Devine Scripture

John 4:39

What does John 4:39 mean?

A plain-English look at John 4:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 4:39 means

Many Samaritans from Sychar believed in Jesus, their faith sparked by the woman's testimony: "He told me all things that ever I did." Her personal account of Jesus' supernatural knowledge of her past was compelling evidence, leading them to consider if He was indeed the Christ. This demonstrates the power of authentic witness and the readiness of these once-estranged people to respond to the Messiah.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And from that city many of the Samaritans believed on him because of the word of the woman, who testified, He told me all things thateverI did.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And from that city many of the Samaritans believed on him because of the word of the woman, who testified, He told me all things thateverI did.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now a number of the people of that town had faith in him because of the woman's witness: He has been talking to me of everything I ever did.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And from that city many believed in him, of the Samaritans, because of the word of the woman testifying, --`He told me all things--as many as I did.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Now of that city many of the Samaritans believed in him, for the word of the woman giving testimony: He told me all things whatsoever I have done.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him because of the word of the woman who bore witness, He told me all things that I had ever done.

Context

This verse describes the immediate and direct result of the Samaritan woman's testimony. It follows Jesus' discourse to His disciples about the spiritual harvest and their role as reapers. The Samaritans' belief based on her word confirms that the fields were indeed "white already unto harvest," validating Jesus' earlier statements and foreshadowing a broader reception of Him among them.

v.38I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor.

v.39This passage

v.40So when the Samaritans came unto him, they besought him to abide with them: and he abode there two days.

Cross references

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

  • John 4:42

    and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.

  • John 10:41

    And many came unto him; and they said, John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true.

  • John 11:45

    Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld that which he did, believed on him.

  • John 4:5

    So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph:

  • John 4:29

    Come, see a man, who told me all things that ever I did: can this be the Christ?

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