John 4 37

John 4:37 kjv

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

John 4:37 nkjv

For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.'

John 4:37 niv

Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true.

John 4:37 esv

For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.'

John 4:37 nlt

You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true.

John 4 verses

John 4 37 Meaning

John 4:37 clarifies the nature of spiritual labor in God's kingdom, particularly concerning the spread of the Gospel. It declares a common proverb as genuinely true in a spiritual sense: "One sows, and another reaps." This signifies that in the work of drawing people to Christ, individuals often play different, sequential roles. Some lay foundational work (sowing the seed of the Gospel), while others later see the fruit of that labor (reaping the harvest of new believers). This division of labor underscores the continuity of God's redemptive plan across generations and among different workers, all contributing to the same ultimate goal.

John 4 37 Context

John 4:37 is spoken by Jesus to His disciples immediately after His transformative encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well and the subsequent belief of many Samaritans in Him. The narrative shift in verses 27-38 highlights Jesus' priority of spiritual harvest over physical sustenance, even for His own disciples who return with food. He states that His "food" is to do the will of God (v. 34). In verse 35, Jesus declares, "Look at the fields; they are white for harvest," referring to the receptive Samaritans flocking to Him. Verse 36 describes the simultaneous joy of sowers and reapers. Thus, verse 37 introduces a known proverb that Jesus affirms as true in this spiritual context, explaining the current situation where the disciples (the future reapers) are benefiting from the "sowing" Jesus and, perhaps, the Samaritan woman, have just done. This setting underscores a powerful lesson in missional work and the collective, ongoing nature of spreading the Gospel. Historically, Samaritans and Jews were deeply antagonistic; this event, and Jesus' teaching, was revolutionary, demonstrating the breaking down of spiritual barriers and the immediate spiritual harvest that could result from foundational spiritual work.

John 4 37 Word analysis

• Herein (ἐν τούτῳ – en toutō): A demonstrative pronoun phrase meaning "in this," referring directly to the statement or principle that follows. It highlights that the ensuing proverb is applicable and proven true by the current spiritual events in Samaria, making it universally valid in God's redemptive work.
• is (ἐστιν – estin): Present tense verb "to be." Signifies an enduring truth, not merely a transient observation. The proverb is true, constantly relevant to spiritual labor.
• that saying (ὁ λόγος – ho logos): Literally "the word" or "the saying." It indicates a commonly recognized, perhaps proverbial, statement. Jesus affirms its validity in a specific spiritual context, drawing a connection between common agricultural wisdom and divine spiritual work.
• true (ἀληθινός – alēthinos): More than just "valid" or "correct," it signifies "authentic," "genuine," or "real." It implies that this saying holds a deeper, spiritual reality rooted in God's economy, as opposed to merely a practical human observation.
• One sows, and another reaps (Ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ σπείρων καὶ ἄλλος ὁ θερίζων – Allos estin ho speirōn kai allos ho therizōn):
  • One (Ἄλλος – Allos): Denotes "another," indicating distinction, not necessarily singularity of person, but distinct groups or individuals engaged in separate activities.
  • sows (ὁ σπείρων – ho speirōn): Refers to the "sower," the one who plants the seed (of the Gospel message). This represents initial evangelism, groundwork, or laying foundational truths. It often involves patient, perhaps unseen, labor.
  • reaps (ὁ θερίζων – ho therizōn): Refers to the "reaper," the one who harvests the mature crop. This represents the act of bringing people to conversion, baptism, or incorporating them into the community of faith, seeing the fruit of evangelistic effort.
  • This phrase captures the essence of distinct but complementary roles in ministry. It challenges any sense of individual ownership over the full process and highlights God's collaborative design for evangelism.

Word-groups analysis:

• "Herein is that saying true": Jesus establishes the divine endorsement of the proverb. It’s not just a folk saying, but a principle that reveals God’s hand at work in the spread of His kingdom, confirmed by the immediate reality of Samaritans believing. This phrase authenticates the spiritual application of common agricultural wisdom.
• "One sows, and another reaps": This idiomatic expression is the core teaching. It points to the division of labor and continuity of God’s work over time and across different individuals or generations. It reminds disciples that they participate in an ongoing spiritual process, contributing their part without needing to initiate or complete the entire process themselves, leading to a shared joy in the ultimate harvest.

John 4 37 Bonus section

The spiritual reality described in John 4:37 mitigates potential disappointment for those who labor faithfully without seeing immediate numerical results, assuring them that their "sowing" contributes to a future "reaping." Conversely, it fosters gratitude in those who "reap," recognizing the often-unseen work of others before them. This concept is vital for long-term missionary strategy, denominational cooperation, and personal spiritual resilience. It implies that every faithful act of evangelism or discipleship, no matter how small, is a seed planted in God's ground, destined to bear fruit in His timing, often through the hand of another laborer. This understanding counters a "lone ranger" mentality in ministry, emphasizing interdependence and divine orchestrations across individuals and historical periods. It is not about who does the sowing or reaping, but that the work is done for God's glory.

John 4 37 Commentary

John 4:37 serves as a foundational statement on the cooperative and continuous nature of Christian ministry and evangelism. Jesus elevates a common agricultural proverb, declaring it profoundly "true" in the context of the spiritual harvest. This isn't merely an observation of different jobs; it's a divine principle for kingdom work. Some are called to lay groundwork, plant seeds of truth through their witness, teaching, or acts of love—often seeing no immediate fruit. Others follow, empowered by the Spirit, and gather the harvest that germinated from those earlier efforts. The disciples, expecting a laborious future, are being prepared to understand that they will participate in a harvest cultivated by Jesus' own direct sowing and that of others. This promotes humility, discouraging claims of sole credit for conversions, and fosters unity, as all workers—sowers and reapers—are essential and partake in shared joy (as implied in v. 36) in the kingdom's expansion.