John 4 · Verse 38

John 4:38

I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
John 4:38, King James Version

John 4:38 in other translations

BSBI sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”
WEBI sent you to reap that for which you haven’t labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
ASVI sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor.
YLTI sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured; others laboured, and ye into their labour have entered.
DARBYI have sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured; others have laboured, and ye have entered into their labours.
BBEI sent you to get in grain which you had no hand in planting: other men did that work, and you take the reward.
WebsterI sent you to reap that on which ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye have entered into their labors.

What does John 4:38 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.

Read the full comment on John 4:31-38 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38. I sent you. In the commission given you to preach the gospel. You have not labored or toiled in preparing the way for the great harvest which is now to be gathered in.

Other men labored.

(1.) The prophets, who long labored to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.

(2.) The teachers among the Jews, who have read and explained the law and taught the people.

(3.) John the Baptist, who came to prepare the way. And,

(4.) The Saviour himself, who by his personal ministry taught the people, and prepared them for the success which was to attend the preaching of the apostles. Especially did Jesus lay the foundation for the rapid and extensive spread of the gospel. He saw comparatively little fruit of his ministry. He confined his labours to Judea, and even there he was occupied in sowing seed which chiefly sprang up after his death. From this we may learn,

1st. That the man who is crowned with eminent success has no cause of boasting over others, any more than the man who reaps a field of grain should boast over the man who sowed it. The labour of both is equally necessary, and the labour of both would be useless if GOD did not give the increase. Comp. 1Cor 3:6.

2nd. We should not be discouraged if we do not meet with immediate success. The man that sows is not disheartened because he does not see the harvest immediately spring up. We are to sow our seed in the morning, and in the evening we are not to withhold our hand, for we know not whether shall prosper, this or that; and we are to go forth bearing precious seed, though weeping, knowing that we shall come again rejoicing, bearing our sheaves with us, Eccl 11:4, Ps 126:6

3rd. Every part of the work of the ministry and of teaching men is needful, and we should rejoice that we are permitted to bear any part, however humble, in bringing sinners to the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 1Cor 12:21-24.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · 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 4:38 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.

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
ἀπέστειλαapesteilasentG649
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
θερίζεινtherizeinto reapG2325
ὃhowhatG3739
οὐχouchnotG3756
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
κεκοπιάκατε·kekopiakatehave toiled for;G2872
ἄλλοιalloiothersG243
κεκοπιάκασιν,kekopiakasinhave toiled,G2872
καὶkaiandG2532
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
κόπονkoponlaborG2873
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
εἰσεληλύθατε.eiselēluthatehave entered.G1525

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

Cross references for John 4:38

  • John 1:7

    The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

  • Acts 10:42-43

    And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:15

    And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

  • 1 Peter 1:11-12

    Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

  • Acts 8:14-17

    Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

  • Acts 10:37-38

    That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  • Matthew 3:1-6

    In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. …

  • Acts 8:4-8

    Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. …

  • Acts 6:7

    And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

  • Matthew 11:8-13

    But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. …

  • Acts 5:14

    And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

  • Acts 4:4

    Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
sent.
Ac 2:41; 4:4,32; 5:14; 6:7; 8:4-8,14-17
other.
1:7; 2Ch 36:15; Jer 44:4; Mt 3:1-6; 4:23; 11:8-13; Ac 10:37,38,42,43
1Pe 1:11,12

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

Context

  • John 4:37

    And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

  • John 4:38

    I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

  • John 4:39

    And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

Read all of John 4

John 4:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo os he enviado á segar lo que vosotros no labrasteis: otros labraron, y vosotros habéis entrado en sus labores.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, je vous ai envoyés moissonner ce à quoi vous n’avez pas travaillé; d’autres ont travaillé, et vous, vous êtes entrés dans leur travail.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich habe euch gesandt, zu ernten, woran ihr nicht gearbeitet habt; andere haben gearbeitet, und ihr seid in ihre Arbeit eingetreten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego misi vos metere quod vos non laborastis: alii laboraverunt, et vos in labores eorum introistis.