John 4 42

John 4:42 kjv

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

John 4:42 nkjv

Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

John 4:42 niv

They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

John 4:42 esv

They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."

John 4:42 nlt

Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world."

John 4 verses

John 4 42 Meaning

John 4:42 marks a profound shift in the Samaritan villagers' faith. Initially, their belief in Jesus was sparked by the Samaritan woman's testimony. However, after spending time with Jesus, listening to His words, and experiencing His presence, their faith transformed into a direct, personal conviction. They declared that their belief was no longer based on her words alone, but on their own experience and the resulting experiential knowledge that Jesus is genuinely the "Savior of the world," signifying a universal redemptive purpose.

John 4 42 Context

John chapter 4 details Jesus' journey through Samaria, leading to His pivotal encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. This encounter breaks several cultural and religious barriers: Jesus, a Jew, speaks to a Samaritan, a woman, and one with a questionable reputation. Through their conversation, Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah, addressing her deep spiritual needs. Her powerful testimony, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" (Jn 4:29), becomes the catalyst for many Samaritans to come out from the town to meet Jesus. They then invite Jesus to stay with them, and He abides there for two days, engaging directly with the community. Verse 42 is the Samaritans' collective response after this personal interaction, signifying the completion of their journey from secondhand report to personal conviction. The "Savior of the world" title transcends their previous understanding of a Messiah limited to specific groups (Jews or Samaritans) and points to a universal Redeemer, a key theme in John's Gospel.

John 4 42 Word analysis

• And said (καὶ εἶπον - kai eipon): A straightforward connective and verb. Highlights the communal, direct declaration.
• to the woman (τῇ γυναικί - tē gynaikí): Identifies the original recipient of their declaration, acknowledging her initial role in bringing them to Jesus.
• It is no longer (οὐκέτι - ouketi): A crucial adverb, indicating a decisive termination of a previous state. It underscores a complete shift, signifying that their faith has matured beyond its initial dependency.
• because of what you said (διὰ τὴν σὴν λαλιάν - dia tēn sēn lalian): "Lalian" (speech, talk, report, testimony). Their initial belief was sparked by her verbal testimony, acknowledging its effectiveness but also its limitation as a basis for enduring faith.
• that we believe (πιστεύομεν - pisteuomen): Present tense. Describes their ongoing state of belief, now rooted in a different, more profound source.
• for we have heard for ourselves (αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀκηκόαμεν - autoi gar akēkoamen):
  • "αυτοὶ" (autoi): "ourselves," emphasizes personal, direct experience, not delegated or hearsay. It's an emphatic "we."
  • "γὰρ" (gar): "for," introducing the reason for their new conviction.
  • "ἀκηκόαμεν" (akēkoamen): Perfect active indicative of ἀκούω (akouō, to hear). Signifies a past action with continuing, present results. They heard Jesus, and the effects of that hearing persist, establishing a lasting foundation for their faith. This hearing was not just auditory but implied spiritual reception.
• and we know (καὶ οἴδαμεν - kai oidamen): Perfect active indicative of οἶδα (oida, to know). Denotes a certain, settled, and often experiential or intuitive knowledge. This is a profound, deep-seated conviction, beyond intellectual assent, born from personal encounter. It implies an internal certainty.
• that this is indeed (ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς - hoti houtos estin alēthōs):
  • "ἀληθῶς" (alēthōs): "truly," "indeed," "actually," "verily." An adverb emphasizing the truth, certainty, and authenticity of their realization. It adds a strong validation to Jesus' identity.
• the Savior of the world (ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου - ho sōtēr tou kosmou):
  • "Σωτὴρ" (Sotēr): "Savior," "Deliverer," "Preserver." A significant title. While Samaritans expected a Taheb (Messiah), this specific designation echoes the broader Greco-Roman usage for divine figures or deliverers, but here it's distinctly applied to Jesus in His role as global Redeemer.
  • "τοῦ κόσμου" (tou kosmou): "of the world." This universal scope is highly significant, breaking free from ethnic or nationalistic Messianic expectations. It points to a redemptive plan for all humanity, prefiguring the Gentile mission.

Words-group analysis

• "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe": This phrase marks a clear progression. It's not a dismissal of the woman's role but an affirmation of growth beyond initial reliance on external testimony. Her words served as an initial bridge, but the Samaritans have crossed over to direct, personal conviction.
• "for we have heard for ourselves, and we know": These two clauses represent the foundation of their transformed faith. "Heard for ourselves" signifies direct, experiential encounter with Jesus' words and presence. "And we know" indicates an internal, settled certainty resulting from this encounter. This moves beyond mere information to profound, transformative knowledge.
• "that this is indeed the Savior of the world": This culminates their recognition of Jesus' true identity. The addition of "indeed" underscores their absolute conviction. Most significantly, "Savior of the world" reveals a paradigm shift in their understanding, embracing Jesus' universal mission, which was groundbreaking for Samaritans who historically shared animosity with Jews and often held a localized view of their religious destiny. This anticipates the future global spread of the Gospel.

John 4 42 Bonus section

The journey of the Samaritans from hearing the woman's story to personally knowing Jesus is a powerful example of spiritual development. It illustrates that initial evangelism, or sharing personal testimony, serves as a crucial starting point that leads people to consider Christ. However, true and abiding faith is forged through an individual's personal interaction with Jesus—hearing His word directly and experiencing His presence, which then blossoms into genuine spiritual knowledge and conviction. This mirrors the trajectory for all believers, moving from intellectual understanding or familial faith to a living, personal relationship with the "Savior of the world." This incident in Samaria foreshadows the Acts of the Apostles, where the gospel breaks out beyond traditional Jewish boundaries to reach gentiles.

John 4 42 Commentary

John 4:42 beautifully encapsulates the transition from indirect, second-hand belief to direct, experiential, and transformative faith. The Samaritan woman's testimony, powerful as it was, merely piqued curiosity; the true, enduring faith of the villagers emerged from their personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This verse highlights that genuine Christianity is not merely assenting to facts heard from others but experiencing Christ personally, leading to an inner conviction ("we know"). The profound declaration "Savior of the world" signifies a remarkable leap in their theological understanding, embracing a universal scope of salvation that transcends historical, ethnic, and religious divisions. It speaks to the heart of Jesus' mission: to redeem all humanity.