John 4:23 kjv
But the 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 4:23 nkjv
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
John 4:23 niv
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
John 4:23 esv
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
John 4:23 nlt
But the time is coming ? indeed it's here now ? when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
John 4 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Phil 3:3 | For we are the circumcision, who worship God by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh... | Worship by the Spirit, trusting in Christ. |
| Rom 1:9 | For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son... | Serving God from the inner being (spirit). |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus is the truth through whom we come to Father. |
| 1 John 5:6 | ...This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. | Spirit testifies and is the truth. |
| Psa 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. | God desires a true, internal, contrite spirit. |
| Psa 40:6-8 | Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, "Behold, I have come to do your will, O God." | God desires obedience and internal will, not mere rituals. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | God desires inner devotion and knowing Him, not ritual. |
| Matt 9:13 | Go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. | Jesus reiterates God's desire for inner state over ritual. |
| Jer 9:24 | but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness... | Knowing God is true boasting, part of true worship. |
| Isa 29:13 | And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me..." | Rebuke against superficial, external worship. |
| Matt 15:8-9 | 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' | False worship results from a disengaged heart. |
| Acts 7:48 | Yet the Most High does not dwell in temples made by hands, as the prophet says... | God transcends physical worship locations. |
| Acts 17:24-25 | The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands... | God is not confined to human-made structures. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own... | The believer's body becomes God's dwelling place for worship. |
| Eph 2:20-22 | ...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone... In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. | Believers as a spiritual temple for God. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith... | Access to God is through Christ's blood, enabling sincere worship. |
| Heb 9:14 | how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. | Christ's sacrifice enables internal, true service/worship. |
| Rom 8:15 | For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" | The Spirit enables believers to intimately call God "Father." |
| John 4:24 | God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. | The very nature of God necessitates spiritual worship. |
| Mark 1:15 | "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." | "The hour" reflects the fulfilled time of God's Kingdom. |
| John 1:17 | For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. | Grace and truth (personified in Jesus) are the new revelation. |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | Foundational Old Testament command for wholehearted worship. |
| 2 Cor 3:6 | who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. | The New Covenant is Spirit-based, vital for worship. |
John 4 verses
John 4 23 Meaning
John 4:23 declares a transformative shift in the nature of worship, initiated by Jesus to a Samaritan woman. It asserts that the long-anticipated time, "the hour," has arrived and is presently active. During this pivotal era, authentic followers of God, whom Jesus designates as "true worshipers," will engage with "the Father" through a worship that is fundamentally "in spirit and truth." This new mode of worship transcends physical locations or ritualistic adherence, emphasizing an internal, authentic connection. The verse concludes by revealing God's active pursuit and desire for such individuals, indicating His delight in worshipers who approach Him in this manner.
John 4 23 Context
John 4:23 arises within Jesus' profound dialogue with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well. The preceding verses (4:7-22) highlight the centuries-old religious animosity and debate between Jews and Samaritans regarding the legitimate place of worship: Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim. The woman brings up this contentious issue in John 4:20. Jesus' response directly addresses and ultimately transcends this physical, geographical argument, declaring that true worship is not bound by a specific mountain or temple. He then shifts the focus from "where" to "how" worship should occur, culminating in verse 23. This verse sets the stage for a new covenant understanding of humanity's relationship with God, where proximity and ritual are superseded by a spiritual and authentic connection made possible through His Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
John 4 23 Word analysis
- "But" (ἀλλά, alla): Signifies a strong contrast, marking a decisive turning point from the Samaritan woman's question about physical worship locations. It introduces a new, higher revelation.
- "the hour" (ὥρα, hōra): More than a mere temporal moment; it carries an eschatological and divinely appointed significance in John's Gospel. It points to the decisive time of Jesus' mission, His passion, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
- "is coming, and is now here": Emphasizes the imminence and the present reality of this new epoch of worship. It's not just a future promise but an immediate truth, dawning with Jesus' presence. This "already and not yet" dynamic is crucial in Johannine theology.
- "true" (ἀληθινοί, alēthinoi): Not merely genuine, but authentic and real in contrast to the shadows, symbols, or superficial practices of old covenant worship. It denotes what truly fulfills the purpose, embodying ultimate reality as revealed in Christ.
- "worshipers" (προσκυνηταί, proskynētai): Those who "bow down," expressing reverence and homage. It speaks of the posture of adoration and submission before God. Jesus implies a distinction between genuine and merely ritualistic observers.
- "will worship" (προσκυνήσουσιν, proskynēsousin): Future tense indicating the assured establishment of this new way of worship, even as it begins in the present moment.
- "the Father" (τὸν Πατέρα, ton Patera): Highlights the personal, intimate relationship Jesus introduces. Worship is directed not to an abstract deity, but to God as a loving Father, enabling boldness and intimacy.
- "in spirit" (ἐν πνεύματι, en pneumati): This phrase has a dual meaning. Primarily, it signifies worship originating from the regenerate human spirit, engaging the innermost being, transcending external rites or geographical boundaries. Secondly, it strongly implies worship enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit (pneuma), who guides believers into all truth and communion with God. It contrasts with outward observance.
- "and truth" (καὶ ἀληθείᾳ, kai alētheia): Denotes worship that is genuine, authentic, and congruent with God's revealed character and reality. In John's Gospel, Jesus himself is the personification of truth (John 14:6, John 1:17). Thus, worship "in truth" is worship through Christ, acknowledging His definitive revelation of God. It's not based on error, pretense, or incomplete understanding, but on ultimate divine reality.
- "for" (γάρ, gar): Introduces the divine motivation; it explains why this new worship is being revealed.
- "the Father" (ὁ Πατὴρ, ho Patēr): Repeats the intimate title, reinforcing God's personal interest.
- "is seeking" (ζητεῖ, zētei): Portrays God's active, intentional, and eager desire. Worship is not merely offered by humanity but sought by God, indicating His loving initiative and deep longing for communion with authentic worshipers. It demonstrates that God is actively pursuing a specific kind of relationship.
- "such people to worship him": Confirms God's desire for those who embrace this internal, Spirit-empowered, truth-filled worship. He is searching for genuine adoration.
John 4 23 Bonus section
This verse signifies a crucial departure from Old Testament worship forms that heavily relied on physical temple locations, sacrificial systems, and priestly mediation. Jesus effectively inaugurates a New Covenant reality where the presence of God is not confined, and access to Him is no longer mediated by human priests but by Christ Himself (Heb 10:19-22). The "spirit" dimension emphasizes that worship is holistic—engaging the entirety of a person, beyond outward performance—and supernaturally empowered by God's own Spirit. The "truth" aspect grounds this spiritual worship in divine revelation, climaxing in Jesus. Therefore, worship is transformed into an intimate, internal communion, accessible to all who believe, reflecting the very nature of God, who "is spirit" (John 4:24). It elevates the personal relationship with God above all ceremonial or geographical distinctions.
John 4 23 Commentary
John 4:23 represents a theological watershed, unveiling a radical redefinition of worship from Jesus. It dismisses the contention over specific sacred sites (Jerusalem or Gerizim) by declaring them obsolete in the true, coming epoch of worship. "The hour" refers to the decisive period initiated by Jesus' incarnate presence, Passion, and resurrection, culminating in the giving of the Holy Spirit. This new era shifts worship from external rites and geographic locations to an internal, spiritual reality. True worship springs from a regenerate human heart, deeply connected and enabled by the Holy Spirit. Moreover, it is worship "in truth," meaning it is genuine, authentic, and crucially, anchored in the ultimate reality revealed by Jesus Christ, who is the Truth itself. This implies that only through Jesus can one truly approach and know the Father. Far from being a mere human endeavor, worship in spirit and truth is divinely desired; "the Father is seeking such people to worship him," revealing God's active pursuit of intimate relationship with humanity based on authenticity and the New Covenant's enablement. It emphasizes a complete surrender of mind, emotion, and will to God, living a life consistently honoring Him, rather than performing isolated religious acts.
- Example 1: A sincere prayer offered from the heart while doing daily tasks is more aligned with "spirit and truth" than elaborate church rituals performed mechanically.
- Example 2: A quiet act of service to a neighbor motivated by Christ's love is worship, even if unspoken, demonstrating a life lived in alignment with divine truth.
- Example 3: Confessing a hidden sin with true repentance is an act of worship "in truth" to God.