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John 4:17 "I have no husband," the woman replied. Jesus said to her, "You are correct to say that you have no husband.
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Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered and said to Him, "I do not have a husband." Jesus says to her, "You have spoken correctly, 'I do not have a husband.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered and said to Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I do not have a husband’;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, I don’t have a husband,’” Jesus said. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The woman replied, "I don't have a husband." Jesus told her, "You're right when you say that you don't have a husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"I don't have a husband," she answered. Jesus replied, "You are right when you say you don't have a husband. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The woman answered him, "I don't have a husband." Jesus told her, "You are quite right in saying, 'I don't have a husband,' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?I have no husband,? the woman replied. Jesus said to her, ?You are correct to say that you have no husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The woman replied, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "Right you are when you said, 'I have no husband,'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered and said to him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You said well, 'I have no husband,'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"I have no husband," she replied. "You rightly say that you have no husband," said Jesus;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />the woman answered and said, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus says to her, “Well did you say—I do not have a husband;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered and said to Him, "I do not have a husband." Jesus says to her, "You have spoken correctly, 'I do not have a husband.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> the woman answered and said, 'I have not a husband.' Jesus saith to her, 'Well didst thou say -- A husband I have not;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus says to her, Thou sayest well, That I have no husband:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered, and said: I have no husband. Jesus said to her: Thou hast said well, I have no husband: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The woman responded and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her: “You have spoken well, in saying, ‘I have no husband.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />She said to him, I have no husband; Jesus said to her, You said well, I have no husband;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />She said to him, “I have no husband.” Yeshua said to her, “You have said correctly, “I have no husband.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />The woman answered and said: I have no husband. Jesus said to her: You have well said. I have no husband;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />The woman responded and said, I have no husband. Jesus says to her, <FR>Well didst thou say, I have no husband:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus saith to her, Thou hast spoken right, that thou hast no husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />the woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus replied, you were in the right to say you have no husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"I have no husband," she replied. "You rightly say that you have no husband," said Jesus;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus saith to her, <FR>"Well did you say, 'I have no husband;'<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />The woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, <FR>Thou hast said right, I have no husband:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/4-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=1033" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/4.htm">Jesus and the Samaritan Woman</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echō (V-PIA-1S) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">“I have</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: Ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">no</a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: andra (N-AMS) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.">husband,”</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1135.htm" title="1135: gynē (N-NFS) -- A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.">woman</a> <a href="/greek/611.htm" title="611: Apekrithē (V-AIP-3S) -- From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.">replied.</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say."></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: Legei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">said</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autē (PPro-DF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">to her,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipas (V-AIA-2S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">“You are</a> <a href="/greek/2573.htm" title="2573: Kalōs (Adv) -- Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.">correct to say</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">that</a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echō (V-PIA-1S) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">you have</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">no</a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: Andra (N-AMS) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.">husband.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">18</span>In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-11.htm">John 8:11</a></span><br />“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-18.htm">John 3:18-19</a></span><br />Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. / And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-53.htm">John 7:53-8:11</a></span><br />Then each went to his own home.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-23.htm">Romans 6:23</a></span><br />For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/1-8.htm">1 John 1:8-9</a></span><br />If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Matthew 5:32</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-9.htm">Matthew 19:9</a></span><br />Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/7-37.htm">Luke 7:37-50</a></span><br />When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. / As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume. / When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/15-11.htm">Luke 15:11-32</a></span><br />Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. / The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. / After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-11</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. / And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-17.htm">2 Corinthians 5:17</a></span><br />Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a></span><br />The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm">Ephesians 2:1-5</a></span><br />And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, / in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. / All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/4-13.htm">Hebrews 4:13</a></span><br />Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have well said, I have no husband:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/10-28.htm">Correctly</a> <a href="/john/4-16.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/john/4-16.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/3-21.htm">Right</a> <a href="/luke/20-21.htm">Rightly</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/13-13.htm">Correctly</a> <a href="/john/4-18.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/john/4-21.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/4-20.htm">Right</a> <a href="/john/8-48.htm">Rightly</a><div class="vheading2">John 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/4-1.htm">Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/4-27.htm">His disciples marvel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/4-31.htm">He declares to them his zeal for God's glory.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">39. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/4-39.htm">Many Samaritans believe on him.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">43. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/4-43.htm">He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>"I have no husband," the woman replied.</b><br>This phrase is part of the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. The woman's statement reflects her current marital status, which is significant in the context of her life and the cultural norms of the time. In first-century Samaria, marriage was a central institution, and a woman's identity was often tied to her husband. Her admission of having no husband reveals her vulnerability and possibly her social marginalization, as later verses indicate she had multiple past relationships. This interaction occurs at Jacob's well, a significant historical and religious site for both Jews and Samaritans, symbolizing a place of divine encounter and revelation.<p><b>Jesus said to her,</b><br>Jesus' response to the woman is notable for its directness and compassion. In a cultural context where Jewish men typically avoided public conversations with women, especially Samaritan women, Jesus' engagement with her breaks social norms and demonstrates His mission to reach all people, regardless of gender or ethnicity. This encounter foreshadows the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles, a theme that is further developed in the New Testament.<p><b>"You are correct to say that you have no husband."</b><br>Jesus acknowledges the truth of the woman's statement, which serves to establish His omniscience and authority. By affirming her honesty, Jesus opens the door for a deeper spiritual conversation. This acknowledgment also highlights Jesus' role as a prophet, as He reveals knowledge of her personal life that she had not disclosed. This moment is a turning point in the narrative, leading to the woman's recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. Theologically, this interaction illustrates the concept of Jesus as the "Living Water," offering spiritual fulfillment beyond physical or relational needs.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_samaritan_woman.htm">The Samaritan Woman</a></b><br>A central figure in this passage, she encounters Jesus at Jacob's well. Her conversation with Jesus reveals her personal life and spiritual thirst.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a></b><br>The Messiah who engages the Samaritan woman in a transformative dialogue, revealing His knowledge of her life and offering her living water.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob's_well.htm">Jacob's Well</a></b><br>A significant location in Samaria where Jesus meets the woman. It symbolizes the historical and spiritual heritage of the Jewish people.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/samaria.htm">Samaria</a></b><br>A region often avoided by Jews due to historical enmity, yet Jesus intentionally travels through it, breaking social norms to reach out to the Samaritan woman.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_dialogue.htm">The Dialogue</a></b><br>The conversation between Jesus and the woman, which reveals deep spiritual truths and leads to the woman's transformation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/honesty_before_god.htm">Honesty Before God</a></b><br>The Samaritan woman's admission, "I have no husband," reflects the importance of honesty in our relationship with God. Jesus knows our hearts and desires truthfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/j/jesus'_omniscience.htm">Jesus' Omniscience</a></b><br>Jesus' knowledge of the woman's life demonstrates His divine omniscience. We can trust that He knows us fully and still offers grace.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/b/breaking_social_barriers.htm">Breaking Social Barriers</a></b><br>Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman shows His willingness to break social and cultural barriers to reach the lost. We are called to do the same in our evangelism.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_water.htm">Living Water</a></b><br>Jesus offers living water, symbolizing eternal life and the Holy Spirit. We should seek this spiritual sustenance above all else.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/transformation_through_encounter.htm">Transformation Through Encounter</a></b><br>The woman's encounter with Jesus leads to her transformation and testimony. Our encounters with Christ should lead to personal change and a desire to share the Gospel.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_jesus_know_her_life_details.htm">How can we reconcile Jesus knowing specific details about the woman’s life (John 4:17–18) with naturalistic explanations? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_biblical_garments_of_skin.htm">What is unknowingly worshiping according to the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_jesus_meeting_the_samaritan_woman_important.htm">What is the significance of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_sozo_prayer.htm">What is Sozo Prayer?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">I have no husband.</span>--The stroke has left its mark. It lays bare to her own consciousness the past and present life, but she does not know that it is laid bare to His. The reply is no longer prefaced by the half-sarcastic "Thou, being a Jew," or the reverential "Sir." The tone has passed from vivacity to earnestness, and from earnestness to sadness. That one word--what a history it has revealed! But she will hide it from Him and from herself. "I have no husband" (or, according to the Sinaitic MS., more emphatically still, <span class= "ital">A husband I have not</span>)<span class= "ital">.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 17, 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The woman answered, and said to him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou said correctly, Husband have I none: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband. This true thing hast thou spoken.</span> The woman resists the description which Jesus assumes that she bears to the man with whom she stands in illegal relations. Convinced, brought to bay, she cannot lie to Jesus. She says, in penitence and shame, "I have no husband." There is no concealment of the fact; she must need the cleansing of the life-giving stream. Jesus, not without a tone of solemn remonstrance, accuses her of a life of loose morals. It is implied that the first five husbands were conventionally allowable; but the suggestion is that, either by divorce or wanton rushing to further nuptials if the former had been ruptured by death, her character had been ever deteriorating until, under present circumstances, she was committing an overt act of illegality and impurity. "In saying thou hast no husband, thou hast spoken to the point, and for the reasons I recite thou hast made a true statement." As the woman in ver. 27 tells her friends "He told me all things that ever I did," we may easily believe that she felt, under his searching glance, that no folly, no weakness, no rebellious deed, no damning compromise, was hidden from him. How much more he said we can only conjecture. The revelation thus recorded is akin to other events in our Lord's life, which we cannot account for by the supposition that information concerning her had been conveyed by some rumour which thus he flashed upon her. This would suffer from the intolerable supposition that his claim to have prophetic light was a self-conscious fraud, and that by such a subterfuge the entire Samaritan mission had been characterized and controlled. Lunge thought that the definite traces of the five marriages were in some mysterious fashion hieroglyphed upon her face. This is a great extravagance of the working of natural law, to avoid the supernatural perception which our Lord exercised whenever he chose to draw upon the inexhaustible resources and powers at his disposal. Hengstenberg ('Contributions to Genuineness of the Pentateuch,' and in his 'Commentary'), while he recognizes the historical fact here mentioned and penetrated by our Lord, considered that there was a twofold meaning in our Lord's reply. Thou hast had five husbands; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> there were five gods - those of Cuthah, Babylon, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 9:14, 3; <a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">2 Kings 17:24</a>), whose worship by spiritual adultery the Samaritan people (of which you are a representative) have tolerated, and HE, Jehovah, whom thou now hast by surreptitious claim, is not thy covenanted Lord. Unfortunately, this too ingenious interpretation fails, first of all in this, that to the five nations <span class="accented">seven</span> gods are reckoned (<a href="/2_kings/17-30.htm">2 Kings 17:30, 31</a>). Again, it is inconceivable that the worship of Jehovah should be represented as on a par with these idolatries, and that Jehovah himself should be set forth as the sixth and worst of the theocratic husbands of the Samaritan state. Nor can we suppose that Christ, who said such wondrous things about the spirituality and the love of God to man, and was in the same breath about to utter one of the grandest of them, should thus have poured contumely on the Samaritan worship of Jehovah. Thoma practically adopts Hengstenberg's speculative interpretation. Strauss (1st and 2nd edit. 'Leb. Jes.') made use of Hengstenberg's admission to find in the whole narrative a mythical fiction; and Keim has only made matters worse by ascribing the entire narrative to the unknown author of the Fourth Gospel. Christ's own Divine penetration revealed the woman to herself, and she knew how hateful her life must have been in his sight. She made no attempt at denial, or concealment, or self-justification. The events referred to had burnt themselves on her memory, and her only refuge is in a bold admission of the right of the unknown Stranger to teach. She concedes his claim to solve perplexities, and penetrate other mysteries as well as the depths of her own heart. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/4-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">“I have</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔχω</span> <span class="translit">(echō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> </span><span class="str2">To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">no</span><br /><span class="grk">Οὐκ</span> <span class="translit">(Ouk)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> </span><span class="str2">No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">husband,”</span><br /><span class="grk">ἄνδρα</span> <span class="translit">(andra)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_435.htm">Strong's 435: </a> </span><span class="str2">A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">ἡ</span> <span class="translit">(hē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">woman</span><br /><span class="grk">γυνὴ</span> <span class="translit">(gynē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> </span><span class="str2">A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied.</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἀπεκρίθη</span> <span class="translit">(Apekrithē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_611.htm">Strong's 611: </a> </span><span class="str2">From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jesus</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰησοῦς</span> <span class="translit">(Iēsous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">said</span><br /><span class="grk">Λέγει</span> <span class="translit">(Legei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">to her,</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτῇ</span> <span class="translit">(autē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“You are</span><br /><span class="grk">εἶπας</span> <span class="translit">(eipas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> </span><span class="str2">Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">correct {to say}</span><br /><span class="grk">Καλῶς</span> <span class="translit">(Kalōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2573.htm">Strong's 2573: </a> </span><span class="str2">Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="grk">ὅτι</span> <span class="translit">(hoti)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> </span><span class="str2">Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you have</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔχω</span> <span class="translit">(echō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> </span><span class="str2">To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">no</span><br /><span class="grk">οὐκ</span> <span class="translit">(ouk)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> </span><span class="str2">No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">husband.</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἄνδρα</span> <span class="translit">(Andra)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_435.htm">Strong's 435: </a> </span><span class="str2">A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/4-17.htm">John 4:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/4-17.htm">NT Gospels: John 4:17 The woman answered I have no husband (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/4-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 4:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 4:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/4-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 4:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 4:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>