John 4 44

John 4:44 kjv

For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

John 4:44 nkjv

For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

John 4:44 niv

(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

John 4:44 esv

(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)

John 4:44 nlt

He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown.

John 4 verses

John 4 44 Meaning

John 4:44 states that Jesus Himself affirmed the truth that a prophet rarely receives honor in his own native region or hometown. This verse serves as an explanatory transition, clarifying why Jesus, after a receptive ministry in Samaria, strategically moved to Galilee but specifically avoided Nazareth, His ancestral town, for the time being. It underscores a fundamental challenge faced by divine messengers, whose message is often met with skepticism and lack of respect from those most familiar with their human origins.

John 4 44 Context

Following His significant ministry in Samaria, where many believed in Him because of His words (John 4:39-42), Jesus departs for Galilee (John 4:43). The immediate purpose of John 4:44 is to explain the nuance of this journey. It highlights Jesus' self-awareness regarding the typical reception of a prophet, especially among familiar faces. While He went to Galilee generally, the implication drawn from this verse and its Synoptic parallels is that He avoided His own hometown of Nazareth, understanding that familiarity often bred contempt and would hinder His mission there. Historically, prophets were frequently met with skepticism or outright rejection by their immediate communities or countrymen, who found it difficult to accept divine authority from someone they had known in ordinary human terms. This principle helps contextualize Jesus' strategic movements throughout His ministry, prioritizing locations where He could most effectively teach and demonstrate His messianic identity without undue resistance fueled by misplaced familiarity.

John 4 44 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This conjunction indicates that the verse provides an explanation or reason for the preceding statement in John 4:43, where Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. It connects Jesus' move to His understanding of prophetic dynamics.

• Jesus Himself (αὐτὸς Ἰησοῦς - autos Iēsous): The Greek autos here is emphatic, stressing that this was Jesus' own direct statement or understanding, not just a general observation. It highlights His conscious, intentional decision and awareness of the prophetic principle.

• testified (ἐμαρτύρησεν - emartyrēsen): From martyreō, meaning "to bear witness, to affirm, to declare." This indicates that Jesus publicly or explicitly stated this principle, lending it His personal authority as a confirmed truth.

• that (ὅτι - hoti): Introduces the content of Jesus' testimony or declaration.

• a prophet (προφήτης - prophētēs): Refers to one who speaks on behalf of God, delivering His message and revealing His will. In the Old Testament, prophets often challenged their own people, leading to conflict. This term establishes Jesus' own self-understanding and role.

• has no honor (οὐκ ἔχει τιμήν - ouk echei timēn): Ouk is the strong negative, meaning "does not" or "no." Echei means "has." Timēn (honor) signifies respect, esteem, value, or reverence. The phrase collectively means a lack of receiving due respect or acceptance, often resulting in rejection or discrediting.

• in his own country (ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ πατρίδι - en tē idia patridi): Idia emphasizes "his own," stressing the personal connection. Patridi (country, homeland, hometown) refers to the prophet's place of origin or the community with which he is most closely associated. For Jesus, this primarily referred to Nazareth in Galilee, but in John's Gospel, it sometimes broadly encompasses Judea, which continually rejected Him.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For Jesus Himself testified": This phrase highlights Jesus' authoritative declaration of a universal spiritual principle, emphasizing that His subsequent actions are guided by this revealed truth, demonstrating His wisdom and foresight in His ministry strategy.
  • "that a prophet has no honor": This expresses a profound observation about human nature and the reception of divine truth. Familiarity with the prophet's human background often overshadows the divine source of his message, leading to a lack of genuine respect or credence for his pronouncements.
  • "in his own country": This specifies the locale where this lack of honor is most pronounced. It denotes the irony that those who should, by ties of kinship or shared history, be most receptive are often the most resistant, blinded by their preconceived notions or casual acquaintance with the prophet's earthly origins.

John 4 44 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory statement in John 4:43 ("He Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country," yet "He went to Galilee") prompts scholarly discussion. Some interpreters suggest "his own country" might refer to Judea in John's context, rather than solely Nazareth, as Judea was the place of major early opposition to Jesus. This interpretation would explain why Jesus went to Galilee (where He might find some honor, but still with a cautious approach to His immediate 'hometown'), while avoiding Judea. However, given the strong Synoptic parallels (Mt 13:57; Mk 6:4; Lk 4:24), the primary reference to Nazareth as His direct 'home' within Galilee is strongly implied. Regardless of the exact geographical scope, the core principle remains: Jesus, as a true prophet, strategically navigated areas of anticipated rejection, not out of fear, but to fulfill His ministry according to the divine plan, maximizing opportunities for those genuinely open to His message. This shows His active role in the unfolding of salvation history and His intimate knowledge of human hearts and regional biases.

John 4 44 Commentary

John 4:44 is a succinct yet profound explanatory note that bridges Jesus' successful Samaritan ministry with His return to Galilee. By affirming the proverb that a prophet is not honored in his own country, Jesus not only articulates a widely observed phenomenon concerning divine messengers but also applies it to His own situation. This insight reveals His strategic awareness, guiding His choice of action, leading Him away from His specific hometown of Nazareth, where, as other Gospels show, familiarity bred unbelief and hindered His work. The verse thus serves as an anticipation of future rejection by certain segments of His own people, contrasting sharply with the immediate receptivity of the Samaritans, underscoring the spiritual blindness that can arise from proximity and presumption, rather than genuine faith.