John 4:51 kjv
And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
John 4:51 nkjv
And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"
John 4:51 niv
While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
John 4:51 esv
As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.
John 4:51 nlt
While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.
John 4 51 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 4:5 | Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. | Setting the scene of Jesus’ arrival. |
| John 4:6 | Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, sat down by the well. | Location and Jesus' physical state. |
| John 4:40 | They asked him to stay with them for a couple of days. When he stayed, many more became believers because of his words. | Continued ministry in Samaria. |
| John 4:41 | And many more believed because of his own word. | Impact of Jesus' preaching. |
| John 4:42 | They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you told us, but we have heard for ourselves and now know that this truly is the Savior of the world.” | Recognition of Jesus as Savior. |
| John 4:45 | When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival, for they too had attended the festival. | Galileans' prior knowledge. |
| John 4:46 | Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a court official whose son lay ill at Capernaum. | Jesus’ ministry in Cana. |
| John 4:47 | When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come and heal his son, who was on the verge of death. | Faith of the court official. |
| John 4:48 | “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” | Jesus’ response to expectation. |
| John 4:49 | The court official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” | Urgent plea for healing. |
| John 4:50 | Jesus said to him, “You may go. Your son will live.” | Jesus’ authoritative word. |
| John 4:52 | “Then he asked them when his son would get better. They replied, “The fever broke yesterday at noon.” | Confirmation of the healing. |
| John 4:53 | Then he realized that this was the exact time that Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his household believed. | The father’s belief and its basis. |
| John 7:3 | Then Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.” | Family’s perspective on ministry. |
| John 11:4 | When Jesus heard this, he said, “This illness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” | Jesus’ perspective on illness. |
| Gen 49:28 | All these were the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said when he blessed them, giving some blessing each was worthy of. | Jacob’s blessings and tribes. |
| Gen 33:20 | There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. | Jacob establishing presence. |
| Deut 7:6 | For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. | God’s choosing of Israel. |
| Psa 105:6 | … He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded to a thousand generations, | God’s faithfulness. |
| Zech 3:10 | In that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘you will each invite the other to come under your vine and fig tree.’” | Prophecy of peace and prosperity. |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. | Priority of God’s kingdom. |
John 4 verses
John 4 51 Meaning
Jesus, on his return journey from Judea to Galilee, encountered his disciples in Samaria. This particular verse details the immediate reaction and action taken by Jesus and his disciples upon hearing that his earthly father, Jacob (also known as Israel), had a well in that region.
John 4 51 Context
Following his transformative encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, Jesus ministered in Samaria, leading many Samaritans to believe in him. He then continued his journey toward Galilee. As he approached his destination, the disciples recognized the significance of the location being near the well and land once belonging to their patriarch, Jacob. This awareness connects Jesus' present actions to the foundational history and covenant God established with Israel, through Jacob. The journey is part of Jesus' broader mission to reach all people, bridging ethnic and religious divides.
John 4 51 Word Analysis
- When he was come down from Judea: This phrase indicates the direction of travel, moving from the southern region of Judea towards Galilee in the north.
- And went again into Galilee: This marks a return to a primary area of Jesus' ministry, previously established.
- And it happened: This common biblical introductory phrase signals an event or occurrence within the narrative.
- That he must needs go: This suggests not just a casual decision, but a divinely ordained necessity for Jesus to pass through Samaria.
- Through Samaria: This prepositional phrase pinpoints the geographical path taken, which was culturally significant due to the strained relationship between Jews and Samaritans.
- Jacob: Identified here by his patriarchal name, referring to Jacob (Israel), the ancestor of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- His own country: This is a slight misinterpretation. The verse states "His own way" (or a similar reading depending on translation), referring to Jesus' route, not that Samaria was Jesus' country of origin in the same way it was Jacob's ancestral land. Correction based on more precise translation is vital here.
- Our father Jacob: This expression reveals the disciples' reverence for Jacob, acknowledging him as a key figure in their spiritual heritage.
- Gave: Indicates possession and bestowal of property.
- This well: Refers specifically to the well where Jesus had just ministered, a place of significance tied to Jacob.
- The parcel of ground: This refers to a piece of land.
- His son Joseph: Identifies Joseph as the son of Jacob who inherited this specific land.
Word-by-Word Analysis
- "And" (καὶ - kai): A conjunction linking clauses or sentences, indicating sequence or addition.
- "He was come" (ἦλθεν - elthen): Aorist tense of ἔρχομαι (erchomai), meaning "to come" or "to go." Indicating completion of arrival from Judea.
- "Down" (καταβῇ - katabē): Verb meaning "to go down," from καταβαίνω (katabainō). Indicates a geographical descent from Judea towards Galilee, which was generally north.
- "From Judea" (ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας - apo tēs Ioudaias): From the region of Judea.
- "And went" (καὶ ἐπορεύετο - kai eporeueto): Conjunction and imperfect tense of πορεύομαι (poreuomai), meaning "to go," "to travel," or "to proceed." Implies a continuing journey.
- "Again" (πάλιν - palin): An adverb indicating a return or repetition of a journey or action.
- "Into Galilee" (εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν - eis tēn Galilaian): Into the region of Galilee.
- "And it was necessary" (καὶ ἔδει - kai edei): Conjunction and impersonal verb from δεῖ (dei), signifying necessity or obligation, suggesting divine will or unavoidable circumstances.
- "That he must needs go" (διαπορεύεσθαι - diaporesuesthai): Infinitive of διαπορεύομαι (diaporesuomai), meaning "to pass through" or "to travel across." Highlights the necessity of crossing through Samaria.
- "Through Samaria" (διὰ Σαμαρίας - dia Samarias): Through the territory of Samaria.
- "Then" (οὖν - oun): A particle, often translated as "therefore," "then," or "so," indicating a logical conclusion or transition.
- "The father" (ὁ πατήρ - ho patēr): "The father," referring to Jacob.
- "Jacob" (Ἰακώβ - Iakōb): The patriarchal name for Israel.
- "Was come" (ἦν - ēn): Imperfect tense of εἰμί (eimi), "to be." Combined with the preceding context, it implies Jacob had a historical presence or connection to the place. Note: While the verse says "Our father Jacob gave...", it's important to note that Jacob didn't literally give the well to the disciples' presence there in the way one might give a gift; rather, his ownership and use of the well and land established its connection to him.
- "And had given" (καὶ ἔδωκεν - kai edōken): Conjunction and aorist tense of δίδωμι (didōmi), meaning "to give." Indicates Jacob’s past act of giving the land and the well.
- "Unto Joseph" (τῷ Ἰωσὴφ - tō Iōsēph): To Joseph, Jacob's son.
- "His son" (viῳ αὐτοῦ - uiō autou): His son.
- "This well" (τὴν φρέαρ - tēn frear): This well, referencing the specific well at Sychar.
Groups of Words Analysis
- "Our father Jacob gave unto Joseph this well": This phrase emphasizes the disciples' deep connection to Jacob as a progenitor. Their mention of him granting the land and well to Joseph highlights their awareness of biblical history and familial inheritance. It also suggests they understood Jesus' location in relation to a significant patriarchal site.
John 4 51 Bonus Section
The disciples' statement reflects their understanding of continuity within God's plan. Jacob's well represented a physical landmark connected to the lineage and covenantal history of Israel. For the disciples, recognizing this connection to Jacob and Joseph added a layer of historical depth to Jesus' presence in Samaria. This echoes Jesus’ own words in John 4:34-36 about his “food” being to do the will of the one who sent him, indicating that his immediate focus was on fulfilling divine purpose rather than simply following the most direct route. Their comment could also subtly highlight their awareness of the disciples’ prior ignorance of Jesus’ dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:27), making their realization of the area’s patriarchal significance perhaps a secondary point of reflection after their interaction at the well.
John 4 51 Commentary
The disciples recognized that their path from Judea to Galilee would necessarily take them through Samaria. Their statement, "Our father Jacob gave unto Joseph this well," shows their historical awareness. Jacob had a significant connection to this well and the surrounding land, which he had given to his son Joseph (Gen. 33:19, 48:22). This geographical location was therefore significant in their heritage. Jesus, though destined to pass through, did so with divine purpose, having already engaged in a life-changing ministry there. The disciples’ remark implicitly acknowledges their patriarch's connection to this specific place, underscoring that Jesus’ journey through Samaria was not arbitrary but part of a divinely guided narrative that encompassed all of Israel, even those outside the immediate Judean context.