📖 John — Chapter 4 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
John 4:1 When therefore Rthe LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
John 4:2 R(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
John 4:3 He Rleft Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
John 4:4 RAnd he must needs go through Samaria.
John 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to Rthe parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
John 4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, Rbeing wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
John 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, RGive me to drink.
John 4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city Rto buy meat.)
John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, Raskest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, Rand 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.
John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, Rthou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
John 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, RWhosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him Rshall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, Rgive me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
John 4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
John 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast Ris not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
John 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, RI perceive that thou art a prophet.
John 4:20 Our Rfathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
John 4:21 Jesus Rsaith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
John 4:22 Ye worship Rye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
John 4:23 But Rthe hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24 God is Ra Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that RMessias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
John 4:26 RJesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
John 4:27 And upon this came his disciples, and Rmarvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
John 4:30 RThen they went out of the city, and came unto him.
John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, RMaster, eat.
John 4:32 But he said unto them, RI have meat to eat that ye know not of.
John 4:33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, RMy meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; Rfor they are white already to harvest.
John 4:36 And Rhe that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
John 4:37 And herein is that saying true, ROne soweth, and another reapeth.
John 4:38 I Rsent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
John 4:39 And Rmany 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.
John 4:40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, Rthey besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
John 4:41 And Rmany more believed because of his own word;
John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: Rfor we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
John 4:43 Now after Rtwo days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
John 4:44 For Jesus himself testified, Rthat a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
John 4:45 Then when he was come into Galilee, Rthe Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
John 4:46 So Jesus came again into RCana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
John 4:47 When Rhe heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, RExcept ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
John 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, Rcome down ere my child die.
John 4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
John 4:51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, RThy son liveth.
John 4:52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
John 4:53 So the father knew that it was Rat the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
John 4:54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
John 4:1–26 — Living water and true worship meet a Samaritan woman
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
At Jacob’s well Jesus asks for a drink and speaks of living water. His knowledge of the woman’s life opens a worship question, and he directs attention to worship in spirit and truth before identifying himself as the Messiah.
Key Truth: Bring real need and honest questions to Jesus.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “When therefore the ____ knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and …” (John 4:1)
Find it in John 4:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… in him a well of water springing up into everlasting ____ .” (John 4:14)
Find it in John 4:14 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” (John 4:26)
Find it in John 4:26 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
John 4:27–42 — A town’s response and the harvest teach the disciples
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The woman invites her town to consider Jesus, while he teaches the disciples about doing the Father’s will and the ready harvest. Townspeople first respond to her account and then believe because they hear him themselves.
Key Truth: Let testimony invite people to hear Jesus for themselves.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Then they went out of the city, and ____ unto him.” (John 4:30)
Find it in John 4:30 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Say not ye, There are yet ____ months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, …” (John 4:35)
Find it in John 4:35 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “But he ____ unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know …” (John 4:32)
Find it in John 4:32 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
John 4:43–54 — A nobleman trusts Jesus’ word for his son
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
A father seeks help for his dying child, and Jesus tells him that his son lives. He believes the word and later learns that the recovery began at the hour Jesus spoke, leading his household to believe.
Key Truth: Trust Jesus’ word rather than requiring your preferred form of help.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Now after two ____ he departed thence, and went into Galilee.” (John 4:43)
Find it in John 4:43 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.” (John 4:49)
Find it in John 4:49 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “This is again the ____ miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of …” (John 4:54)
Find it in John 4:54 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Isaiah 55:1 — The invitation to those who thirst offers a connection with the living-water conversation.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can honest testimony invite another person to consider Jesus?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which account best distinguishes John 4:1–26 (Living water and true worship meet a Samaritan woman) from the other movements of this chapter?
2. Which account best distinguishes John 4:27–42 (A town’s response and the harvest teach the disciples) from the other movements of this chapter?
3. Which account best distinguishes John 4:43–54 (A nobleman trusts Jesus’ word for his son) from the other movements of this chapter?
4. What makes the place dispute insufficient to define true worship?
5. How has the Samaritans' belief developed beyond the woman's report?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation