John 4 36

John 4:36 kjv

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

John 4:36 nkjv

And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

John 4:36 niv

Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

John 4:36 esv

Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.

John 4:36 nlt

The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

John 4 verses

John 4 36 Meaning

John 4:36 highlights the immediate spiritual reward and purpose for those engaged in God's harvest, emphasizing that those who participate in gathering souls for the Kingdom receive wages (divine blessing and fulfillment) and gather "fruit" (saved individuals) for eternal life. The verse further promises shared joy between all participants in this spiritual labor, whether they "sow" the initial seed of the gospel or "reap" the harvest of believing souls, thus unifying different phases of ministry in a common divine purpose.

John 4 36 Context

John 4:36 is part of Jesus' teaching to His disciples following His transformative encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. The disciples have returned with food, only to find Jesus not partaking, stating, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (v.34). This sets the stage for a spiritual discourse on the true nourishment and mission. Jesus then contrasts the common saying "There are still four months until the harvest" with the spiritual reality, "Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest" (v.35). The immediate "fields" in view are likely the Samaritans from Sychar who are coming to believe in Him due to the woman's testimony. Thus, the verse bridges Jesus' teaching on spiritual nourishment to the practical task of evangelism and disciple-making. Historically, agriculture was central to the life of the people, making the imagery of sowing and reaping deeply resonant and understandable to His Jewish and Samaritan listeners, contrasting merely physical labor with eternal spiritual labor.

John 4 36 Word analysis

• And he who reaps (καὶ ὁ θερίζων - kai ho therizōn):

  • καὶ (kai): A conjunction, "and," linking this statement to the preceding truth of ripe fields.
  • ὁ θερίζων (ho therizōn): "the one who reaps," a present active participle, denoting ongoing action. It refers to anyone actively engaged in the harvest, not just Jesus. This signifies direct, personal involvement in gathering souls.
  • Significance: Emphasizes active participation in spiritual labor.

• receives wages (μισθὸν λαμβάνει - misthon lambanei):

  • μισθὸν (misthon): "wages," "reward," "pay." Not necessarily material, but a divine recompense that brings satisfaction, fulfillment, and divine approval.
  • λαμβάνει (lambanei): "receives," present active indicative, denoting certainty of reception.
  • Significance: Highlights that spiritual labor is rewarded by God, promising fulfillment and divine blessing beyond earthly compensation.

• and gathers fruit (καὶ συνάγει καρπὸν - kai synagei karpon):

  • καὶ (kai): "and," connecting wages to the purpose of labor.
  • συνάγει (synagei): "gathers," "collects," "brings together." Implies bringing individuals into a spiritual community or relationship.
  • καρπὸν (karpon): "fruit," metaphorical for souls or disciples brought to Christ. This is the tangible outcome of the spiritual harvest.
  • Significance: Defines the nature of the harvest – not crops, but people. The ultimate goal is to bring individuals into relationship with God, resulting in eternal life.

• for eternal life (εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον - eis zōēn aiōnion):

  • εἰς (eis): "for," "into," "unto." Indicates purpose or outcome.
  • ζωὴν (zōēn): "life," referring to spiritual, divine life, characterized by its quality and duration.
  • αἰώνιον (aiōnion): "eternal," "age-long," implying unending and divinely qualitied.
  • Significance: States the ultimate purpose and destination of the "fruit"—souls gathered for God's eternal Kingdom. This defines the eternal significance of their labor.

• so that (ἵνα - hina):

  • A conjunctive particle, "in order that," indicating purpose or result.
  • Significance: Connects the actions of sowing and reaping to their shared joyful outcome, establishing a divine intention behind the unified process.

• sower and reaper (ὁ σπείρων καὶ ὁ θερίζων - ho speirōn kai ho therizōn):

  • ὁ σπείρων (ho speirōn): "the one who sows," a present active participle, referring to those who prepare the ground and plant the seed of the Gospel.
  • καὶ (kai): "and," linking the two distinct but related roles.
  • ὁ θερίζων (ho therizōn): "the one who reaps," (same as above).
  • Significance: Identifies two distinct roles or phases in spiritual ministry: evangelism/foundational work (sowing) and conversion/disciple-making (reaping). Acknowledges the continuity and collaboration in God's plan.

• may rejoice together (ὁμοῦ χαίρῃ - homou chairē):

  • ὁμοῦ (homou): "together," "at the same time," emphasizing unity and shared experience.
  • χαίρῃ (chairē): "may rejoice," subjunctive verb, indicating a potential, intended, or desired outcome.
  • Significance: The unifying outcome of God's work, a communal celebration where all participants, regardless of their specific role or timing in the harvest, share in the divine joy of souls entering eternal life. This counters any sense of individual merit or competition in ministry.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life": This phrase succinctly combines the immediate benefit (wages/reward) with the eternal purpose (gathering souls for eternal life) for the one actively involved in ministry. The "wages" are intrinsically linked to the "fruit," implying that the reward is intertwined with seeing individuals come to salvation. It underlines that spiritual labor has a tangible, lasting output, unlike worldly work that perishes.
• "so that sower and reaper may rejoice together": This clarifies the ultimate intent behind the two-fold ministry roles. It promotes unity and shared satisfaction over individual glory. The joy is collective, recognizing that salvation is a cumulative process involving many hands and different timings in God's providence. It implies God's desire for fellowship and harmonious collaboration among His servants.

John 4 36 Bonus section

The imagery of sowing and reaping often evokes distinct time periods for agricultural workers, but in spiritual terms, it emphasizes a divine continuum. There's a deliberate transition from an earthly, temporal perspective ("four months") to a heavenly, immediate reality ("fields are white"). The joy described here ("rejoice together") speaks to the profound unity found in the Body of Christ and across the generations of faith. Past prophets who foretold Christ, Jesus Himself who sowed the immediate seeds with the Samaritan woman, and the disciples who were about to reap the harvest from Sychar are all encompassed. This underscores that every genuine worker in God's Kingdom, regardless of their specific task or historical period, contributes to and will share in the ultimate, triumphant joy of salvation.

John 4 36 Commentary

John 4:36 unveils a profound truth about God's spiritual economy and the blessedness of Gospel ministry. It affirms that actively participating in the "harvest" – the work of bringing people to Christ – is intrinsically rewarding. The "wages" received are not material, but spiritual fulfillment, divine favor, and the immeasurable joy of seeing lives transformed for eternity. This joy is amplified by the ultimate goal: gathering "fruit" – souls destined for eternal life. The verse further emphasizes that while roles in ministry may differ (sowing the seed of the Gospel versus reaping converts), the ultimate outcome unites all laborers in a shared, profound rejoicing. This counters any potential for competition or pride, instead fostering a spirit of collaborative partnership in God's ongoing redemptive plan. The divine intention is for unity and shared celebration in the face of spiritual victory.