John 4:25 kjv
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
John 4:25 nkjv
The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."
John 4:25 niv
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
John 4:25 esv
The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things."
John 4:25 nlt
The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming ? the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
John 4 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 1:41 | "We have found the Messiah" (which means Anointed). | Jesus as the Anointed One (Messiah/Christ). |
| Jn 11:27 | "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." | Martha's similar confession of faith. |
| Mt 16:16 | "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." | Peter's confession, revealing Jesus' identity. |
| Acts 2:36 | "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." | Jesus' designation as Christ/Messiah. |
| Dan 9:25 | "Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an Anointed One, a Prince..." | Prophecy of Messiah's coming. |
| Isa 61:1-2 | "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor..." | Prophetic role of the Anointed One. |
| Lk 4:18-21 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me...Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." | Jesus declaring fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. |
| Ps 2:2 | "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed..." | Foreshadowing resistance to the Anointed King. |
| Ps 110:1 | "The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”" | Messianic authority. |
| Deut 18:15 | "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you..." | Expectation of a coming prophet-teacher. |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." | Prophet as ultimate revealer of God's words. |
| Jn 1:18 | "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known." | Jesus as the ultimate revealer of God. |
| Jn 14:6 | "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus as the source of all truth. |
| Jn 16:13 | "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." | The Spirit's role in revealing truth through Christ. |
| Mt 11:27 | "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him." | Jesus as the exclusive revealer of the Father's knowledge. |
| Lk 24:44-45 | "These are my words...that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. | Jesus as the one who unlocks and declares the meaning of scripture. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." | The Son as God's final and complete revelation. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple..." | Prophecy of the Lord's sudden arrival. |
| Mal 4:5 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes." | Expectation of a prophetic figure preceding the Messiah. |
| Jn 6:14 | "When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!'" | Recognition of Jesus as "the Prophet" (Deut 18:15). |
| 1 Cor 2:10 | "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God." | God's comprehensive revelation through His Spirit. |
| Col 2:2-3 | "...that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." | All truth and knowledge are in Christ. |
| 1 Jn 5:20 | "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true..." | Jesus gives understanding to know God. |
John 4 verses
John 4 25 Meaning
The Samaritan woman, recognizing Jesus' profound insight and drawing from her understanding of Samaritan prophetic tradition, expresses a deeply held Messianic expectation. She articulates her firm belief that when the Anointed One (Messiah/Christ) arrives, He will serve as the ultimate revealer, providing definitive understanding and resolution to all matters, especially those concerning divine truth and worship. This statement establishes common ground for Jesus to reveal His identity as the very One they await.
John 4 25 Context
This verse is embedded in the rich narrative of Jesus' encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Sychar (John 4:5-42). Historically, Samaritans were estranged from Jews due to theological and ethnic differences, primarily centered on their distinct scriptures (the Pentateuch only) and worship location (Mount Gerizim versus Jerusalem). The conversation prior to this verse escalates from a request for physical water, to living water, to true worship, and eventually to the woman's spiritual insight regarding the Messiah. Her statement reflects the Samaritan Messianic expectation, often referred to as the Taheb (related to the prophet like Moses in Deut 18), who they believed would come to explain and restore all things. This dialogue exemplifies Jesus' ability to bridge profound divisions and engage individuals on their deepest spiritual longings, preparing the ground for His self-revelation.
John 4 25 Word analysis
- The woman: Refers to the specific Samaritan woman whose personal interaction with Jesus is central to the chapter. Her designation highlights the universality of Jesus' ministry beyond Jewish boundaries.
- said to Him: Indicates a direct, intentional, and personal communication. The depth of their dialogue has progressed to profound theological discussion.
- I know: (Greek: oida, οἶδα) – Signifies a settled, personal understanding and conviction, rather than mere supposition or hope. It suggests a firm intellectual grasp based on traditional Samaritan teachings about the Messiah.
- that Messiah: (Greek: Messias, Μεσσίας; from Hebrew/Aramaic Mashiach) – Meaning "Anointed One." This is one of only two times in the New Testament (the other being Jn 1:41) where the transliterated Aramaic word is used, highlighting its specific significance in this context. Samaritans anticipated an anointed deliverer or prophet.
- is coming: (Greek: erchetai, ἔρχεται) – Present tense, indicating an ongoing, active expectation and certainty of future arrival. It's not a mere possibility but a foundational belief that someone definite is on their way.
- He who is called Christ: (Greek: ho legomenos Christos, ὁ λεγόμενος Χριστός) – This is John's parenthetical explanation for readers who might not be familiar with the Hebrew/Aramaic term "Messiah," directly equating it with the Greek "Christos" (meaning Anointed One). It bridges the understanding for a broader audience.
- when that one comes: (Greek: hotan elthē ekeinos, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος) – A reiteration and reinforcement of the firm expectation of a definite individual's future arrival. "That one" (ekeinos) points to a specific, unique person.
- He will declare all things to us: (Greek: anangelei hēmin panta, ἀναγγελεῖ ἡμῖν πάντα) – "Declare" (anangelei) implies to report back fully, to make known with authority, or to explain comprehensively. For Samaritans, this would involve resolving the critical disputes about true worship (Gerizim vs. Jerusalem), interpreting the law, and providing final truth. "All things" (panta) emphasizes the completeness and finality of His revelation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "I know that Messiah is coming": This phrase reveals the shared eschatological hope between the Samaritans and the Jews. Despite their theological schism and ethnic animosity, the longing for a definitive divine intervention through an Anointed One united them. Her certainty sets the stage for Jesus to confirm His identity without first having to establish the concept of Messiahship.
- "He who is called Christ": John's clarification underscores the universal identity of the awaited Messiah beyond specific cultural names. It signifies that Jesus fulfills the expectations of both Jewish Mashiach and Samaritan Taheb, connecting His identity to a broader theological understanding.
- "He will declare all things to us": This highlights the core function the Samaritans ascribed to their anticipated Messiah—that of a supreme revelatory figure. They awaited a teacher or prophet (akin to Moses in Deut 18:15-18) who would bring ultimate truth and definitive answers, thereby settling religious and theological ambiguities and pointing to correct worship. This prepares for Jesus’s immediate, direct answer in the next verse, explicitly confirming His role as the Revealer.
John 4 25 Bonus section
- The Samaritan understanding of "Messiah" ("Taheb") largely emphasized a prophetic, revelatory role (like Moses, the ultimate prophet), whereas Jewish expectations often had stronger royal or priestly dimensions. Jesus directly addresses and fulfills the Samaritan emphasis on ultimate truth-telling and prophetic authority.
- This verse subtly sets up the next verse (Jn 4:26) which is Jesus' most explicit direct declaration of His Messiahship in the entire Gospel of John outside of His arrest and trial, indicating the profundity of this woman's spiritual insight and receptivity.
- The conversation at the well challenges religious and cultural barriers, showcasing God's desire to reach all people—Jew, Samaritan, and Gentile—demonstrating the expansive nature of the kingdom of God initiated by Jesus.
John 4 25 Commentary
The Samaritan woman's statement in John 4:25 serves as a pivot point in her profound dialogue with Jesus. It showcases her theological awareness and a deep longing common to many spiritual traditions: the yearning for a definitive divine intervention that would bring clarity, truth, and resolution to life's most fundamental questions. Her firm conviction, expressed as "I know," reflects a faith rooted in their understanding of the Pentateuch, especially the prophecy of a coming prophet like Moses (Deut 18:15-18), whom they often called the Taheb. This Anointed One was expected not just to be a political liberator but, more critically, an ultimate revealer, a divine expositor who would "declare all things" – particularly the pathway to true worship and right living before God. Jesus, immediately following this profound expression of Messianic hope, then fulfills her very expectation, stating, "I who speak to you am He." This interaction reveals Jesus' strategy of encountering people where they are, acknowledging their existing beliefs, and then transcending them by revealing Himself as the direct and living fulfillment of those very hopes. It teaches that God often begins by affirming our search for truth and then satisfies it by disclosing the Person of Christ.