John 4 · Verse 24

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24, King James Version

John 4:24 in other translations

BSBGod is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
WEBGod is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
ASVGod is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
YLTGod is a Spirit, and those worshipping Him, in spirit and truth it doth behove to worship.'
DARBYGod is a spirit; and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.
BBEGod is Spirit: then let his worshippers give him worship in the true way of the spirit.
WebsterGod is a Spirit: and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.

What does John 4:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 4:21-24

21-24. Woman, &c.--Here are three weighty pieces of information: (1) The point raised will very soon cease to be of any moment, for a total change of dispensation is about to come over the Church. (2) The Samaritans are wrong, not only as to the place, but the whole grounds and nature of their worship, while in all these respects the truth lies with the Jews. (3) As God is a Spirit, so He both invites and demands a…

Read the full comment on John 4:21-24 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. God is a spirit. This is the second reason why men should worship him in spirit and in truth. By this is meant that God is without a body; that he is not material or composed of parts; that he is invisible, in every place, pure and holy. This is one of the first truths of religion, and one of the sublimest ever presented to the mind of man. Almost all nations have had some idea of God as gross or material, but the Bible declares that he is a pure spirit. As he is such a spirit, he dwells not in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48), neither is worshipped with men's hands as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things, Acts 17:25. A pure, a holy, a spiritual worship, therefore, is such as he seeks--the offering of the soul rather than the formal offering of the body--the homage of the heart rather than that of the lips.

(r) "is a spirit" Php 3:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 God is a Spirit - This is one of the first, the greatest, the most sublime, and necessary truths in the compass of nature! There is a God, the cause of all things - the fountain of all perfection - without parts or dimensions, for he is Eternal - filling the heavens and the earth - pervading, governing, and upholding all things: for he is an infinite Spirit! This God can be pleased only with that which resembles himself: therefore he must hate sin and sinfulness; and can delight in those only who are made partakers of his own Divine nature. As all creatures were made by him, so all owe him obedience and reverence; but, to be acceptable to this infinite Spirit, the worship must be of a spiritual nature - must spring from the heart, through the influence of the Holy Ghost: and it must be in Truth, not only in sincerity, but performed according to that Divine revelation which he has given men of himself. A man worships God in spirit, when, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, he brings all his affections, appetites, and desires to the throne of God; and he worships him in truth, when every purpose and passion of his heart, and when every act of his religious worship, is guided and regulated by the word of God. "The enlightened part of mankind," says Abu'l Fazel, "knows that true righteousness is an upright heart; and believe that God can only be worshipped in holiness of Spirit." Ayeen Akbery, vol. iii. p. 254. "Of all worshippers," says Creeshna, "I respect him as the most devout, who hath faith in me, and who serveth me with a soul possessed of my spirit." Geeta, p. 68.

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…

Read the full comment on John 4:4-26 →

John 4:24 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.

πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151
ὁho<the>G3588
θεός,theosGod [is],G2316
καὶkaiandG2532
τοὺςtousthoseG3588
προσκυνοῦνταςproskunountasworshipingG4352
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἐνeninG1722
πνεύματιpneumatispiritG4151
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀληθείᾳalētheiatruthG225
δεῖdeiit behoovesG1163
προσκυνεῖν.¶proskuneinto worship.G4352

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 4:24

  • 2 Corinthians 3:17

    Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

  • Matthew 15:8-9

    This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

  • Philippians 3:3

    For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

  • Psalms 51:17

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

  • Isaiah 57:15

    For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

  • 1 Timothy 1:17

    Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Psalms 66:18

    If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

  • Psalms 50:23

    Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

  • Psalms 50:13-15

    Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a Spirit.
2Co 3:17; 1Ti 1:17
must.
1Sa 16:7; Ps 50:13-15,23; 51:17; 66:18; Isa 57:15; Mt 15:8,9
2Co 1:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 4:23

    But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

  • John 4:24

    God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

  • John 4:25

    The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Read all of John 4

John 4:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Dios es Espíritu; y los que le adoran, en espíritu y en verdad es necesario que adoren.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Dieu est esprit, et il faut que ceux qui l’adorent, l’adorent en esprit et en vérité.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Gott ist ein Geist, und die ihn anbeten, müssen in Geist und Wahrheit anbeten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Spiritus est Deus: et eos qui adorant eum, in spiritu et veritate oportet adorare.