John 4 40

John 4:40 kjv

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

John 4:40 nkjv

So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

John 4:40 niv

So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.

John 4:40 esv

So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.

John 4:40 nlt

When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,

John 4 verses

John 4 40 Meaning

John 4:40 reveals the heartfelt desire of the Samaritans to host Jesus, expressing their profound interest in His teachings following the testimony of the Samaritan woman. Jesus willingly accepts their invitation, extending His stay for two full days, thereby demonstrating His compassion and commitment to minister to a people group traditionally ostracized by the Jews. This period allowed for deeper instruction and confirmed their growing faith, establishing a foundation for widespread belief beyond initial witness.

John 4 40 Context

This verse occurs at a pivotal point in Jesus' early ministry, immediately following His unprecedented encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Sychar. This conversation broke significant cultural and religious taboos, as Jews typically avoided interaction with Samaritans, considering them religiously impure and ethnically mixed. The woman's personal testimony, ignited by Jesus' revelation of her life, stirred the curiosity of her townspeople (Jn 4:29-30, 39). Their coming out to meet Jesus signals their openness and willingness to investigate her claims. John 4:40 then depicts their active invitation for Jesus to remain with them, and His affirmative response. This acceptance highlights Jesus' universal mission, transcending the deeply ingrained prejudices of the time and foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel message.

John 4 40 Word analysis

• So when: (οὖν - oun) Connects to the previous verses, indicating a consequence. The Samaritans' action is a direct result of the woman's testimony and their own initial inquiry.
• the Samaritans: (οἱ Σαμαρεῖται - hoi Samareitai) Refers to the inhabitants of Samaria, distinct from the Jews, highlighting the crossing of significant social, ethnic, and religious boundaries by Jesus and these people. Their response challenges Jewish ethnocentric views.
• came to him: (ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτόν - ēlthon pros auton) Emphasizes their initiative and desire to personally engage with Jesus, not merely observe from a distance. Their coming signifies an earnest seeking.
• they asked him to stay with them: (ἠρώτων αὐτὸν μεῖναι παρ' αὐτοῖς - ērōtōn auton meinai par’ autois)
  • asked: (ἠρώτων - ērōtōn) Imperfect tense, implying an earnest or repeated request, suggesting persistence in their invitation. This indicates a genuine hunger for His presence and teaching.
  • to stay/remain: (μεῖναι - meinai) This verb implies more than a brief visit; it suggests a desire for continued dwelling or abiding, seeking sustained fellowship and instruction from Jesus. It echoes similar invitations for Jesus to "abide" (Jn 1:38-39).
  • with them: (παρ’ αὐτοῖς - par’ autois) Literally "alongside them," signifying closeness and shared space, indicative of true hospitality and openness.
• and he stayed there: (καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐκεῖ - kai emenein ekei)
  • stayed: (ἔμεινεν - emeinen) Aorist tense, indicating a definite, completed action. Jesus accepted their plea. His willing presence affirmed their value and readiness for the Gospel.
  • there: (ἐκεῖ - ekei) Specifically in their town, Sychar, confirming His direct presence in a place deemed 'unclean' by Jewish norms.
• two days: (δύο ἡμέρας - duo hēmeras)
  • This specific duration is significant. It was long enough for a deeper engagement and more extensive teaching (as affirmed in Jn 4:41, where "many more believed because of His word"), yet not so long as to establish a permanent base, reinforcing Jesus' itinerant ministry. This specific period demonstrates a deliberate act of ministry and love to a receptive community, signifying the depth and extent of the spiritual nourishment He provided.

Words-group Analysis:

• "So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them": This phrase powerfully illustrates the transformative power of a single witness (the woman) and the eager spiritual hunger of a previously alienated people. Their seeking Him out and inviting Him in signifies a profound shift from their long-standing antagonism with Jewish beliefs.
• "and he stayed there two days": This short phrase underlines Jesus' radical inclusivity and commitment to His mission. His decision to dwell among the Samaritans, for a defined and impactful period, breaks through entrenched social and religious barriers. This acceptance directly facilitates the widespread belief that follows (Jn 4:41), highlighting the importance of direct encounter and teaching.

John 4 40 Bonus section

• The reception Jesus received in Samaria contrasts sharply with the lukewarm or hostile reception he often met among the Jews, even within Judea and Galilee. This highlights that spiritual readiness is not bound by religious tradition or heritage but by a receptive heart.
• This passage demonstrates Jesus modeling the very evangelism and cross-cultural outreach He would later commission His disciples to undertake (Acts 1:8). The two days are symbolic of a deliberate investment of time in discipling a new community of believers.
• The desire for Jesus to "stay with them" (μεῖναι παρ’ αὐτοῖς) is an early manifestation of people seeking an abiding presence of Christ, a theme deeply explored throughout John's Gospel regarding fellowship and discipleship.

John 4 40 Commentary

John 4:40 serves as a pivotal point in Jesus' ministry, illustrating His boundless grace and intentional universality. The Samaritans, often targets of Jewish disdain, actively seek out and welcome Jesus, revealing a spiritual openness unhindered by conventional prejudices. Jesus' willingness to not only engage them but to remain in their midst for two days underscores His mission to all people, regardless of ethnicity, background, or social standing. This act of acceptance shattered long-standing sectarian divides and affirmed His commitment to proclaiming the truth of God's Kingdom beyond Israel's perceived boundaries. The two-day stay facilitated a deeper, more personal encounter, leading many more Samaritans to believe not just based on initial testimony, but through their direct experience of His word. This profound willingness of Jesus to cross cultural and historical barriers for the sake of the Gospel prefigures the widespread inclusion of Gentiles in the early Church.