John 4:20
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
John 4:20 in other translations
| BSB | Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.” |
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| WEB | Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” |
| ASV | Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. |
| YLT | our fathers in this mountain did worship, and ye--ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where it behoveth to worship.' |
| DARBY | Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where one must worship. |
| BBE | Our fathers gave worship on this mountain, but you Jews say that the right place for worship is in Jerusalem. |
| Webster | Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. |
What does John 4:20 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 4:19-20
19-20. Sir, I perceive, &c.--Seeing herself all revealed, does she now break down and ask what hopes there might be for one so guilty? Nay, her convictions have not reached that point yet. She ingeniously shifts the subject from a personal to a public question. It is not, "Alas, what a wicked life am I leading!" but "Lo, what a wonderful prophet I got into conversation with! He will be able to settle that…
Barnes' Notes
Worshipped. Had a place of worship.
In this mountain. Mount Gerizim, but a little way from Sychar. On this mountain they had built a temple somewhat similar to the one in Jerusalem. This was one of the main subjects of controversy between them and the Jews. The old Samaritan Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, has the word Gerizim instead of Ebal in De 27:4. On this account, as well as because the patriarchs are mentioned as having worshipped in Shethem, they supposed that that was the proper place on which to erect the temple.
Ye say. Ye Jews.
In Jerusalem. The place where the temple was built. This was built in accordance with the promise and command of God, De 12:5,11. In building this, David and Solomon were under the divine direction, 2Sam 7:2, 3, 13, 1Kgs 5:5, 12, 8:15-22.
As it was contemplated in the law of Moses that there should be but one place to offer sacrifice and to hold the great feasts, so it followed that the Samaritans were in error in supposing that their temple was the place. Accordingly, our Saviour decided in favour of the Jews, yet in such a manner as to show the woman that the question was of much less consequence than they supposed it to be.
(l) "this mountain" Jud 9:7 (m) "in Jerusalem" De 12:5-11, 1Kgs 9:3
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 4:4-26
There was great hatred between the Samaritans and the Jews. Christ's road from Judea to Galilee lay through Samaria. We should not go into places of temptation but when we needs must; and then must not dwell in them, but hasten through them. We have here our Lord Jesus under the common fatigue of travellers. Thus we see that he was truly a man. Toil came in with sin; therefore Christ, having made himself a curse for…
John 4:20 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 4:20
- Deuteronomy 12:5-11
But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. …
- Genesis 33:18-20
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money. And he erected there an altar, and called it El–elohe–Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 7:12
And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
- Genesis 12:6-7
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
- Deuteronomy 11:29
And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.
- Deuteronomy 27:12
These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
- 1 Chronicles 22:1
Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
- Psalms 78:68
But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
- 2 Chronicles 7:16
For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
- Luke 9:53
And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
- Psalms 132:13
For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
- 2 Kings 17:26-33
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth–el, and taught them how they should fear the Lord. Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. …
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 4:19
The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
- John 4:20
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
- John 4:21
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
John 4:20 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Nuestros padres adoraron en este monte, y vosotros decís que en Jerusalem es el lugar donde es necesario adorar. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Nos pères ont adoré sur cette montagne-ci, et vous, vous dites qu’à Jérusalem est le lieu où il faut adorer. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Unsere Väter haben auf diesem Berge angebetet, und ihr saget, daß in Jerusalem der Ort sei, wo man anbeten müsse. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Patres nostri in monte hoc adoraverunt, et vos dicitis, quia Jerosolymis est locus ubi adorare oportet. |