σου ζῇ. Καὶ ἐπίστευσεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῷ λόγῳ ᾧ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἐπορεύετο.
51And already as he was going, his servants met him and reported, saying, “Your child lives!”Ἤδη δὲ αὐτοῦ καταβαίνοντος, οἱ δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ ἀπήντησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν λέγοντες ὅτι Ὁ παῖς σου ζῇ.
52Then he inquired from them the hour at which he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”Ἐπύθετο οὖν παρ᾽ αὐτῶν τὴν ὥραν ἐν ᾗ κομψότερον ἔσχε. Καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ ὅτι Χθὲς ὥραν ἑβδόμην ἀφῆκεν αὐτὸν ὁ πυρετός.
53Therefore the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.Ἔγνω οὖν ὁ πατὴρ ὅτι ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ, ἐν ᾗ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι Ὁ υἱός σου ζῇ· καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτὸς καὶ ἡ οἰκία αὐτοῦ ὅλη.
54This was now the second sign that Jesus did, after He had come out of Judea into Galilee.Τοῦτο πάλιν δεύτερον σημεῖον ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἐλθὼν ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν.
The Fathers on John 4
Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, and Saint Augustine of Hippo comment on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On John 4:13–14Saint John Chrysostom“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 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.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of John →
On John 4:12–13Saint Cyril of Alexandria12, 13 Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, The woman arrests herself, and that as quickly as possible, being conscious that she had taken up ideas of Him neither holily nor surely true. For it was...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:1–42Saint Augustine of Hippo1. It is nothing new to your ears, beloved, that the Evangelist John, like an eagle, takes a loftier flight, and soars above the dark mist of earth, to gaze with steadier eyes upon the light of truth. From his Gospel much has already been treated of and discussed through our ministry, with the Lord's help; and the...
Read Tractates on the Gospel of John →
On John 4:14–15Saint Cyril of Alexandria14, 15 Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, 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. The woman saith unto Him, The woman of Samaria proposing, as a hard question...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:21–22Saint John Chrysostom“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of John →
On John 4:20–21Saint Cyril of Alexandria20, 21 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and YE say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Conceiving that the Lord is in truth a Prophet and a |211 Jew, she boasts exceedingly of the customs of her country, and asserts that the Samaritans are far superior in wisdom to...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:22Saint Cyril of AlexandriaCHAPTER V. That the Son is not in the number of worshippers, in that He is Word and God, but rather is worshipped with the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. He speaks again as a Jew and a man, since the economy of the matter in hand demands now too this mode...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:28–29Saint John Chrysostom“The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a Man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of John →
On John 4:28Saint Cyril of Alexandria28 The woman therefore left her waterpot and went her way into the city, The woman now shews herself superior to and above the cares of the body, who two or three days ago was the wife of many, and she who ofttimes was easily taken captive by vain pleasures, now overreaches the flesh of its necessary |222 want, disreg...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:29Saint Cyril of Alexandria29 and saith to the men Come see a Man which told me all things that ever I did; is not This the Christ? O wondrous change! O truly great and God-befitting Might, translucent with unspeakable marvel! Skilful workwoman unto doctrine, and initiater is she, who understood none of the things that were said at first, and t...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:40–43Saint John Chrysostom“So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own Word; 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. Now after two days He departed thence, and went into Galilee.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of John →
On John 4:40–41Saint Cyril of Alexandria40, 41 So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His Own Word, He explains in simplicity of words what took place: but prepares again another proof, that Israel ought justly to be cast off from their hope,...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:42Saint Cyril of Alexandria42 And said unto the woman, No longer do we believe, because of thy saying: for ourselves have heard Him and know that This is indeed the Saviour of the world. From the greater things does the faith of the Samaritans spring, and not any longer from what they learn from others, but from those whereof they are the wonde...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:43–44Saint Cyril of Alexandria43, 44 Now after the two days He departed thence unto Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. He departs from Samaria, having now sown the Word of salvation, and like a husbandman hidden the faith in them that dwell there, not that it might be bound captive in the silence...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:43–54Saint Augustine of Hippo1. The Gospel Lesson of today follows that of yesterday, and this is the subject of our discourse. In this passage the meaning, indeed, is not difficult of investigation, but worthy of preaching, worthy of admiration and praise. Accordingly, in reciting this passage of the Gospel, we must commend it to your attention,...
Read Tractates on the Gospel of John →
On John 4:54Saint John Chrysostom“This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when He was come out of Judæa into Galilee. After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of John →
On John 4:52–54Saint Cyril of Alexandria52, 53, 54 He therefore enquired of them the hour when he began to amend; and they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 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. This is again the second miracl...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:2–3Saint Cyril of AlexandriaChap. iv.2, 3 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself baptized not but His disciples), He left Judaea and departed again into Galilee. Whence our history proceeds to this point, or from what commencement the order of the narra...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:4–5Saint Cyril of Alexandria4, 5 And He must needs go through Samaria. 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. O great readiness of mind and deep prudence! He prevents by his answers the things that would have been asked of him. For some one would straightway hav...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:6Saint Cyril of Alexandria6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well. Having crossed the borders of Judaea, and being now among aliens, the Saviour rests upon Jacob's well: shewing us again as in a type and darkly, that even though the preaching of the Gospel should depart from Jerusale...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:7–9Saint Cyril of Alexandria7, 8, 9 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink. (For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat). Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, The Saviour was not ignorant of the woman's coming. For right well did He know being Very God, that she would forthwith...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:10Saint Cyril of Alexandria10 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. Jesus answered and said unto her, Enquiry is the beginning of learning, and to those who are ignorant upon any subject, doubt concerning it is the root of understanding. This commenc...
Read Commentary on John, Book II →
On John 4:11Saint Cyril of Alexandria11 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. The woman saith unto Him, Not knowing the Essence of the Only Begotten, surpassing earth and heaven, yea rather being wholly ignorant of the Incarnate Word...
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On John 4:16Saint Cyril of Alexandria16 Give me this water, that I thirst not neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Again does she both speak and imagine only ordinary things, and of the things that were said understands no whit; but she supposes that in being released from petty toils, will consist all the aim of our Saviour, and to thirsti...
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On John 4:17–19Saint Cyril of Alexandria17, 18, 19 The woman saith to Him I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou hast well said I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto Him, To whom is it not now evident that the Saviour was not ignorant that she...
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On John 4:23–25Saint Cyril of Alexandria23, 24, 25 But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman saith to Him, He is intimating the time now present of His Own |219 Pres...
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On John 4:26Saint Cyril of Alexandria26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He. Not to untutored or wholly ignorant souls doth Christ reveal Himself, bat shines upon and appears the rather to those who are more ready to desire to learn, and travailing with the beginning of the faith in simple words, press forward to the knowledge of what is m...
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On John 4:27Saint Cyril of Alexandria27 And upon this came His disciples The presence of the disciples is the conclusion of His |221 conversation with the woman. For the Saviour is at length silent, and having placed in the Samaritans the glowing spark of the faith, commits it to their inward parts to be kindled to a mighty flame. Thus you may understand...
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On John 4:30Saint Cyril of Alexandria30 They went out of the city, and came unto Him. The obedience of the Samaritans is a conviction of the hardness of heart of the Jews, and their inhumanity is clearly shewn in the gentleness of these. And let the seeker of learning see again the difference of habit in both, that he may justly wonder at Jesus, departin...
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On John 4:31–32Saint Cyril of Alexandria31, 32 In the mean time His disciples prayed Him, saying Master, eat. But He saith unto them Most excellently doth the Divine Evangelist manage the compilation of this book, and omits nothing which he believes will at all be of use to the readers. Hear therefore how he introduces Jesus again as the Ensample of a most...
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On John 4:33–34Saint Cyril of Alexandria33, 34 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, The disciples not yet understanding the discourse which was obscure, were reasoning about what had often happened among themselves, and descend to common place ideas, fancying that food had been brought Hi...
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On John 4:35Saint Cyril of Alexandria35 Say not YE, There are yet four months and the harvest cometh? He again taketh occasions of His Discourse from the time and event, and from the grosser things of sense He fashioneth His declaration of spiritual ideas. For it was yet winter at that time, and the tender sprouting and fresh stalk of the seed was scarce...
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On John 4:36–37Saint Cyril of Alexandria36, 37 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. For herein is the saying true, One soweth and another reapeth. It is the time (saith He) of the Word calling to the Faith, and shewing to the hearers the arrival at its...
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On John 4:38Saint Cyril of Alexandria38 I sent you to reap that whereon YE have not laboured: other men have laboured, and YE are entered into their labours. He at length unveils to them the whole mystery, and having removed the dark cloak of words, renders most clear the understanding of His meaning. For the Saviour being a Lover of the Prophets, and a...
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On John 4:39Saint Cyril of Alexandria39 And from that city many of the Samaritans believed on Him for the saying of the woman which testified, He told me all that ever I did. Israel is again hereby too condemned, and by the obedience 11 of the Samaritans, is convicted of being alike reckless of knowing and harsh. For the Evangelist marvels much at the ma...
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On John 4:45Saint Cyril of Alexandria45 When therefore He was come into Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the feast; for they also went unto the feast. Not without consideration do the Galileans receive Jesus, but in just astonishment at the wondrous works which they themselves had already seen Hi...
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On John 4:46Saint Cyril of Alexandria46 He came therefore again into Cana of Galilee where He made the water wine. Christ loveth to dwell among those that are well disposed, and to those who more readily advance unto the perception and knowledge of benefits done them, He poureth forth supplies of greater goods. He cometh then to work miracles in Cana, th...
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On John 4:47–48Saint Cyril of Alexandria47, 48 And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he besought Him that He would come down and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said unto him, The nobleman cometh as to One able to heal, but he |233 unde...
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On John 4:49Saint Cyril of Alexandria49 Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto Him, A mind yet hard dwelleth in them who arc deceived, but mightier will be the more wonder-working power of Him That calleth them unto faith. Wherefore the Saviour says that they need wonders, that they may easily be re-instructed unto...
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On John 4:50Saint Cyril of Alexandria50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. Thus believing he ought to have come, but Christ doth |234 not reject our lack of apprehension; but benefiteth even the stumbling, as God. That then which the man should have been admired for doing, this does he teach him even when he doth it not, revealed alike as...
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On John 4:51Open John 4 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Cyril of Alexandria51 The man believed the word that Jesus said to him, and went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. The one command of the Saviour healeth two souls. For in the nobleman it worketh unwonted faith, the child it rescueth from bodily death. Which is healed first...
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