John 4:34 kjv
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 4:34 nkjv
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
John 4:34 niv
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
John 4:34 esv
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 4:34 nlt
Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.
John 4 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 4:32-33 | But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know not of.”... | Immediate context of spiritual food. |
| Jn 5:30 | “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge... For I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” | Jesus' reliance on Father's will. |
| Jn 6:38 | “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but to do the will of him who sent me.” | Jesus' divine mission is to do God's will. |
| Jn 5:36 | "But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish..." | Father assigned specific works for Jesus. |
| Jn 17:4 | “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." | Jesus completed His work for God's glory. |
| Isa 53:10 | "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief..." | Old Testament foreshadows God's will for Messiah's work. |
| Ps 40:8 | "I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” | Echoes delight in doing God's will. |
| Matt 4:4 | "But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”" | Spiritual sustenance over physical. |
| Matt 7:21 | "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”" | Importance of doing God's will for salvation. |
| Mk 3:35 | "For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”" | Spiritual family defined by doing God's will. |
| Heb 10:7,9 | "Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God...’ He does away with the first in order to establish the second.” | Jesus came to do God's will through sacrifice. |
| Rom 5:19 | "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.”" | Jesus' obedience accomplishes righteousness. |
| Phil 2:8 | "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”" | Jesus' obedience to His mission unto death. |
| Eph 6:6 | "not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,” | Believers also called to do God's will. |
| 1 Pet 2:15 | "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.”" | Doing God's will brings specific outcomes. |
| 1 Jn 2:17 | "And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”" | Enduring spiritual life is linked to God's will. |
| Col 1:9 | "asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” | Importance for believers to know God's will. |
| Lk 22:42 | "Saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”" | Jesus' perfect submission to the Father's will. |
| 2 Tim 4:7 | "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”" | Paul's life as a parallel to finishing work. |
| Jn 14:10 | "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father dwelling in me does his works.”" | Father empowering Jesus' works. |
| Mt 6:10 | "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”" | Prayer for God's will to be done. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”" | Spiritual nourishment transforms. |
John 4 verses
John 4 34 Meaning
This verse reveals Jesus' ultimate source of sustenance and purpose. While His disciples were concerned with His physical hunger, Jesus declares that His deepest nourishment and driving force come from completely fulfilling the divine will and accomplishing the specific redemptive work assigned to Him by God the Father. It illustrates that spiritual dedication to God's mission is more vital and satisfying than any physical necessity.
John 4 34 Context
John 4:34 occurs immediately after Jesus' significant encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. While Jesus waits, the disciples go into the city to buy food. Upon their return, they find Him not physically eating the food they bought, and express confusion, offering Him food. Jesus responds to their literal understanding of hunger and food by declaring a higher, spiritual sustenance. The broader chapter context highlights Jesus' identity as the Messiah, breaking social and religious barriers (speaking to a Samaritan woman, teaching openly), and initiating spiritual harvest (many Samaritans believe). Jesus' statement underscores that His mission for the Father is paramount and satisfying, especially in light of the spiritual 'harvest' he has just begun among the Samaritans. Historically, Jewish thought often elevated the study of Torah and the performance of good deeds as spiritual nourishment, but Jesus goes further, identifying the specific "will" and "work" of the Father, which ultimately pertains to redemption and the establishment of God's Kingdom.
John 4 34 Word analysis
- "My food" (τροφὴν, trophēn): This term denotes nourishment, sustenance. Jesus uses a metaphor drawn from the most fundamental human need – eating for survival – to describe His deepest source of satisfaction and vigor. It signifies that fulfilling God's purpose is not just an activity but His very lifeblood, providing true fulfillment that physical food cannot offer.
- "is to do" (ποιῶ, poio): To make, perform, accomplish. This highlights active participation and execution. It's not merely knowing God's will, but the active process of carrying it out that provides this profound spiritual sustenance.
- "the will" (θέλημα, thelēma): God's purposeful design, decree, or desire. It refers to the specific divine plan that God has ordained, encompassing the entirety of Jesus' mission, including His suffering, death, and resurrection, which culminate in salvation. It speaks of a determined divine intention.
- "of him who sent me" (τοῦ πέμψαντός με, tou pempsantos me): This phrase emphasizes Jesus' unique divine origin and role as the Father's commissioned agent. It underscores His absolute dependence on, submission to, and authentication by God the Father. This sending theme is recurrent in John's Gospel, confirming Jesus' divine authority and purpose.
- "and to accomplish" (τελειώσω, teleiōso): To complete, finish, perfect, bring to a destined end. This verb denotes the full and successful conclusion of an action. It's not just "doing" but "finishing" or "perfecting" the work, implying a divinely appointed task with a specific goal and consummation. It points to the completion of His entire redemptive mission.
- "his work" (αὐτοῦ τὸ ἔργον, autou to ergon): This refers to the specific divine assignment given to Jesus. This comprehensive "work" includes revealing the Father, demonstrating His glory through miracles, preaching the Kingdom, dying on the cross for sin, and rising again. It signifies the entire redemptive mission that culminates in salvation.
- "My food is to do... and to accomplish...": This grouping signifies two facets of the same core reality: doing the will (ongoing action) and accomplishing the work (bringing it to its intended completion). It shows that both the journey and the destination, the process and the result, of God's mission are spiritually fulfilling for Jesus.
- "the will of him who sent me and... his work": These are intricately linked. The "work" is the tangible manifestation and completion of "the will." The Father's will defines the mission, and the accomplishment of that mission fulfills His will. It points to perfect unity of purpose between the Father and the Son.
John 4 34 Bonus section
This declaration of Jesus serves as a powerful theological truth and a practical principle for believers.
- Jesus as the paradigm: Jesus is the supreme example of a life totally consecrated to God's will. His perfect obedience ensures the completion of His saving work.
- Contrast with earthly priorities: The disciples, concerned with physical hunger, represent the human tendency to prioritize material needs. Jesus corrects this by revealing a spiritual reality where obedience provides deeper satisfaction.
- Application for believers: While we cannot accomplish Jesus' unique atoning work, His words invite us to find our "food" in doing God's will in our own lives, aligning our purpose with His. This provides profound meaning, purpose, and spiritual strength. When we align with God's will and engage in the work He sets before us, we too find true nourishment for our souls.
- The teleology of Christ's mission: The inclusion of "accomplish his work" highlights the goal-oriented nature of Jesus' life and ministry. It was not aimless but directed towards a divinely appointed completion, which ultimately points to His atoning sacrifice and resurrection.
John 4 34 Commentary
John 4:34 is a profound statement by Jesus that reorients our understanding of what truly sustains life. By contrasting spiritual nourishment with physical food, Jesus elevates obedience to God's will and the completion of His assigned task above all temporal needs. His delight is not in self-satisfaction but in carrying out the Father's plan for humanity's redemption. This verse showcases Jesus' singular focus and unwavering dedication to His divine mission. He lives not for Himself but to perfectly align with and complete God's ultimate work, which brings Him the deepest fulfillment. This perfect harmony with the Father's will served as His very sustenance, propelling Him forward even when physically weary. It models the true purpose for humanity, to live in submission and dedication to God's ultimate redemptive plan.