John 4:1

John 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
• New International Version (NIV)Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John

Context of John 4:1

The Pharisees heard the news that many people were joining Jesus' group of disciples. They heard that Jesus was baptizing more disciples than John was baptizing. 2But really Jesus himself did not baptize anyone. It was only Jesus' disciples who baptized people. 3Jesus discovered what the Pharisees were thinking, so he left Judea. He returned to Galilee.

John 4:1 word by word

Ὡς οὖν ἔγνω ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἤκουσαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ὅτι Ἰησοῦς πλείονας μαθητὰς ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει ἢ Ἰωάννης,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whenὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• knewγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• howὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
• had heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• madeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• baptizedβαπτίζωbaptizō · to baptizeG907
• moreπλείων, πλεῖονpleiōn pleion pleon · greaterG4119
• disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• thanἤē · orG2228
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491

Cross-references for John 4:1

• Luke 1:76Zechariah then spoke to John: ‘You, my child, will be called a prophet of the powerful God who is over all. You will go in front of the Lord to prepare a way for him.
• Luke 2:11Something happened today in the town of David. Someone special was born. He is the one who will save you. He is the Messiah. He is the Lord.
• Luke 19:31Someone may ask you, “Why are you taking the donkey?” Then say to them, “The Master needs it.” ’
• Acts 10:36This is the message that God has sent to the people of Israel. He told us the good news about Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all people. Because of Jesus, we can now come near to God again.
• 1 Corinthians 2:8None of the rulers of this world understood God's wise plan. If they had understood, they would not have killed Jesus on a cross. He is the Lord who rules heaven and earth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:47God used soil from the ground to make the first man, Adam. But the second man came from heaven.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5We do not speak a message about ourselves. We tell people that Jesus Christ is our Lord. Because we belong to Jesus, we have become your servants, not your masters.
• James 2:1My Christian friends, you must be kind to everyone. You trust the Lord Jesus Christ, who is great in heaven. So do not think that anyone is more valuable than any other person.
• Revelation 19:16The man who rides on the white horse has a name that is written on his shirt. It is also written high on his leg. His name is: ‘The King who rules over all other kings. The Lord who rules over all lords’.
• John 3:22After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the country places in Judea. Jesus stayed there with his disciples for some time, and they baptized people there.

Commentaries on John 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Jesus made and baptized, etc. - These seem to be quoted as the very words which were brought to the Pharisees; and, from our Lord's conduct after this information, we may take it for granted that they were so irritated that they were determined to seek an occasion to take away his life; in consequence of which, leaving Judea, he withdrew into Galilee.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The Lord knew - When Jesus knew. how he knew this we are not informed; whether by that power of omniscience by which he knew all things, or whether some person had informed him of it. How the Pharisees had heard - The Pharisees, here, seem to denote either the members of the Sanhedrin or those who were in authority. They claimed the authority to regulate the rites and ceremonies of religion, and hence they supposed they had a right to inquire into the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Christ's departure into Galilee. (1-3) His discourse with the Samaritan woman. (4-26) The effects of Christ's conversation with the woman of Samaria. (27-42) Christ heals the nobleman's son. (43-54) Verses 1-3 Jesus applied himself more to preaching, which was the more excellent, 1Co 1:17, than to baptism. He would put honour upon his disciples, by employing them to baptize. He teaches us that the benefit of sacraments depends not on the hand that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-42At an ancient well in Samaria, Jesus offered himself as living water. This living water means the life that comes from God. Jesus spoke openly about who he was. When he revealed God’s truth, people had to respond. They either followed him or turned away. The Samaritan woman is very different from Nicodemus. She was a woman, not a man. She was a Samaritan, not a Jew. She had a sinful past, not a reputation for righteousness. She was an outsider, not a…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-421-4. the Lord knew--not by report, but in the sense of Joh 2:25, for which reason He is here styled "the Lord."Read the comment

Topics related to John 4:1

• Baptism
• Jesus, the Christ
• Samaria
• Shechem

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Dealing
• Ere
• God
• Hear
• Live
• Meat
• Messiah
• Spirit

Commentaries on John 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings