John 4 · Verse 31

John 4:31

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
John 4:31, King James Version

John 4:31 in other translations

BSBMeanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
WEBIn the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
ASVIn the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat.
YLTAnd in the meanwhile his disciples were asking him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat;'
DARBYBut meanwhile the disciples asked him saying, Rabbi, eat.
BBEWhile this was taking place, the disciples were saying to Jesus, Master, take some food.
WebsterIn the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

What does John 4:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 4:31-38
31-38. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 31. Prayed him. Asked him.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 Master, eat - They knew that he was greatly spent both with hunger and fatigue.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 4:27-42

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…

Read the full comment on John 4:27-42 →

John 4:31 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.

ἘνEnBut inG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
μεταξὺmetaxumeantimeG3342
ἠρώτωνērōtōnwere askingG2065
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004
ῥαββί,rhabbiRabbi,G4461
φάγε.phagedo eat.G5315

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

Cross references for John 4:31

  • John 1:38

    Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

  • Genesis 24:33

    And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Master.
Ge 24:33; Ac 16:30-34

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

Context

  • John 4:30

    Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

  • John 4:31

    In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

  • John 4:32

    But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Read all of John 4

John 4:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entre tanto los discípulos le rogaban, diciendo: Rabbí, come.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais pendant ce temps, les disciples le priaient, disant: Rabbi, mange.
German
Elberfelder 1871		In der Zwischenzeit aber baten ihn die Jünger und sprachen: Rabbi, iß.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Interea rogabant eum discipuli, dicentes: Rabbi, manduca.