John 4 32

John 4:32 kjv

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

John 4:32 nkjv

But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."

John 4:32 niv

But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

John 4:32 esv

But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."

John 4:32 nlt

But Jesus replied, "I have a kind of food you know nothing about."

John 4 verses

John 4 32 Meaning

John 4:32 reveals Jesus' true sustenance, contrasting it sharply with the physical food His disciples sought. While they were preoccupied with bodily nourishment, Jesus indicated that He possessed a deeper "meat to eat" – a spiritual food unknown to them. This sustenance derived from accomplishing the divine will and completing the mission given to Him by His Father. It points to a primary motivation and life source far exceeding earthly needs or pleasures.

John 4 32 Context

John chapter 4 introduces Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. Jesus, tired from His journey, engages her in a deep theological conversation, gradually revealing Himself as the Messiah and offering "living water." While this spiritual conversation is unfolding, His disciples return from the town where they had gone to buy food. Upon seeing Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman, which was unusual for a Jewish rabbi, they express surprise (Jn 4:27) but remain silent. Their concern then immediately turns to Jesus' physical hunger, prompting them to offer Him the food they purchased (Jn 4:31). Verse 32 is Jesus' immediate response to their concern for His physical needs, acting as a crucial turning point from their material preoccupation to the spiritual reality of His mission, which He then elaborates upon in John 4:34. This verse highlights the recurring tension in John's Gospel between the physical, worldly understanding of Jesus and His teachings versus His truly spiritual and divine nature and purpose.

John 4 32 Word analysis

• But (Greek: ἀλλά - alla): This conjunction indicates a contrast or transition. Here, it marks a shift from the disciples' earthly concern about food to Jesus' higher, spiritual perspective. It suggests that while their point is understood, there is a far more significant truth at play.
• I (Greek: ἐγώ - egō): The emphatic use of the first-person singular pronoun highlights Jesus' unique identity and source of sustenance. It emphasizes His divine mission and intimate connection to the Father's will, which the disciples do not share or fully comprehend at this stage. It implicitly positions Him apart from and above their concerns.
• have (Greek: ἔχω - echō): Signifies possession or a present state. Jesus possesses a type of food, indicating it is an inherent part of His being and mission, readily available to Him. It's not something He needs to seek or purchase like the disciples did.
• meat (Greek: βρῶσις - brōsis): This term typically means "food," "eating," or "that which is eaten." In a literal sense, it refers to physical nourishment. However, in John's Gospel, "food" often carries metaphorical and spiritual significance (e.g., Jn 6, "bread of life"). Here, it represents Jesus' ultimate source of strength and satisfaction, directly related to His divine purpose. Scholars note that "food" or "meat" could symbolize the essential energy or vigor for one's life.
• to eat (Greek: φαγεῖν - phagein): The infinitive form "to eat" indicates the act of consuming. Coupled with brōsis, it implies a complete act of internalizing and being sustained by this spiritual "food."
• that (Greek: ἣν - hēn): A relative pronoun, linking "meat to eat" to the disciples' lack of knowledge.
• ye (Greek: ὑμεῖς - humeis): The plural pronoun explicitly addresses the disciples, highlighting their collective unawareness and the gap in their understanding compared to Jesus. It emphasizes their earthly perspective.
• know (Greek: οἴδατε - oidate): Refers to a state of knowing or understanding, often intuitive and deep knowledge. Here, Jesus points out their complete lack of this specific, spiritual insight. They possess no knowledge of this higher spiritual sustenance. This contrasts with Jesus' full knowledge of the Father's will.
• not (Greek: οὐκ - ouk): A strong negation. It directly states that this knowledge is completely absent from their understanding.
• of (implied in the phrase "know not of"): This prepositive relationship indicates that their ignorance is specifically about or concerning this spiritual food.

Words-group analysis:

• But I have meat to eat: This phrase sets up a fundamental distinction. Jesus' priorities and the source of His vigor are different from ordinary human concerns. It prefigures His later direct statement about doing the Father's will.
• that ye know not of: This part directly confronts the disciples' spiritual blindness. Despite being with Jesus, their understanding remained anchored in the mundane and physical, incapable of grasping the divine reality that motivated Him. It highlights their current limitations in spiritual perception and anticipates further revelation from Jesus. This lack of knowing is not just intellectual ignorance, but an absence of spiritual insight into His deepest purpose.

John 4 32 Bonus section

The spiritual "meat" that Jesus possesses also subtly emphasizes His unique relationship with the Father and His divine foreknowledge. Unlike the disciples, who must buy food because they are subject to human limitations, Jesus operates from a place of sufficiency, having a spiritual sustenance already within Him because He perfectly aligns with and embodies the Father's will. This alignment allows Him to transcend typical human limitations and needs, pointing to His divine nature. Furthermore, this verse sets a crucial pattern for discipleship: just as Jesus was nourished by doing the Father's will, His followers are called to find their "meat" in obedience and mission, shifting their priorities from earthly appetites to heavenly pursuits. It illustrates the eschatological reality that true life is found in God's will, not in fleeting material comforts.

John 4 32 Commentary

John 4:32 acts as a concise but profound insight into the inner life and mission of Jesus Christ. The disciples, focused on physical needs after a tiring journey, exemplify the common human tendency to perceive life predominantly through material lenses. Their question about literal food for Jesus reveals their misunderstanding of His person and purpose, even after witnessing His miraculous ministry and hearing His deep spiritual teachings. Jesus’ response cuts through their material preoccupation, unveiling His divine source of strength and satisfaction. His "meat to eat" is not physical sustenance but spiritual accomplishment: the complete obedience to and fulfillment of His Father's will. This is a deliberate counterpoint, setting the stage for Him to elaborate in John 4:34 that His true nourishment comes from doing the Father's work and completing it.

This verse challenges all believers to assess what truly "feeds" them and provides their life's direction and satisfaction. Is it material provision, worldly success, or earthly comfort, like the disciples assumed? Or is it a deep commitment to fulfilling God's calling and His purposes in the world? Jesus reveals that His very being was animated by a higher calling, emphasizing that spiritual commitment can supersede physical necessities. His focus was always on the divine will, demonstrating that obedience to God provides the ultimate nourishment and satisfaction for the soul, a joy and purpose that human logic alone cannot grasp.