English Standard Version
John 4:37
37For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.'
John 4:37 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
- New International Version (NIV)Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’
- New Living Translation (NLT)You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true.
Context of John 4:37
35Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." 39Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."
Read all of John 4John 4:37 word by word
ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ ὁ λόγος ἐστὶν ἀληθινός, ὅτι ἄλλος ἐστὶν ὁ σπείρων καὶ ἄλλος ὁ θερίζων.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andγάρgar · forG1063
- hereinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thatοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- sayingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- sayingλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- trueἀληθινόςalēthinos · trueG228
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- Oneἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
- sowethσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- reapethθερίζωtheridō · to reapG2325
Cross-references for John 4:37
- Judges 6:3For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.
- Micah 6:15You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
- Luke 19:21for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'
Commentaries on John 4:37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37Herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth - Or, One is the sower, and another is the reaper. In what respects you, of this business, this proverb is true - One is the sower, etc., for I have sent you to reap, to preach my Gospel, and gain converts, where ye have not labored - have not sown the first seeds of eternal life. Others have labored - the patriarchs and prophets, and ye are entered into the fruits of their labors. They announced…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37That saying - That proverb. This proverb is found in some of the Greek writers (Grotius). Similar proverbs were in use among the Jews. See Isaiah 65:21-22; Leviticus 26:16; Micah 6:15. One soweth - One man may preach the gospel, and with little apparent effect; another, succeeding him, may be crowned with eminent success. The seed, long buried, may spring up in an abundant harvest.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-42Verses 27-42 The disciples wondered that Christ talked thus with a Samaritan. Yet they knew it was for some good reason, and for some good end. Thus when particular difficulties occur in the word and providence of God, it is good to satisfy ourselves that all is well that Jesus Christ says and does. Two things affected the woman. The extent of his knowledge. Christ knows all the thoughts, words, and actions, of all the children of men. And the power of…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. 31-3831-38. meantime--that is, while the woman was away. Master, eat--Fatigue and thirst we saw He felt; here is revealed another of our common infirmities to which the Lord was subject--hunger.Read the comment
Topics related to John 4:37
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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