John 4:38 kjv
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
John 4:38 nkjv
I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."
John 4:38 niv
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
John 4:38 esv
I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
John 4:38 nlt
I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest."
John 4 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jno 4:35 | Do you not say, 'There are still four months till harvest'? Behold, I tell you...the fields are white for harvest. | Direct context: urgency of spiritual harvest |
| Jno 4:36 | He who reaps receives wages...and gathers fruit for eternal life...sower and reaper may rejoice together. | Reapers are rewarded, unity in labor |
| Jno 4:37 | For in this the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' | Direct context: illustrates the principle |
| Isa 65:21-22 | They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit...My chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. | Prophetic promise of dwelling in established labor |
| Jer 35:9-10 | We would not drink wine all our days...live in tents, and obeyed... | Example of strict obedience to inherited ways |
| Mic 6:15 | You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourself with oil. | Consequence of disobedience: labor without fruit |
| Gal 6:7-9 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap...in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. | General principle of sowing and reaping |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Sowing and reaping in giving/blessing |
| Hos 10:12 | Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord. | Spiritual preparation and seeking God |
| Matt 9:37-38 | The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. | Plentiful harvest, need for more laborers |
| Lk 10:2 | The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. | Parallel to Matt 9:37-38, need for laborers |
| 1 Cor 3:6-8 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything...each will receive his own reward. | Collaborative spiritual labor, God gives growth |
| 1 Cor 3:9 | For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. | Believers as co-workers in God's field/building |
| 1 Cor 3:10-11 | According to the grace of God given to me, like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation...But let each one take care how he builds...no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | Building on Christ's foundation, subsequent labor |
| Rom 1:13 | I have often intended to come to you...in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. | Paul's desire to reap fruit among new converts |
| Rom 15:20 | Thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation. | Paul's practice to sow where Christ not known |
| Acts 8:4-8 | Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ...many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. | Later reaping in Samaria by disciples |
| Acts 8:14-17 | When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John...they received the Holy Spirit. | Confirmation of Samaria's spiritual reception |
| Php 1:22 | If I am to live on in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me... | Paul's focus on labor bringing fruit |
| 1 Thes 2:9-10 | For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: working night and day...to avoid burdening any of you. | Apostle's arduous labor in sowing |
| Dan 12:3 | And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. | Reward for those who lead others to righteousness |
| Rev 14:15-16 | Then another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice...Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come. | Eschatological harvest by angels |
John 4 verses
John 4 38 Meaning
John 4:38 means that Jesus sent His disciples to reap a spiritual harvest from labor that was not their own. It signifies that they would gather the fruit of seeds sown by others, primarily Jesus Himself, but also potentially Old Testament prophets whose teachings prepared the way, or even John the Baptist. The disciples are called into a shared effort where the foundation and initial hard work were laid by others, and they would experience the joy and blessing of gathering souls who were already made ready for the gospel. It emphasizes a divine division of labor and a communal participation in God's redemptive plan.
John 4 38 Context
John chapter 4 focuses on Jesus' encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. This encounter breaks down profound social, ethnic, and religious barriers, as Jews traditionally had no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah to her, and her testimony leads many Samaritans to come out and meet Jesus. Verses 31-38 specifically capture a teaching moment with the disciples, who return after going for food. Jesus introduces the concept of spiritual food (doing God's will) and then transitions to the imagery of spiritual harvest, directly addressing their perception of delayed gratification. He points to the approaching Samaritans as evidence of fields "white for harvest," having been prepared by His own direct witness. The historical context underscores the deep animosity between Jews and Samaritans, making the "ripe harvest" in Samaria a surprising and profound illustration of God's inclusive plan. Jesus, through His direct, prior engagement (sowing the seed of the Word with the woman and others), established the foundation for the disciples' immediate work.
John 4 38 Word analysis
- I sent (ἀπέστειλα - apesteila): From apostello, meaning "to send away," "send on a mission," or "dispatch." This word emphasizes Jesus' divine authority and intentional commission of the disciples. They are not acting on their own initiative but as divinely appointed agents.
- you (ὑμεῖς - hymeis): Emphatic second-person plural pronoun, highlighting the disciples' specific role and direct participation in this harvest.
- to reap (θερίζειν - therizein): The act of harvesting or gathering the crop. In a spiritual sense, it means gathering souls into God's kingdom. It suggests a time of fulfillment and fruitfulness after a period of growth.
- that on which (ὃ οὐκ - ho ouk): Literally "that which not." It points to a specific field or area of labor where the groundwork was absent from their personal efforts.
- you have not toiled (ἐκοπιάσατε - ekopiasate): From kopiao, meaning "to labor to the point of exhaustion," "to toil," "to work hard." The perfect tense implies a completed action. It refers to the initial, arduous work of preparation and evangelism.
- Others (ἄλλοι - alloi): Plural, referring primarily to Jesus Himself, who had just spent two days among the Samaritans, intensely ministering and teaching (Jno 4:40-41). It could also implicitly include Old Testament prophets and John the Baptist, whose messages prepared hearts for the Messiah, or even other unmentioned early laborers.
- toiled (κεκοπιάκασιν - kekopiakasin): Again, kopiao in the perfect tense. This reinforces the idea that significant, often exhausting, labor had already been accomplished by "others," and its effects were ongoing and apparent in the "white fields."
- and you (ὑμεῖς - hymeis): Repetition of the emphatic "you," further highlighting the disciples' distinct role.
- have entered (εἰσεληλύθατε - eiselēlēthate): From eiserchomai, "to come into," "to go into." It indicates their coming into or participating in an existing situation or work.
- into their labor (εἰς τὸν κόπον αὐτῶν - eis ton kopon autōn): "Into the hard work/toil of them." It signifies not merely benefiting from, but actively participating in and building upon, the strenuous efforts that preceded them. They are sharing in the results of the toil, becoming part of the ongoing spiritual harvest that previous toil initiated.
John 4 38 Bonus section
The spiritual dynamics presented in John 4:38 are profoundly relevant for missionary work and evangelism across different eras and contexts. Often, modern missionaries or church planters "reap" where historical evangelists, martyrs, or generations of faithful believers have "sown" through their prayers, witness, or suffering. Conversely, those who "sow" by establishing new mission fields or ministering in resistant areas may not see the full "harvest" themselves, with others later gathering the fruits. This verse highlights that God ensures His work is completed, sometimes by distinct sets of hands at different stages. It reminds believers to appreciate the work of those who came before them and to labor faithfully, knowing their efforts, even unseen, contribute to a larger, ongoing harvest. This understanding fosters humility, unity, and perseverance in gospel ministry, assuring that no genuine labor for the Lord is in vain.
John 4 38 Commentary
John 4:38 beautifully articulates the principle of divine succession and collaboration in the kingdom of God. Jesus establishes that the spiritual harvest is not a singular event tied to one person's effort but a continuous process spanning generations and diverse laborers. The disciples, by being sent to reap in Samaria, were privileged to gather fruit where Jesus Himself had laid the groundwork through intensive teaching and miraculous revelation. This truth guards against both spiritual pride in reaping and despondency in sowing without immediate results. Every laborer in God's field contributes, whether planting, watering, or harvesting, and all share in the ultimate joy of seeing souls brought to Christ. The focus is not on individual glory but on collective participation in God's master plan, with God giving the increase.