John 4:30
What does John 4:30 mean?
A plain-English look at John 4:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 4:30 means
Compelled by the woman's enthusiastic testimony, the people of the city respond by going out to meet Jesus. This immediate and widespread movement demonstrates the powerful impact of a transformed life and personal witness. Their willingness to come to Him, despite ethnic prejudice, signals a readiness to hear and believe, showing the fruit of Jesus' groundbreaking encounter at the well.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They went out of the city, and were coming to him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They went out of the city, and were coming to him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So they went out of the town and came to him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862They went forth therefore out of the city, and were coming unto him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They went therefore out of the city and came unto him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They went out of the city and came to him.
Context
This verse describes the direct result of the Samaritan woman's urgent invitation and testimony. It follows immediately from her appeal to the townspeople in verse 29. The people's movement out of the city towards Jesus signifies the beginning of a larger spiritual awakening among the Samaritans, confirming the effectiveness of Jesus' mission across cultural barriers, even before He speaks to them directly.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 5:20
And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
- Matthew 8:11
And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:
- Matthew 12:40
for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- Luke 17:16
and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
- Matthew 2:1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
- Matthew 11:20
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.
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