John 4:38
What does John 4:38 mean?
A plain-English look at John 4:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 4:38 means
Jesus explicitly applies the "one soweth, another reapeth" principle to His disciples, declaring that He sent them to reap a harvest where they had not toiled. He clarifies that others, like the prophets and perhaps the Samaritan woman, had already prepared the ground, and the disciples were now entering into the fruit of their previous labor. This empowers the disciples, assuring them that their efforts are part of a larger, ongoing divine plan, building on past foundations, particularly in light of the approaching Samaritans.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I sent you to get in grain which you had no hand in planting: other men did that work, and you take the reward.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured; others laboured, and ye into their labour have entered.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I have sent you to reap that in which you did not labour. Others have laboured: and you have entered into their labours.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I have sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured; others have laboured, and ye have entered into their labours.
Context
This verse is Jesus' specific application of the sowing and reaping principle to His disciples. It directly follows the general affirmation of that saying in verse 37. This explanation is crucial for the disciples to understand their role in the burgeoning Samaritan revival, clarifying that their upcoming work among these people would be a reaping of a field already prepared, largely by the woman's testimony, which further illustrates the immediacy of the spiritual harvest.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 6:7
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
- Acts 4:4
But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
- 1 Peter 1:11
searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
- Acts 10:42
And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.
- Matthew 4:23
And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.
- 2 Chronicles 36:15
And Jehovah, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place:
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