John 4 14

John 4:14 kjv

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:14 nkjv

but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 4:14 niv

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 4:14 esv

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 4:14 nlt

But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

John 4 verses

John 4 14 Meaning

John 4:14 reveals that the water Jesus gives provides ultimate spiritual satisfaction, freeing individuals from perpetual spiritual longing. This living water, which represents the Holy Spirit received through faith in Christ, establishes an indwelling source within believers that continually springs up, culminating in everlasting life. It transforms internal being, providing abundant, enduring spiritual vitality.

John 4 14 Context

This verse is spoken by Jesus to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Sychar, immediately after she misunderstands His offer of "living water" as ordinary physical water (Jn 4:10-13). Jesus draws a stark contrast between the finite, temporary satisfaction of physical water, which leaves one thirsty again, and the inexhaustible, eternal satisfaction He provides.

Culturally, wells were vital sources of life, often associated with community and ancestral heritage (like Jacob's well). Spiritually, "thirst" was a common metaphor in the Old Testament for deep human longing and the need for God's provision. Jesus challenges the woman's physical understanding and her reliance on a traditional well, redirecting her to a higher, spiritual reality offered uniquely by Him. This encounter also directly confronts ethnic and religious barriers between Jews and Samaritans, emphasizing that spiritual provision from Jesus transcends such divisions and redefines true worship beyond specific geographical locations.

John 4 14 Word analysis

• but (δὲ, de): A transitional particle introducing a strong contrast to the previous statement about the water from the well that leaves one thirsty again.
• whoever (πᾶς ὁ, pas ho): "Every one who." Indicates universal availability and inclusivity; not limited by race, gender, or past.
• drinks (πίνων, pinōn): A present active participle, implying continuous action. Not just a one-time sip, but ongoing reception and appropriation.
• of the water (ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος, ek tou hydatos): "From the water." Emphasizes the source from which the satisfaction is drawn.
• that I (ὃ ἐγὼ, ho egō): "Which I." The "I" (ἐγὼ) is emphatic, asserting Jesus' unique identity and divine authority as the sole giver of this special water.
• will give (δώσω, dōsō): A future active indicative verb. It's a promise, a divine bestowal, not something earned or produced.
• him (αὐτῷ, autō): Refers to the recipient, the one who truly drinks of the water given by Jesus.
• will never be thirsty again (οὐ μὴ διψήσει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ou mē dipsēsei eis ton aiōna): A very strong double negative ("absolutely never") combined with "into the age" (meaning forever or for all time). It signifies complete and permanent spiritual satisfaction, fulfilling the deepest human longings. This is not physical thirst, but the spiritual craving for meaning, purpose, and connection with God.
• The water that I will give him: A repetition of the preceding phrase, emphasizing the extraordinary nature and source of this gift.
• will become (γενήσεται, genēsetai): "Will come to be," or "will arise." Indicates an internal transformation and formation within the believer.
• in him (ἐν αὐτῷ, en autō): "Within him" or "inside him." Points to an indwelling presence and a profound, internal change, rather than an external or temporary supply.
• a spring (πηγὴ, pēgē): A natural, self-sustaining fountain or source, constantly flowing. This contrasts with a "well" (φρέαρ, phrear), which holds drawn or collected water. It denotes dynamic, fresh, and abundant life.
• of water (ὕδατος, hydatos): "Of water." Clarifies the nature of the spring.
• welling up (ἁλλομένου, hallomenou): "Leaping," "springing," "bubbling up." A vivid present participle describing active, effervescent, irrepressible motion. It's an internal, active spiritual dynamic.
• to eternal life (εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον, eis zōēn aiōnion): "Into eternal life." The ultimate purpose and culmination of this internal wellspring. "Eternal life" is not merely endless duration but a qualitative, rich, and abundant life lived in ongoing fellowship with God, commencing now and extending throughout eternity.

Words-group analysis:

• "whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again": This phrase establishes the immediate, profound benefit for the one who receives Jesus' gift: the cessation of spiritual yearning, an ultimate inner satisfaction. It emphasizes a complete spiritual fulfillment, directly contrasting with human limitations and constant striving for external satisfaction.
• "The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life": This elaborates on how that ultimate satisfaction is maintained and what its final destiny is. The spiritual water doesn't just quench once; it becomes an active, perpetual, and internal source of life that empowers and leads the believer into and sustains them in everlasting relationship with God. It signifies an inexhaustible, dynamic, and purposeful spiritual life originating from within.

John 4 14 Bonus section

• The radical nature of Jesus offering this profound truth and life-altering gift to a Samaritan woman, an outcast both ethnically and socially by Jewish standards, highlights the universal scope of salvation and the breaking down of all human-made barriers in the kingdom of God.
• This conversation with the Samaritan woman lays foundational themes further developed in John's Gospel, such as true worship in Spirit and truth, emphasizing the internal over the external (Jn 4:23-24).
• The contrast drawn between "Jacob's well" and the "water that I will give" elevates Jesus as superior to the revered patriarch Jacob and His provision as incomparably greater than anything inherited from tradition.
• The imagery of a "spring" or "fountain" evokes numerous Old Testament passages where God Himself is depicted as the "fountain of living waters" (Jer 2:13), implying a divine identity for the source of this life-giving water Jesus provides.
• "Never be thirsty again" signifies not merely satisfaction but also a freedom from the bondage of human inadequacy and dependence on temporal solutions for spiritual longing.

John 4 14 Commentary

John 4:14 unveils a profound truth about the life-transforming power offered by Jesus. The physical act of drinking water, necessary for physical survival and to temporarily satisfy thirst, serves as a powerful analogy for spiritual renewal. Human beings often seek satisfaction in fleeting pleasures, material possessions, or human relationships, only to find themselves perpetually unfulfilled – "thirsty again." Jesus presents Himself as the sole provider of "living water," a spiritual essence that definitively addresses the deepest yearnings of the human soul.

This "living water" is widely understood to signify the Holy Spirit. As illuminated in John 7:37-39, Jesus explicitly connects the offer of living water to the giving of the Spirit to those who believe. The Spirit's indwelling transforms the believer's inner being, not merely by quenching thirst, but by becoming a "spring" within them. This implies an active, internal source of spiritual vitality that is perpetually renewed, dynamically "welling up" with life, joy, peace, and divine presence. It’s an ongoing, abundant flow, sustaining and empowering the believer daily.

The ultimate aim and consequence of this inner spring is "eternal life." This phrase encapsulates more than just endless existence; it describes the quality of life in intimate, unbroken fellowship with God. It begins at the moment of faith, is nourished by the indwelling Spirit, and extends into eternity, guaranteeing a perpetual, fulfilling communion with the Divine. It’s a liberation from the ceaseless pursuit of spiritual contentment, replaced by an abiding source of life from within.

Examples of its practical usage:

• For one caught in the relentless pursuit of societal validation, finding that internal spring in Christ can mean profound contentment and freedom from external pressures.
• A person experiencing spiritual exhaustion or dryness can find the Holy Spirit to be the welling spring that renews their energy and passion for God.