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

Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2(though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3So he left Judea and 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 1:76“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
• Luke 2:11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
• Luke 19:31If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
• Acts 10:36This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
• 1 Corinthians 2:8But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.
• 1 Corinthians 15:47Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.
• James 2:1My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
• Revelation 19:16On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
• John 3:22Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.

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