John 4 (KJV)

Read John chapter 4 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

John 4

Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

John 4:14

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him sh…"

John 4:24

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him …"

John 4:23-24

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers s…"

John 4:35

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harve…"

John 4:23

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers s…"

Popular Verses in John 4

Most searched verses from this chapter, with KJV text and context.

John 4:23 KJV

Worship & Praise

John 4:24 KJV

Worship & Praise

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John 4 Summary

John 4 records Jesus' transformative conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well — a meeting that crossed every social boundary of the ancient world: gender, ethnicity, religion, and moral status. Jesus asks for water, then offers 'living water' that becomes 'a well of water springing up into everlasting life.'

The conversation moves from physical thirst to spiritual thirst to worship to messianic identity. When Jesus reveals knowledge of her five marriages, she deflects to a theological debate about worship locations. Jesus responds with one of His most profound statements: 'God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' The woman becomes one of the first evangelists, bringing her entire town to Jesus.

Key Themes

Living waterBreaking social barriersWorship in spirit and truthSamaritan missionJesus as Messiah

Key Verses in John 4

"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

— John 4:14

Jesus offers inner, permanent satisfaction — a spring, not a bucket that empties.

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

— John 4:24

Redefines worship as internal reality rather than external location.

"Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"

— John 4:29

The woman's testimony is honest and personal — effective evangelism doesn't require theological expertise.

Life Application

Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the point of her deepest need — not her theological confusion but her relational brokenness. His approach teaches that real ministry addresses the actual person, not just their questions. And the woman's response shows that encountering Jesus transforms even the most shame-filled past into a compelling testimony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was it significant that Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman?

Jews and Samaritans had centuries of hostility (John 4:9). Jewish men typically didn't speak publicly to women, and this woman's marital history made her socially marginal even in her own community. Jesus deliberately crossed every barrier to reach her.

What is the living water Jesus offered?

Living water represents the Holy Spirit and eternal life (John 7:38-39). Unlike physical water that satisfies temporarily, Jesus' living water becomes an internal, perpetual spring — fully satisfying the deepest spiritual thirst.

Read the full summary of John