New International Version Now he had to go through Samaria. New Living Translation He had to go through Samaria on the way. English Standard Version And he had to pass through Samaria. Berean Standard Bible Now He had to pass through Samaria. Berean Literal Bible And it was necessary for Him to pass through Samaria. King James Bible And he must needs go through Samaria. New King James Version But He needed to go through Samaria. New American Standard Bible And He had to pass through Samaria. NASB 1995 And He had to pass through Samaria. NASB 1977 And He had to pass through Samaria. Legacy Standard Bible And He had to pass through Samaria. Amplified Bible Now He had to go through Samaria. Berean Annotated Bible Now He had to pass through Samaria. Christian Standard Bible He had to travel through Samaria; Holman Christian Standard Bible He had to travel through Samaria, American Standard Version And he must needs pass through Samaria. Contemporary English Version This time he had to go through Samaria, English Revised Version And he must needs pass through Samaria. GOD'S WORD® Translation Jesus had to go through Samaria. Good News Translation on his way there he had to go through Samaria. International Standard Version Now it was necessary for him to go through Samaria. NET Bible But he had to pass through Samaria. New Heart English Bible He needed to pass through Samaria. Webster's Bible Translation And he must needs go through Samaria. Weymouth New Testament His road lay through Samaria, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNow He had to pass through Samaria. World English Bible He needed to pass through Samaria. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand it was necessary [for] Him to go through Samaria. Berean Literal Bible And it was necessary for Him to pass through Samaria. Young's Literal Translation and it was behoving him to go through Samaria. Smith's Literal Translation And it was necessary for him to pass through Samaria. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he was of necessity to pass through Samaria. Catholic Public Domain Version Now he needed to cross through Samaria. New American Bible He had to pass through Samaria. New Revised Standard Version But he had to go through Samaria. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe had to go through Samaritan territory. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But it was necessary for him to come and pass through Samaria. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd it was necessary that he should go through Samaria. Godbey New Testament And it behooved Him to go through Samaria. Haweis New Testament Now he must necessarily pass through Samaria. Mace New Testament but being obliged to pass through Samaria, Weymouth New Testament His road lay through Samaria, Worrell New Testament And it was necessary that He should go through Samaria. Worsley New Testament And as He must pass through the country of Samaria, He came to a Samaritan city called Sichar, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Jesus and the Samaritan Woman…3He left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4Now He had to pass through Samaria. 5So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.… Cross References Now He had to pass Luke 4:43 But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.” Mark 1:38 But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” John 9:4 While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. through Samaria. Luke 17:11 While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. Luke 9:52-53 He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. / But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. / Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” / He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 6:35 Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 17:3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Treasury of Scripture And he must needs go through Samaria. Matthew 10:5,6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: … Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke 9:51,52 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, … Jump to Previous Behoving Lay Necessary Needed Needs Road Samaria Samar'iaJump to Next Behoving Lay Necessary Needed Needs Road Samaria Samar'iaJohn 4 1. Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her.27. His disciples marvel. 31. He declares to them his zeal for God's glory. 39. Many Samaritans believe on him. 43. He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum. Now He had to pass Jesus’ route was governed by the Father’s purpose, not merely convenience. Though many Jews avoided Samaria because of longstanding hostility, He deliberately went there to seek those whom others despised and excluded. Luk 4:43 But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news… through Samaria. The region lay between Judea and Galilee and was inhabited by Samaritans, whose worship on Mount Gerizim and mixed heritage had deepened the division with the Jews. Jesus crossed that boundary to reveal God’s saving purpose for all peoples. Luk 17:11 While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is traveling from Judea to Galilee. 2. Samaria A region between Judea and Galilee, often avoided by Jews due to historical enmity and religious differences. 3. Samaritans The inhabitants of Samaria, who were of mixed ethnicity and religion, often despised by the Jews. 4. Judea The southern region of ancient Israel, where Jesus was coming from. 5. Galilee The northern region of ancient Israel, where Jesus was heading. Teaching Points Divine NecessityJesus "had to pass through Samaria" not just geographically but as part of His divine mission to break down barriers and reach the lost. Breaking Cultural Barriers Jesus' journey through Samaria demonstrates His willingness to transcend cultural and ethnic divisions, setting an example for His followers to do the same. Intentional Ministry Jesus' deliberate choice to go through Samaria shows the importance of intentionality in ministry, seeking out those who are marginalized or overlooked. God's Sovereignty in Mission The necessity of passing through Samaria highlights God's sovereign plan in reaching all people, regardless of their background or societal status. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of John 4:4?2. Why was it necessary for Jesus to pass through Samaria in John 4:4? 3. How does John 4:4 demonstrate Jesus' intentionality in His ministry? 4. What Old Testament connections can be made with Jesus' journey through Samaria? 5. How can we apply Jesus' example of purposeful travel in our daily lives? 6. What does John 4:4 teach about breaking cultural barriers for the Gospel? 7. Why did Jesus need to pass through Samaria in John 4:4? 8. What is the significance of Samaria in biblical history? 9. How does John 4:4 challenge cultural boundaries of the time? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from John 4? (4) He must needs go through Samaria--i.e., following the shortest and most usual road, and the one we find Him taking from Galilee to Jerusalem (Luke 9:52; see Note there). Josephus spoke of this as the customary way of the Galileans going up during the feasts at Jerusalem (Ant. xx. 6, ? 1). The Pharisees, indeed, took the longer road through Peraea, to avoid contact with the country and people of Samaria, but it is within the purpose of His life and work ("needs go," i.e., was necessary that He should go) to teach in Samaria, as in Judaea, the principles of true religion and worship, which would cut away the foundations of all local jealousies and feuds, and establish for all nations the spiritual service of the universal Father (John 4:21-24).Verse 4. - And he must needs go through Samaria. There was no physical necessity about it. He might, as bigoted Jews were accustomed to do, have crossed the Jordan and passed through Peraea instead. There was no such animus in the heart of Jesus, and a Divine and providential monition was the occasion of his taking the direct road. Geikie has drawn a vivid picture of the difficulties to which Jewish travellers on the borders of Samaria were exposed (see Hosea 6:9; Josephus, 'Ant.,' 20:06. 1; 'Bell. Jud.,' 2:12. 4; 'Vit.,' 52), and also of the physical features of the land. Samaria, as a name of the small district of central Palestine, arose from the name of the city "Samaria," built by Omri, and made the site of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 16:24), and that of the Baal- and of the calf-worship. Samaria suffered from the siege, and the city was depopulated by Shalmanezer (Sargon), and colonized with Assyrians under Esarhaddon. It was destroyed by Hyrcanus, and rebuilt in splendour by Herod the Great, and by him dedicated to Augustus, and called Sebaste after him. Though Shechem (equivalent to Sichem) was the more famous site, and overshadowed Herod's city by its historical interest, yet "Samaria" was the name which has survived all others, and covered a larger space. Jesus was probably on the borders of Samaria, in the Judaean country, before he commenced his journey. Samaria was included in the tetrarchy of Archelaus, and formed part of the province under the pro-curatorship of Pontius Pilate; while Herod Antipas reigned over Galilee and Persia. The Lord was fulfilling the Divine will, in commencing his Galilaean ministry, in leaving Judaea proper for the present, and passing through Samaria. It is worthy of notice that John here attributes to "the Pharisees," rather than "the Jews," the opposition which indicated the wisdom or necessity of this course. John 4:4 reveals deliberate, God-ordained movement: at the divinely chosen moment, Jesus, compelled by the Father’s will, intentionally travels through a territory shunned by His contemporaries. This single verse showcases His sovereign timing, obedient heart, purposeful mission, and boundary-breaking grace, all pointing to the wider truth that the gospel is for every person, everywhere. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Nowδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. He αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. had Ἔδει (Edei) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1163: Third person singular active present of deo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is Necessary. to pass διέρχεσθαι (dierchesthai) Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive Strong's 1330: To pass through, spread (as a report). From dia and erchomai; to traverse. through διὰ (dia) Preposition Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. Samaria. Σαμαρείας (Samareias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 4540: Of Hebrew origin; Samaria, a city and region of Palestine. Additonal Resources John 4:4 Blue Letter BibleJohn 4:4 Bible Gateway John 4:4 Bible.com John 4:4 NIV |
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