John 4:18

KJV

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} thou hast had {G2192} five {G4002} husbands {G435}; and {G2532} he whom {G3739} thou {G2192} now {G3568} hast {G2192} is {G2076} not {G3756} thy {G4675} husband {G435}: in that {G5124} saidst thou {G2046} truly {G227}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You’ve had five husbands in the past, and you’re not married to the man you’re living with now! You’ve spoken the truth!”

Berean Standard Bible

In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”

American Standard Version

for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In John 4:18, Jesus reveals His divine knowledge of the Samaritan woman's complex marital history, stating she has had five husbands and the man she is currently with is not her husband. This direct and accurate pronouncement elicits her immediate and truthful acknowledgment, marking a pivotal moment in their conversation where her spiritual defenses begin to crumble, paving the way for a deeper revelation of Jesus' identity as the Messiah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a critical turning point within Jesus' extended dialogue with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in [John 4](/john/4 "John 4 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman"). The conversation begins with Jesus' unconventional request for water, quickly transitioning to His offer of "living water" that quenches spiritual thirst forever ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - The Offer of Living Water")). When the woman, perhaps feeling convicted or attempting to deflect, mentions her physical need for water, Jesus abruptly shifts the focus from the metaphorical "living water" to her personal life. His precise knowledge of her private affairs, culminating in the statement of [John 4:18](/john/4-18 "John 4:18 - Jesus Reveals the Samaritan Woman's Past"), serves to authenticate His prophetic authority and prepare her to receive the deeper spiritual truths He is about to reveal concerning true worship ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True Worship in Spirit and Truth")) and His messianic identity ([John 4:25-26](/john/4-25-26 "John 4:25-26 - Jesus Reveals Himself as Messiah")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The encounter itself is replete with cultural transgressions that highlight Jesus' boundary-breaking ministry. First, Jews typically avoided Samaritans, viewing them as ethnically and religiously impure, stemming from their mixed heritage and syncretistic worship practices at Mount Gerizim ([John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jews Have No Dealings with Samaritans")). Second, it was highly unusual and socially improper for a Jewish man, especially a rabbi, to engage in public conversation with a woman, let alone a Samaritan woman, alone. Her multiple marriages and current cohabitation likely rendered her an outcast even within her own community, suggested by her coming to the well during the hottest part of the day, typically when other women would avoid the heat and the social interaction. Jesus' willingness to engage her, despite these societal barriers and her complex personal history, underscores His radical compassion and inclusive mission to all people, regardless of their social standing or past sins.
* **Key Themes:** [John 4:18](/john/4-18 "John 4:18 - Jesus Reveals the Samaritan Woman's Past") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Gospel of John and this specific chapter. Foremost is the theme of **Jesus' Divine Omniscience**, demonstrating His supernatural knowledge not gained through ordinary means. This is a recurring motif in John, where Jesus "knew all people" and "needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man" ([John 2:24-25](/john/2-24-25 "John 2:24-25 - Jesus Knew All People")). Another key theme is **Truth and Revelation**, as Jesus' words expose the woman's hidden reality, prompting her to acknowledge the truth about herself. This confrontation is not for condemnation but for **Redemption and Transformation**, as it leads her to acknowledge Jesus as a prophet and ultimately as the Messiah, catalyzing her spiritual awakening and subsequent evangelism to her village ([John 4:28-30](/john/4-28-30 "John 4:28-30 - The Woman's Testimony")). The encounter also highlights **Jesus' Breaking of Social Barriers**, extending grace and salvation beyond traditional religious, ethnic, and gender divides.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **échō (Greek, _echō'_):** This verb, translated as "hast had" and "hast" in the KJV, signifies "to hold, to have, to possess." In this context, it refers to the woman's past and present relationships. The repeated use emphasizes her continuous state of seeking and acquiring partners, yet never finding true, legitimate marital fulfillment. It underscores a pattern of possession without true belonging or covenant.
* **anḗr (Greek, _anēr'_):** Translated as "husbands" and "husband," this word specifically denotes "a man, properly as an individual male," often used in the sense of a husband. Its use here highlights the legal and social status of her relationships. Jesus' declaration that "he whom thou now hast is not thy husband" directly challenges the legitimacy of her current cohabitation, exposing it as outside the covenant of marriage.
* **alēthḗs (Greek, _alēthēs'_):** This adjective, translated as "truly," means "true (as not concealing)." It emphasizes the absolute accuracy and undeniable nature of Jesus' statement. The woman's immediate response, "in that saidst thou truly," signifies her recognition that Jesus' words are not merely accurate but profoundly revealing, striking at the core of her hidden reality and leaving no room for denial or pretense.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For thou hast had five husbands;":** Jesus directly addresses the woman's complex and likely scandalous past. The number "five" is specific and implies a pattern of failed or dissolved marital unions, possibly through divorce or death, but certainly indicating a restless search for security, identity, or fulfillment in relationships that ultimately proved transient or illegitimate. This statement immediately establishes Jesus' supernatural knowledge.
* **"and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband:":** This clause exposes her current living situation as illicit. While she may be cohabiting with a man, Jesus declares that this relationship lacks the legitimate status of marriage ("is not thy husband"). This reveals not only her past but also her present state of spiritual and social irregularity, underscoring her deep need for true "living water" that transcends physical and relational dependencies.
* **"in that saidst thou truly.":** This is the woman's immediate and profound response. Her simple affirmation, "truly," signifies a moment of complete honesty and vulnerability. She recognizes the absolute accuracy of Jesus' words, confirming His divine insight. This acknowledgment is crucial; it is the point at which her defenses drop, and she becomes open to the spiritual truths Jesus is offering, recognizing Him as more than an ordinary man.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in [John 4:18](/john/4-18 "John 4:18 - Jesus Reveals the Samaritan Woman's Past") is **Revelation** through **Divine Omniscience**. Jesus' precise knowledge of the woman's private marital history, which He could not have known by natural means, serves as a powerful revelation of His divine nature and prophetic authority. This act of knowing and speaking truth into her hidden life functions as a **Direct Confrontation**, yet it is delivered not with condemnation but with a compassionate purpose to expose her spiritual need and draw her to repentance and faith. The woman's response, "in that saidst thou truly," exemplifies **Verisimilitude**, as her immediate and unhesitating affirmation validates Jesus' words and underscores the shocking accuracy of His insight, making the divine encounter feel profoundly real and impactful.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 4:18 powerfully illustrates God's intimate knowledge of humanity, not as a means for judgment, but as a pathway to redemptive encounter. Jesus' ability to see beyond the surface and expose the woman's hidden life demonstrates His divine nature and His profound awareness of every individual's past, present, and deepest needs. This theological truth underscores that no aspect of our lives is hidden from God, yet His knowledge is always coupled with an invitation to grace and transformation. The woman's truthful confession, prompted by Jesus' revelation, highlights the critical role of honesty and vulnerability before God as prerequisites for spiritual healing and genuine relationship.

* [John 2:25](/john/2-25 "Jesus Knew What Was in Man")
* [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalms/139-1-4 "God's Omniscience and Presence")
* [Proverbs 28:13](/proverbs/28-13 "Confession and Forgiveness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound truth of [John 4:18](/john/4-18 "John 4:18 - Jesus Reveals the Samaritan Woman's Past") resonates deeply with every individual, reminding us that Jesus knows us completely – our past mistakes, our current struggles, and our deepest longings. His knowledge is not for the purpose of shaming or condemning us, but rather to meet us at the point of our need, expose our spiritual thirst, and offer the "living water" that truly satisfies. Like the Samaritan woman, we are invited to drop our defenses, be honest about our lives, and acknowledge the truth that Jesus reveals. This vulnerability, far from exposing us to judgment, opens the door for His boundless grace, forgiveness, and the transformative power of a genuine relationship with Him. This passage encourages us to embrace honesty before God, trusting that His perfect knowledge is always accompanied by perfect love and a desire for our restoration.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' complete knowledge of your past and present make you feel? Is it comforting or unsettling, and why?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be resisting honesty with God, similar to the woman's initial deflection?**
* **What steps can you take to embrace greater transparency before God, allowing His truth to bring healing and transformation?**
* **How does Jesus' compassionate yet direct approach to the Samaritan woman inform how we should engage with others who are struggling or living in ways contrary to God's will?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus bring up the Samaritan woman's marital history so abruptly?**

Answer: Jesus' abrupt revelation of the woman's marital history was not a random or judgmental act, but a divinely strategic move designed to expose her deepest spiritual need and validate His own identity. By demonstrating His supernatural knowledge, Jesus bypassed her initial deflections and established His authority as a prophet, or even more, in her eyes. This direct, yet compassionate, confrontation of her hidden life served to break through her spiritual barriers, leading her to acknowledge the truth about herself and, subsequently, to recognize Jesus as the Messiah who could offer true "living water" and fulfillment that her past relationships had failed to provide ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - The Offer of Living Water")). It was an act of grace, not condemnation, intended to draw her into a transformative encounter.

**What is the significance of the woman having "five husbands" and her current partner not being her husband?**

Answer: The specific detail of "five husbands" and her current illicit relationship is highly significant. The number five often suggests a restless, unfulfilled search, indicating that the woman had sought satisfaction, security, or identity in multiple relationships, none of which brought lasting peace or legitimate belonging. Her current cohabitation further underscored her spiritual and social marginalization. Theologically, this detail highlights her profound spiritual thirst and the futility of seeking ultimate fulfillment in human relationships or worldly pursuits. Jesus' revelation of this intimate history exposed her deep need for the "living water" that only He could provide, a water that would truly satisfy her longing for belonging, acceptance, and a legitimate relationship with God ([John 4:13-14](/john/4-13-14 "John 4:13-14 - The Living Water")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 4:18](/john/4-18 "John 4:18 - Jesus Reveals the Samaritan Woman's Past") finds its Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus as the ultimate revealer of truth and the compassionate Savior who knows humanity's deepest brokenness yet offers complete restoration. Just as Jesus saw past the Samaritan woman's outward appearance and social standing to the core of her relational longing and spiritual thirst, so too does He see into the hearts of all humanity. His divine omniscience, demonstrated here, is not for condemnation but for salvation, revealing sin not to shame, but to invite confession and healing. He is the one before whom "no creature is hidden, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" ([Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "All Things Are Naked Before God")), yet He came not to condemn the world but to save it ([John 3:17](/john/3-17 "John 3:17 - God Sent His Son to Save the World")). In Jesus, the one who knows our five "husbands" – our failed attempts to find fulfillment outside of Him – and our current illicit attachments, we find the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His knowledge is the foundation for His grace, proving that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God Demonstrates His Love")). He is the true "husband" to His church, offering a covenant relationship that satisfies every longing and brings lasting peace to those who come to Him, confessing their truth ([1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "Confession of Sins")) and finding rest for their weary souls ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Come to Me, All Who Labor")).

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.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 3:20

¶ Surely [as] a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

1 Corinthians 7:10

¶ And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband:

1 Corinthians 7:11

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife.

Mark 10:12

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Genesis 34:7

And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard [it]: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

Genesis 34:8

And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.

Ezekiel 16:32

[But as] a wife that committeth adultery, [which] taketh strangers instead of her husband!