John 4 3

John 4:3 kjv

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

John 4:3 nkjv

He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

John 4:3 niv

So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

John 4:3 esv

he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

John 4:3 nlt

So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

John 4 verses

John 4 3 Meaning

John 4:3 succinctly describes Jesus' strategic movement, indicating His intentional departure from Judea and return to Galilee. This journey was prompted by the Pharisees' awareness of His growing influence in making disciples (Jn 4:1-2). It signifies a tactical withdrawal from potential conflict or premature confrontation with religious authorities in Judea, allowing His ministry to continue flourishing in Galilee. The verse emphasizes Jesus' purposeful itinerary and control over the timing and location of His mission, reflecting divine foresight and a strategic shift in His operational base.

John 4 3 Context

This verse is situated immediately after John's record that the Pharisees in Judea became aware of Jesus' burgeoning influence, making and baptizing more disciples than John the Baptist. While it was Jesus' disciples who baptized, not Jesus Himself (Jn 4:2), the increase in followers was attributed to Jesus, sparking concern among the Jewish leadership. Geographically and culturally, Judea, particularly Jerusalem, was the heart of Jewish religious and political power, often resistant to new spiritual movements not sanctioned by the existing authority. Galilee, in contrast, was a more rural, ethnically diverse region often looked down upon by Judeans, yet it proved more open to Jesus' message. Jesus' departure is a strategic, purposeful movement to avoid an untimely confrontation with the Pharisees, allowing His ministry to develop without undue pressure or threat, thereby fulfilling His Father's predetermined timing and method. This sets the stage for His significant interaction with the Samaritan woman in the subsequent verses (Jn 4:4ff), as travel from Judea to Galilee naturally led through Samaria.

John 4 3 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Jesus (implicitly, as the subject of the preceding narrative in John 3 and 4:1-2). Emphasizes Jesus' agency and control over His actions, rather than being forced or aimless. This highlights His deliberate nature.
• left: Greek: ἀφῆκεν (aphēken). From ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), meaning "to send away, leave, depart from." It signifies an intentional and definitive departure. It is not a casual or forced exit, but a willed separation from that location.
• Judea: The southern province of Roman Palestine, culturally dominated by Jerusalem and its established religious institutions (the Temple, Sanhedrin, Pharisees, Sadducees). It was a hub of religious conservatism and potential opposition.
• and went: Greek: καὶ ἀπῆλθεν (kai apēlthen). "And" links the departure from Judea with the destination. "Went" (ἀπῆλθεν, from ἀπέρχομαι, aperchomai) denotes purposeful movement or travel to another place, an intentional journey.
• again: Greek: πάλιν (palin). Means "again," "back again," or "once more." It indicates a return to a previously known or visited location (Galilee). This suggests Galilee was a familiar or customary region for Jesus' ministry, implying continuity or a repeated pattern of operation there.
• to Galilee: The northern region of Palestine, known for its rural character, diverse population (including Gentiles), and less stringent adherence to rabbinic traditions compared to Judea. It was the primary base for Jesus' public ministry and was often more receptive to His message.

Words-group analysis

• He left Judea: This phrase underscores Jesus' sovereign decision to withdraw from a place of escalating tension. It signifies a tactical retreat not born of fear, but of strategic wisdom, to avoid premature conflict that could disrupt the larger plan for His ministry. His actions are always aligned with divine timing and purpose.
• and went again to Galilee: This denotes Jesus' purposeful direction. "Again" emphasizes His previous connections to Galilee as His home region (Nazareth) and a key locus for His mission. It signals a shift of primary focus for His immediate public ministry to a more receptive environment away from the direct gaze of hostile Judean authorities. It highlights a pragmatic move to an area better suited for widespread proclamation of the Gospel.

John 4 3 Bonus section

The direct route from Judea to Galilee for Jews would typically bypass Samaria, involving a longer journey across the Jordan River and up its eastern bank, or along the coastal plain. Jesus, by stating He "must" (John 4:4) go through Samaria, explicitly broke this cultural norm. This implied route choice further illustrates His divine imperative to minister beyond conventional Jewish boundaries, immediately setting the stage for His groundbreaking encounter with the Samaritan woman, revealing His mission extended beyond the chosen people to all nations. The tension between Judea and Galilee foreshadows the future geographic and ethnic expansion of the Gospel from Jerusalem outwards.

John 4 3 Commentary

John 4:3 articulates Jesus' deliberate tactical relocation from Judea to Galilee. This was not a retreat in defeat but a strategic maneuver to prevent an untimely escalation of conflict with the powerful Judean Pharisees who were observing His growing influence. By returning to Galilee, a region less antagonistic and more fertile for the spread of His message, Jesus ensured His ministry would continue unhindered in line with God's perfect timing. His move demonstrated wisdom, a rejection of confrontation on human terms, and a commitment to the divine schedule for His mission. It further signifies the independent authority of Jesus, whose movements and methods were not dictated by human institutions in Jerusalem, but by the Father's will.