John 4 · Verse 39

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.
John 4:39, King James Version

John 4:39 in other translations

BSBMany of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
WEBFrom that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I have done.”
ASVAnd from that city many of the Samaritans believed on him because of the word of the woman, who testified, He told me all things that ever I did.
YLTAnd from that city many believed in him, of the Samaritans, because of the word of the woman testifying, --‘He told me all things--as many as I did.'
DARBYBut many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him because of the word of the woman who bore witness, He told me all things that I had ever done.
BBENow a number of the people of that town had faith in him because of the woman's witness: He has been talking to me of everything I ever did.
WebsterAnd many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, who testified, He told me all that ever I did.

What does John 4:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 4:39-42
39-42. many ... believed, &c.--The truth of Joh 4:35 begins to appear. These Samaritans were the foundation of the Church afterwards built up there. No miracle appears to have been wrought there (but unparalleled supernatural knowledge displayed): "we have heard Him ourselves" (Joh 4:42) sufficed to raise their faith to a point never attained by the Jews, and hardly as yet by the disciples--that He was "the Saviour of the world" [Alford]. "This incident is further remarkable as a rare instance of the Lord's ministry producing an awakening on a large scale" [Olshausen].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 39-42. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him, &c. There is seldom an instance of so remarkable success as this. From a single conversation, in Circumstances, in a place, and with an individual little likely to be attended with such results, many sinners were converted; many believed on the testimony of the woman; many more came to hear, and believed because they heard him themselves. We should never despair of doing good in the most unpromising circumstances, and we should seize upon every opportunity to converse with sinners on the great subject of their souls' salvation.

(a) "for the testimony" Jn 4:29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 Many of the Samaritans - believed on him for the saying of the woman - This woman was the first apostle of Christ in Samaria! She went and told her fellow citizens that the Messiah was come; and gave for proof, that he had told her the most secret things she had ever done: see on Joh 4:29 (note). This word, which is twice repeated, in Joh 4:29 and here, strongly intimates that a more particular conversation had taken place, between our Lord and the Samaritan woman, than what is here related.

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 4:39 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.

ἐκekOut ofG1537
δὲdenowG1161
τῆςtēstheG3588
πόλεωςpoleōscityG4172
ἐκείνηςekeinēsthatG1565
πολλοὶpolloimanyG4183
ἐπίστευσανepisteusanbelievedG4100
εἰςeisinG1519
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ΣαμαριτῶνSamaritōnSamaritansG4541
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
τῆςtēsof theG3588
γυναικὸςgunaikoswomanG1135
μαρτυρούσηςmarturousēstestifyingG3140
ὅτιhotithatG3754
εἶπένeipenHe toldG2036
μοιmoimeG3165
πάνταpantaall thingsG3956
ἃhawhateverG3739
ἐποίησα.epoiēsaI did.G4160

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

Cross references for John 4:39

  • John 4:29

    Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

  • John 4:5

    Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

  • John 10:41-42

    And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there.

  • John 11:45

    Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

  • John 4:42

    And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
many.
10:41,42; 11:45
for.
29,42

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

Context

  • 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.

  • John 4:40

    So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

Read all of John 4

John 4:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y muchos de los Samaritanos de aquella ciudad creyeron en él por la palabra de la mujer, que daba testimonio, diciendo: Que me dijo todo lo que he hecho.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or plusieurs des Samaritains de cette ville-là crurent en lui, à cause de la parole de la femme qui avait rendu témoignage: Il m’a dit tout ce que j’ai fait.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aus jener Stadt aber glaubten viele von den Samaritern an ihn um des Wortes des Weibes willen, welches bezeugte: Er hat mir alles gesagt, was irgend ich getan habe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ex civitate autem illa multi crediderunt in eum Samaritanorum, propter verbum mulieris testimonium perhibentis: Quia dixit mihi omnia quæcumque feci.