John 4 31

John 4:31 kjv

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

John 4:31 nkjv

In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

John 4:31 niv

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."

John 4:31 esv

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

John 4:31 nlt

Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, "Rabbi, eat something."

John 4 verses

John 4 31 Meaning

This verse captures the moment when Jesus' disciples return from buying food and urge Him to eat. It reflects their immediate concern for His physical needs after His interaction with the Samaritan woman. Unbeknownst to them, Jesus was focused on a higher form of nourishment, setting the stage for His subsequent teaching on spiritual sustenance derived from doing God's will.

John 4 31 Context

John 4:31 follows Jesus' profound conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. While Jesus engaged in spiritual discourse and evangelism that crossed deep cultural and religious barriers (Samaritan vs. Jew), His disciples had gone into Sychar to buy provisions. Upon their return, finding Jesus conversing with a Samaritan woman (John 4:27), they did not question His unusual interaction, but instead expressed their immediate concern for His physical well-being. This verse therefore marks a transition point, where the disciples' return and their mundane, physical concern for food serve as a setup for Jesus' further teaching, elevating the discussion from earthly nourishment to heavenly sustenance and the divine will. Historically, traveling long distances like Jesus was doing from Judea to Galilee would necessitate stopping for food. The disciples' care for their "Master" (teacher) by urging Him to eat was a culturally appropriate and loving gesture from students to their rabbi.

John 4 31 Word analysis

• In the mean while: (Greek: En tō metaxy - ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ) - This phrase denotes a simultaneous action, indicating that the disciples' return and their plea occurred concurrently with Jesus' finished conversation (or perhaps as He was still absorbing it, if we consider His hunger for doing God's will). It emphasizes the passage of time during which the disciples were absent.
• his disciples: (Greek: hoi mathētai autou - οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ) - Refers to Jesus' closest followers and learners. Their presence reintroduces a common biblical theme of the disciples' human, often limited, perspective contrasting with Jesus' divine wisdom and priorities.
• prayed him: (Greek: ērōtōn auton - ἠρώτων αὐτόν) - The verb ērōtōn is in the imperfect tense, suggesting not a single, polite request, but a continuous or repeated urging. It implies that the disciples were persistently asking or entreating Jesus, perhaps seeing Him still engrossed and not preparing to eat immediately, hence their active plea for Him to partake in the food they brought. It is a request or invitation, not an act of prayer to God.
• saying: (Greek: legontes - λέγοντες) - A present participle, indicating the concurrent action of speaking alongside their urging.
• Master: (Greek: Rhabbi - ῥαββί) - A direct transliteration of the Aramaic/Hebrew term "Rabbi," meaning "my great one" or "my teacher." This respectful title highlights their recognition of Jesus' authority and their subservient position as His students. It signifies the customary and reverent address given to an esteemed religious teacher in Jewish culture.
• eat: (Greek: Phage - φάγε) - A direct imperative, "Eat!" It is a simple, straightforward command/invitation from the disciples based on their assessment of Jesus' physical needs after a journey and potentially no food. It reflects a concern for immediate, physical nourishment.

Words-group analysis:

• "In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying": This entire clause establishes the setting, the specific characters involved (the returning disciples), and their immediate action, which is to earnestly request something of Jesus. It highlights their attention moving from procuring food to encouraging their Teacher to eat, indicating their care.
• "Master, eat": This short phrase is a direct, imperative appeal. It reveals the disciples' loving, yet earth-bound, perspective focused on the tangible and immediate need for physical sustenance, contrasting sharply with Jesus' spiritual focus that is soon to be unveiled. It is an expression of concern for His physical welfare.

John 4 31 Bonus section

• The immediate desire for food upon the return of travelers was a common human experience. The disciples' urging demonstrates their conventional understanding of needs.
• This scene parallels other instances in the Gospels where the disciples fail to fully grasp Jesus' spiritual metaphors or divine identity, often remaining fixated on earthly interpretations (e.g., in John 6 regarding the Bread of Life).
• The transition from Jesus ministering to a lone Samaritan woman, followed by His immediate teaching to His Jewish disciples, emphasizes the universal nature of His mission, crossing social and cultural divides.

John 4 31 Commentary

John 4:31 is a pivotal verse, forming a critical bridge from Jesus' engagement with the Samaritan woman to His teaching on true spiritual sustenance. The disciples' earnest plea, "Master, eat," springs from their natural human concern for Jesus' physical well-being after their shared journey and His apparent fasting. This genuine human care, however, subtly sets up a profound spiritual lesson. While they focused on the bread they bought, Jesus' subsequent revelation in verses 32 and 34 indicates that His deepest hunger and satisfaction came not from physical food but from fulfilling the divine will of His Father. This contrast serves as a gentle correction, not of their care, but of their limited perception of what truly nourished Him. It exemplifies how Jesus consistently elevates common human experiences and physical needs to reveal deeper, eternal truths about the Kingdom of God and His mission.