John 4 29

John 4:29 kjv

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

John 4:29 nkjv

"Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

John 4:29 niv

"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?"

John 4:29 esv

"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"

John 4:29 nlt

"Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?"

John 4 verses

John 4 29 Meaning

John 4:29 records the Samaritan woman's immediate response after her profound encounter with Jesus at the well. Having been supernaturally revealed details of her life by Jesus, she rushed back to her village with a simple yet potent invitation: "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" This verse encapsulates a pivotal moment of personal conviction leading to public testimony, where her astonishment at Jesus' divine knowledge causes her to contemplate His messianic identity and to invite others to witness it for themselves. It highlights the power of personal experience as a catalyst for evangelism and points to Jesus as the one who knows human hearts intimately.

John 4 29 Context

John chapter 4 unfolds Jesus' significant ministry encounter in Samaria, a region generally shunned by Jews due to deep-seated ethnic and religious animosity stemming from historical schisms. Breaking societal norms, Jesus initiates a conversation with a Samaritan woman, alone, at Jacob's well. Their dialogue progresses from physical thirst to spiritual living water, leading to a discussion about worship and the Messiah. Jesus, ultimately, directly reveals His identity as the Messiah (Jn 4:26). The woman, astonished by Jesus' intimate knowledge of her past, especially her five husbands and current unmarried cohabitation (Jn 4:17-18), immediately leaves her water pot and hurries to her town. John 4:29 marks the beginning of her public witness, urging her fellow townspeople to come and encounter the man who knows "everything I ever did," linking this astounding knowledge directly to the potential identity of the promised Messiah. Her eagerness signifies a dramatic shift from initial skepticism to fervent conviction, paving the way for a greater work of evangelism in Samaria.

John 4 29 Word analysis

• "Come" (Δεῦτε - Deute): This Greek imperative is an urgent, direct summons, common in the Gospels (e.g., "Come, follow me"). It’s an invitation not just to observe passively but to actively participate and investigate. It conveys an earnest desire for others to experience what she has found.
• "see" (ἴδετε - idete): Also an imperative, meaning "look!" or "behold!". More than just a casual glance, it implies attentive observation, leading to understanding and perhaps even belief. It calls for personal experience rather than reliance solely on her word.
• "a man" (ἄνθρωπον - anthrōpon): At this point, her understanding of Jesus is still developing, though rapidly. She introduces Him simply as a "man," emphasizing His humanity and tangible presence. This highlights that her testimony stems from a real, personal encounter with a human being, making her experience relatable.
• "who told me" (ὅς μοι εἶπεν - hos moi eipen): This phrase indicates a direct, personal revelation. The woman is basing her testimony on what she directly heard and experienced from Him, emphasizing the immediate and intimate nature of Jesus’ interaction with her.
• "everything" (πάντα - panta): This word emphasizes the comprehensive and total nature of Jesus' knowledge. It points to a divine omniscience that transcends normal human insight. It's an astounding claim, implying His supernatural awareness of her entire life's details.
• "I ever did" (ὅσα ἐποίησα - hosa epoiēsa): This refers to her past actions, implying her complex and likely sinful relational history (as revealed in Jn 4:17-18). The fact that a stranger knew these private details was astonishing and powerfully convicting for her. It underscores Jesus' ability to see beyond outward appearances and know the hidden aspects of one's life.
• "Could this be" (Μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν - Mēti houtos estin): This is a rhetorical question in Greek that anticipates a positive answer. It expresses wonder, dawning recognition, and a hopeful, indirect affirmation. It's not a question of doubt but one of incredulous hope, inviting her audience to come to the same conclusion she is now pondering.
• "the Messiah?" (ὁ Χριστός - ho Christos): This is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew "Mashiach," meaning "Anointed One." For Samaritans, the expected figure was often called "the Taheb" (the restorer or one who returns), but they shared the general concept of a prophetic, divinely appointed deliverer. Her use of "the Messiah" indicates her growing understanding of Jesus' unique identity and aligns her personal experience with established theological expectation.

Words-group analysis:

• "Come, see a man": This phrase functions as a direct evangelistic call. It doesn't present a theology or a sermon but an invitation to a personal encounter. The emphasis is on witnessing a living, dynamic individual who demonstrated supernatural knowledge.
• "who told me everything I ever did": This is the core of her testimony and the specific evidence she presents. It's highly personal and verifiable. This extraordinary knowledge of her past, which Jesus alone possessed, serves as a powerful sign that points beyond an ordinary man to someone with divine insight. It bypasses abstract theological debate and goes straight to the undeniable.
• "Could this be the Messiah?": This concluding question acts as a rhetorical bridge, connecting her personal, compelling experience to the universally awaited deliverer. It’s an open-ended invitation for others to reflect on the implications of Jesus’ supernatural knowledge in light of prophetic expectation, moving from wonder to the potential for belief.

John 4 29 Bonus section

• Breaking Societal Norms: The woman’s action of going back to the town and publicly inviting others (especially men) to meet a Jewish man was highly unconventional for a Samaritan woman, particularly one with her past. Her transformation was so profound it overrode social shame and fear, highlighting the liberating power of encountering Christ.
• Testimony's Power: Her "low-tech" testimony—focusing solely on "what he told me"—was more effective than any sermon might have been for these Samaritans. It appealed to the miraculous and the personal, paving the way for her entire community to come and believe in Jesus themselves, often noted as one of the most successful evangelistic events in Jesus' ministry through one individual's testimony.
• Progression of Belief: Her journey of understanding Jesus' identity is evident. She first refers to Him as a Jew (v. 9), then Lord (v. 11, 15), then Prophet (v. 19), then in the presence of the Messiah (v. 25-26), and finally contemplates "the Messiah" (v. 29). This verse showcases her faith evolving rapidly from curiosity to conviction.
• Pre-emptive Knowledge: Jesus’ ability to tell her "everything I ever did" mirrors God's intimate knowledge of human lives as expressed in Psalms and Hebrews, emphasizing Jesus’ divine nature even before she fully grasped His messianic claim.

John 4 29 Commentary

John 4:29 is a testament to the transformative power of a personal encounter with Jesus. The Samaritan woman, initially cautious and even defiant, is so profoundly impacted by Jesus' divine insight into her private life that she abandons her initial task and becomes an impromptu evangelist. Her testimony is not a complex theological discourse but a simple, heartfelt declaration of her experience: "He knew me!" This direct, undeniable evidence—Jesus' supernatural knowledge of her "everything"—became the compelling force behind her invitation. Her rhetorical question, "Could this be the Messiah?" reflects not doubt, but rather an emerging conviction, daring her audience to consider the possibility that this remarkable man is indeed the long-awaited Anointed One. It demonstrates how authentic transformation naturally leads to a desire to share Jesus, utilizing a practical, personal experience that transcends cultural and social barriers to point others directly to Him. This verse underscores the potency of individual witness, empowered by a genuine encounter with Christ, to stir belief in entire communities.