John 4 18

John 4:18 kjv

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

John 4:18 nkjv

for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."

John 4:18 niv

The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

John 4:18 esv

for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."

John 4:18 nlt

for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"

John 4 verses

John 4 18 Meaning

John 4:18 reveals Jesus' supernatural knowledge of the Samaritan woman's personal life. After she states she has no husband, Jesus affirms this partial truth by declaring she has had five husbands in the past, and the man she is currently living with is not her husband. This statement confirms her own confession while also revealing His divine insight into her most private details, establishing His authority and prophetic nature in her eyes. It is a moment of direct, yet gentle, confrontation that pivots the conversation from physical water to spiritual truth and the identity of the Messiah.

John 4 18 Context

(paragraph)John chapter 4 begins with Jesus traveling through Samaria, a region often avoided by Jews due to centuries of ethno-religious animosity. He deliberately stops at Jacob's well in Sychar, where He encounters a Samaritan woman who has come to draw water during the heat of the day, suggesting she was ostracized by other women who would gather earlier. The conversation initially revolves around physical water, but Jesus immediately shifts it to "living water" – spiritual life and the gift of God. He challenges her limited understanding and offers an unmerited, profound revelation of spiritual truth. The turning point occurs when Jesus, having just offered "living water" that quenches all thirst, asks her to call her husband (v. 16). Her response, "I have no husband" (v. 17), leads directly to John 4:18. This verse is the pivot point where Jesus reveals His omniscience, directly exposing her private life without condemnation, thereby authenticating His divine identity and breaking down barriers between prophet and sinner, Jew and Samaritan. It's a deliberate revelation to bring her to the knowledge of salvation.

John 4 18 Word analysis

• For (Greek: γάρ, gar): A particle indicating a causal or explanatory connection. It explains why Jesus knew she was speaking truly about not having a husband – because He knew the fuller, deeper truth of her past and present.

• you have had (Greek: ἔσχες, esches): From echō (to have, hold). This is an aorist active indicative, indicating a past completed action. It refers to five distinct instances of having a husband, implying a series of past, legally recognized (or at least socially significant) marital relationships.

• five (Greek: πέντε, pente): A precise numerical value. It underscores the specific and undeniable nature of Jesus' knowledge of her history, beyond mere rumor or human observation. The specificity heightens the sense of divine insight.

• husbands (Greek: ἄνδρας, andras): Plural accusative of anēr, meaning "man" or "husband." In this context, it clearly means husbands, indicating the men to whom she was legitimately married (even if subsequently divorced or widowed).

• and (Greek: καί, kai): A simple conjunction connecting the past situation with the current one.

• the one you now have (Greek: ὃν νῦν ἔχεις, hon nyn echeis): Literally, "whom now you have."

  • now (Greek: νῦν, nyn): An adverb of time, emphasizing the present, current situation.
  • have (Greek: ἔχεις, echeis): Present active indicative of echō, indicating an ongoing state of possession or relationship.

• is not (Greek: οὐκ ἔστιν, ouk estin): A direct and absolute negation. It signifies that her current living arrangement lacks the legal, moral, or spiritual sanction of marriage. This distinguishes her present cohabitation from her past "husband" relationships.

• your husband (Greek: σου ἀνήρ, sou anēr): Literally, "your man/husband." This further clarifies the illicit nature of her current relationship; he might be a man she lives with, but not her legitimate husband in God's eyes or even within their society's laws.

• in this (Greek: τοῦτο, touto): Refers demonstratively to her preceding statement, "I have no husband." Jesus points to the accuracy of her specific words.

• you have spoken truly (Greek: ἀληθῆ εἴρηκας, alēthē eirēkas):

  • truly (Greek: ἀληθῆ, alēthē): Accusative plural of alēthēs, meaning "true things" or "truthful." Jesus confirms the factual accuracy of her statement within its narrow scope.
  • you have spoken (Greek: εἴρηκας, eirēkas): Perfect active indicative of legō (to say, speak). Indicates a completed action with continuing results—she has said the truth, and it stands.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "For you have had five husbands": This phrase succinctly exposes the depth of Jesus' knowledge about her marital history. "Five" is a remarkable number for the era, possibly implying a string of divorces or challenging circumstances that likely led to societal judgment. This detail proves Jesus’ supernatural discernment, surpassing mere human observation or deduction.
  • "and the one you now have is not your husband": This identifies her current relationship as illegitimate, confirming her "no husband" claim from her perspective, as this current partner doesn't fit the category of a lawful husband. This highlights her unsettled personal life and the social vulnerability likely experienced by the woman. Jesus identifies her need for true "living water" (salvation) which goes deeper than social norms or judgment.
  • "in this you have spoken truly": This affirmation is crucial. Jesus doesn't accuse or condemn but gently validates her partial truth, drawing her deeper into trust and open conversation. It’s a pastoral move, demonstrating that His revelation comes from knowledge, not judgment, paving the way for her to receive His spiritual teaching and recognize Him as a prophet.

John 4 18 Bonus section

(paragraph)Some scholars note a possible symbolic parallel between the Samaritan woman's "five husbands" and the five false gods that the Samaritans worshipped prior to their more developed worship system (cf. 2 Kgs 17:24-33). While this isn't explicitly stated in the text, it serves as an interesting theological layer: both the woman's life and her people's history were characterized by a search for fulfillment outside the one true God, aligning with the overall theme of Jesus offering "living water" as the singular source of true satisfaction, unlike the broken cisterns of past allegiances or empty traditions. This verse further emphasizes Jesus' strategic and compassionate engagement with a marginalized individual to bring the message of salvation to an entire community. It beautifully portrays His pattern of personal evangelism, starting with a gentle yet direct revelation of truth to a soul in need.

John 4 18 Commentary

John 4:18 is a pivotal moment in Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman, serving as the dramatic high point where His divine omniscience is powerfully demonstrated. When the woman declared, "I have no husband," she spoke a literal truth concerning her current cohabitation, which was not a legitimate marriage. Jesus affirmed her words, but then extended them with full knowledge, revealing He knew her entire private history: five previous marital relationships and her present illicit living situation. This was not meant as condemnation, but as a tender yet piercing act of exposure, designed to strip away pretense and open her heart to spiritual truth. His deep knowledge confirmed to her that He was indeed more than a man, identifying Him immediately as a prophet, leading her to believe He could be the Messiah. This verse highlights Jesus' ability to see beyond outward appearances and social barriers (Jew-Samaritan, male-female, religious-sinner) to meet individuals at the very core of their being and address their deepest spiritual need. It underscores that His grace extends to those deemed "unworthy" by society, validating their honest confession and leading them to transformational faith.

• Example 1: Like a physician who accurately diagnoses a hidden illness after listening to symptoms.
• Example 2: Similar to a mentor gently revealing a painful truth about one's past to foster deeper healing.