John 4:17

KJV

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

KJV (with Strong's)

The woman {G1135} answered {G611} and {G2532} said {G2036}, I have {G2192} no {G3756} husband {G435}. Jesus {G2424} said {G3004} unto her {G846}, Thou hast {G2036} well {G2573} said {G2036},{G3754} I have {G2192} no {G3756} husband {G435}:

Complete Jewish Bible

She answered, “I don’t have a husband.” Yeshua said to her, “You’re right, you don’t have a husband!

Berean Standard Bible

“I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband.

American Standard Version

The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 4:17 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, where her seemingly straightforward declaration, "I have no husband," is met with Jesus's profound and affirming response, "Thou hast well said, I have no husband." This exchange, following Jesus's request for her to call her husband, serves as a delicate yet powerful transition, revealing His supernatural insight into her life and setting the stage for a deeper revelation of His divine identity and her need for true spiritual living.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the extended and profoundly significant dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, which begins in [John 4:7](/john/4-7 "John 4:7 - Jesus Asks for Water"). Following Jesus's offer of "living water" that satisfies eternal thirst ([John 4:10-15](/john/4-10-15 "John 4:10-15 - Jesus Offers Living Water")), the conversation shifts dramatically when Jesus, with divine insight, directs her to "Go, call thy husband, and come hither" ([John 4:16](/john/4-16 "John 4:16 - Jesus's Direct Question")). Her response in [John 4:17](/john/4-17 "John 4:17 - The Woman's Partial Truth") is a direct reply to this command, initiating a critical turning point where Jesus moves from general spiritual truths to a specific, personal revelation, demonstrating His intimate knowledge of her life before she even fully understands who He is. This personal revelation then paves the way for a discussion on true worship ([John 4:20-24](/john/4-20-24 "John 4:20-24 - True Worship in Spirit and Truth")) and His self-disclosure as the Messiah ([John 4:25-26](/john/4-25-26 "John 4:25-26 - Jesus Reveals Himself as the Messiah")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting at Jacob's well in Samaria is critical. Samaritans were a mixed race, despised by orthodox Jews, and there was deep-seated animosity between the two groups ([John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jewish-Samaritan Enmity")). For a Jewish man, especially a rabbi, to initiate conversation with a Samaritan woman, let alone ask for water, was highly unconventional and culturally scandalous. Furthermore, the woman's presence at the well during the hottest part of the day (noon) rather than the cooler morning or evening hours, suggests she was avoiding the other women of the village, hinting at her marginalized social status likely due to her marital history. In that patriarchal society, a woman's status was largely defined by her relationship to a man, especially a husband. Her having had multiple husbands and currently none would have made her an outcast, making Jesus's gentle yet direct approach all the more remarkable and counter-cultural.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel of John and the broader narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Omniscience**, as Jesus's affirmation of her partial truth immediately precedes His full revelation of her past in [John 4:18](/john/4-18 "John 4:18 - Jesus Reveals Her Past"), demonstrating His supernatural knowledge of human hearts and lives, a theme echoed in His knowledge of Nathanael ([John 1:48](/john/1-48 "John 1:48 - Jesus Knows Nathanael")). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Truth and Transparency**, as Jesus gently but firmly guides the woman from a deceptive half-truth to a confrontation with her full reality, suggesting that genuine spiritual encounter requires honesty before God. Thirdly, it exemplifies **Graceful Confrontation and Evangelism**, showcasing Jesus's method of drawing individuals to Himself not through condemnation, but through compassionate engagement and a strategic revelation of truth that leads to conviction and ultimately, faith ([John 4:29](/john/4-29 "John 4:29 - The Woman's Testimony")). This encounter serves as a model for how the divine can meet the human in a way that is both convicting and redemptive.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **answered (Greek, _apokrínomai'_):** From G611, meaning "to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)." The woman's "answer" is not merely a verbal reply but a decisive response to Jesus's probing question, a moment where she must "conclude for herself" how much truth to reveal. This word emphasizes that her statement is a direct, albeit guarded, reaction to Jesus's specific inquiry.
* **well (Greek, _kalōs'_):** From G2573, an adverb meaning "well (usually morally)." Jesus's affirmation "Thou hast well said" uses this term, indicating that her statement is factually "right" or "correct" in the present moment. It's not an endorsement of her past or present lifestyle, but a precise acknowledgement of the accuracy of her current marital status, serving to establish a basis of trust and to prepare her for the deeper revelation of His omniscience.
* **husband (Greek, _anḗr'_):** From G435, a primary word meaning "a man (properly as an individual male); used here in the context of a marital partner." The woman's denial of having an "anēr" (husband) is technically true, as she is not legally married to the man she is currently living with. This word highlights the specific marital status being discussed and sets up the dramatic reveal in the subsequent verse regarding her multiple past relationships.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The woman answered and said, I have no husband."**: This clause presents the woman's immediate and seemingly straightforward response to Jesus's command in [John 4:16](/john/4-16 "John 4:16 - Jesus Asks for Her Husband"). Her declaration is factually true in the present moment, as she is not currently married, but it is also a deliberate evasion of the fuller, more complex truth of her past and current living situation. It reveals her attempt to maintain a degree of privacy or perhaps shame, while still providing a technically accurate answer.
* **"Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:"**: Jesus's response is profound and multi-layered. His affirmation, "Thou hast well said," acknowledges the factual correctness of her statement regarding her present marital status. However, the repetition of "I have no husband" from Jesus's lips, immediately following her own, carries a deeper weight. It signals not merely agreement, but a divine recognition of her words, preparing the ground for the revelation of His omniscience in the very next verse. This affirmation is a strategic move, validating her partial truth before exposing the full truth.

#### Literary Devices
John 4:17 masterfully employs several literary devices to advance the narrative and deepen its theological impact. **Irony** is prominent, as the woman's statement, intended as a partial truth to deflect further inquiry, is met by Jesus's affirmation which, ironically, serves to confirm His divine knowledge and set the stage for a complete revelation. This creates **Dramatic Irony**, where the reader understands the full implications of Jesus's words (His omniscience) long before the woman does. The **Repetition** of "I have no husband" by both the woman and Jesus is significant; while spoken identically, the meaning shifts from the woman's evasion to Jesus's knowing affirmation, highlighting the stark contrast between human concealment and divine insight. This moment also serves as a subtle form of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the deeper truths Jesus is about to reveal concerning her past, thereby building suspense and anticipation for the subsequent verses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 4:17 underscores the profound theological truth of God's perfect knowledge of humanity, even our most hidden realities and partial truths. Jesus's gentle yet penetrating affirmation demonstrates that divine omniscience is not merely an abstract attribute but an active, compassionate engagement with the human condition. He knows our past, our present circumstances, and our attempts to conceal or deflect, yet He approaches us with grace, not condemnation. This encounter highlights that true spiritual transformation begins with honesty before God, who already knows us completely and desires to lead us into full truth and freedom. His method of revealing truth through affirmation rather than accusation is a powerful model of redemptive confrontation.

* [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalm/139-1-4 "Psalm 139:1-4 - God's Omniscience")
* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - All Things Are Naked Before God")
* [Proverbs 28:13](/proverbs/28-13 "Proverbs 28:13 - Confession and Mercy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This brief exchange in John 4:17 offers profound lessons for our own spiritual journey. It reminds us that Jesus sees beyond our carefully constructed facades and partial truths, knowing the full reality of our lives, including our past mistakes and present struggles. Yet, His response is not one of harsh judgment, but of gentle, knowing affirmation, inviting us into deeper transparency. This should encourage us to approach God with complete honesty, knowing that He already knows, and His desire is always to heal, restore, and lead us to living water. We are called to lay aside our evasions and embrace the freedom that comes from being fully known and fully loved by Him. Just as the Samaritan woman was drawn into deeper revelation by Jesus's grace, so too are we invited to trust His perfect knowledge and loving intention.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be offering God a "partial truth" rather than full transparency?**
* **How does Jesus's gentle yet knowing affirmation in this verse challenge your perceptions of divine judgment versus divine grace?**
* **What steps can you take to cultivate greater honesty and vulnerability in your relationship with God?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Jesus's seemingly simple affirmation, "Thou hast well said, I have no husband," in this context?**

Answer: Jesus's affirmation is deeply significant because it serves multiple strategic purposes. Firstly, it acknowledges the factual accuracy of the woman's statement in the present moment, establishing a surprising point of agreement and trust. This validates her words, even though they are a partial truth. Secondly, and more profoundly, it demonstrates Jesus's divine omniscience. By affirming her statement, He subtly reveals that He knows the full context of her life, including the nuances of her marital history that she is attempting to conceal. This prepares her for the explicit revelation of [John 4:18](/john/4-18 "John 4:18 - Jesus Reveals Her Past"), where He details her five previous husbands and her current unmarried cohabitation. His "well said" is not an endorsement of her lifestyle, but a strategic, gentle, and knowing response that draws her further into a transformative encounter with the Truth Himself. It is an act of grace that disarms her and opens her heart to receive His deeper revelation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 4:17, though seemingly a simple exchange, is deeply Christ-centered in its implications, revealing Jesus as the ultimate revealer of truth and the compassionate High Priest who understands our human condition. In this moment, Jesus embodies the divine light that exposes darkness, not to condemn, but to bring healing and salvation. He is the one who knows the secrets of the heart, as prophesied in [Jeremiah 17:10](/jeremiah/17-10 "Jeremiah 17:10 - The Lord Searches the Heart"), and yet He approaches with profound grace. His ability to see beyond the woman's partial truth to her deeper spiritual need foreshadows His redemptive work on the cross, where He fully bore the weight of human sin and deception, offering complete forgiveness and a new life rooted in truth. He is the "living water" who satisfies the deepest thirst of the soul ([John 4:10](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus Offers Living Water")), and His encounter with the Samaritan woman demonstrates how He, as the Good Shepherd, seeks out the lost and marginalized, revealing their need and offering Himself as the solution. Ultimately, this verse points to Jesus as the one who brings light to every hidden corner of our lives, not to shame us, but to lead us into the glorious freedom found in knowing and embracing the full truth of His transformative love ([John 8:32](/john/8-32 "John 8:32 - The Truth Sets You Free")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.