Devine Scripture

John 4:27

What does John 4:27 mean?

A plain-English look at John 4:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 4:27 means

Just as Jesus reveals His identity, His disciples return from buying food. They are astonished to find Him speaking with a woman, a culturally unusual and potentially scandalous interaction for a Rabbi. However, they respect Jesus enough not to question Him openly, revealing their growing understanding of His authority, even if they don't fully grasp the significance of His conversation with her.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

At that point the disciples came back, and they were surprised to see him talking to a woman; but not one of them said to him, What is your purpose? or, Why are you talking to her?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And upon this came his disciples, and were wondering that with a woman he was speaking, no one, however, said, `What seekest thou?' or `Why speakest thou with her?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And immediately his disciples came. And they wondered that he talked with the woman. Yet no man said: What seekest thou? Or: Why talkest thou with her?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And upon this came his disciples, and wondered that he spoke with a woman; yet no one said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her?

Context

This verse marks the unexpected return of Jesus' disciples, interrupting the profound personal revelation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. It occurs immediately after Jesus declares Himself to be the Messiah in verse 26. Their surprise at His interaction with a woman underscores the cultural barriers Jesus was breaking, even as their silence reflects their deference, preparing for the woman's departure and testimony.

v.26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

v.27This passage

v.28So the woman left her waterpot, and went away into the city, and saith to the people,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 4:8

    For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food.

  • Luke 7:39

    Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.

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