John 4:29

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Come {G1205}, see {G1492} a man {G444}, which {G3739} told {G2036} me {G3427} all things {G3956} that ever {G3745} I did {G4160}: is {G2076} not {G3385} this {G3778} the Christ {G5547}?

Complete Jewish Bible

“Come, see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could it be that this is the Messiah?”

Berean Standard Bible

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

American Standard Version

Come, see a man, who told me all things that ever I did: can this be the Christ?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 4:29 captures the Samaritan woman's immediate and profound transformation after her encounter with Jesus at Jacob's Well. Overwhelmed by His supernatural insight into her past, she rushes back to her town, not with shame, but with an urgent, compelling invitation to her community to "Come, see a man," culminating in the pivotal question, "is not this the Christ?" This verse marks her transition from a private seeker to a public herald, demonstrating the irresistible power of divine revelation and the dawning recognition of Jesus' messianic identity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climactic turning point in the extended narrative of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman, detailed in [John 4:1-42](/john/4-1-42 "John 4:1-42 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman"). Following Jesus' revelation of her personal history in [John 4:16-18](/john/4-16-18 "John 4:16-18 - Jesus Reveals the Woman's Past"), the woman's initial skepticism and theological questions give way to profound conviction. Her immediate departure from the well, leaving her waterpot behind as mentioned in [John 4:28](/john/4-28 "John 4:28 - The Woman Leaves Her Waterpot"), signifies the overwhelming urgency of her discovery. This verse is the direct catalyst for the subsequent events, where many Samaritans come to believe in Jesus because of her testimony, as recorded in [John 4:39-42](/john/4-39-42 "John 4:39-42 - Many Samaritans Believe").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman was culturally revolutionary. Jews and Samaritans had deep-seated ethnic and religious animosity, stemming from historical conflicts and differing views on proper worship, as highlighted in [John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jews and Samaritans Do Not Associate") and [John 4:20](/john/4-20 "John 4:20 - The Mountain of Worship"). Furthermore, a Jewish man speaking to a Samaritan woman, especially one with her social standing (implied by her multiple husbands), was highly unconventional. Her public testimony, despite her past, demonstrates the radical inclusiveness of Jesus' ministry and the power of personal transformation to overcome societal stigmas. The expectation of the Messiah, or "Christ," was prevalent among both Jews and Samaritans, though their understanding of His role might have differed.
* **Key Themes:** John 4:29 powerfully encapsulates several key themes central to the Gospel of John. It highlights **Divine Revelation**, as Jesus' supernatural knowledge of the woman's life serves as undeniable proof of His unique identity, transcending mere human understanding. This personal revelation leads directly to **Messianic Recognition**, as the woman moves from identifying Jesus as a prophet to questioning if He is the long-awaited Christ. The verse also underscores the theme of **Urgent Witness and Evangelism**, portraying the woman as an immediate and unashamed evangelist, demonstrating that a genuine encounter with Jesus naturally compels one to share the good news. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Breaking Down Barriers**, as Jesus' ministry extends beyond traditional boundaries to embrace the marginalized and unexpected, foreshadowing the universal scope of the gospel message found throughout John's Gospel, such as in [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Come (Greek, _deûte_):** This imperative verb is an urgent summons, literally meaning "come hither!" or "come here!" It conveys a strong sense of invitation and immediacy, reflecting the woman's profound conviction and her desire for others to experience what she has. It's not a casual suggestion but a pressing call to action, urging her fellow townspeople to personally encounter the source of her revelation.
* **told (Greek, _épō_):** This verb signifies speaking or saying, often with the nuance of declaring or proclaiming. In this context, it emphasizes the authoritative and revelatory nature of Jesus' words. He didn't merely guess or deduce; He "told" her, implying a direct, accurate, and divinely-sourced disclosure of her hidden life, which was the basis of her conviction.
* **Christ (Greek, _Christós_):** This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah" (_Mashiach_), meaning "Anointed One." It refers to the long-awaited deliverer, king, and savior prophesied in the Old Testament. The woman's question, "is not this the Christ?", reveals a dawning realization of Jesus' ultimate identity, moving beyond prophet to the very fulfillment of Israel's deepest hopes. Her use of this term indicates a significant leap in her understanding of who Jesus is.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Come, see a man,"**: This is an urgent, direct invitation from the Samaritan woman to her townspeople. It's a call to observe and experience, not just to hear. The phrase "a man" is intentionally understated, contrasting with the profound revelation she has just received, creating a sense of intrigue and mystery that compels her audience to investigate.
* **"which told me all things that ever I did:"**: This clause serves as the powerful evidence for her claim. The phrase "all things that ever I did" highlights Jesus' supernatural knowledge, encompassing the intimate and hidden details of her life, particularly her past relationships. This divine insight was the irrefutable proof for her, demonstrating that Jesus possessed more than human wisdom; He had divine omniscience.
* **"is not this the Christ?"**: This is a rhetorical question, designed not for an answer from her audience, but to prompt them to consider the undeniable conclusion she has reached. The question implies a strong affirmative, conveying her newfound belief that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. It's a bold declaration cloaked in an inquiry, inviting her community to share in her dawning conviction and messianic hope.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs several literary devices. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "is not this the Christ?". This question is not posed to elicit information but to provoke thought and guide the audience to a specific conclusion. It acts as a powerful persuasive tool, inviting the listeners to consider the overwhelming evidence (Jesus' supernatural knowledge) and arrive at the same conviction as the woman. The phrase "Come, see a man" functions as an **Exclamation** or urgent **Call to Action**, conveying the woman's profound excitement and the immediacy of her desire to share her discovery. The contrast between the simple description "a man" and the profound claim "the Christ" creates **Irony** and **Antithesis**, subtly highlighting the extraordinary nature of Jesus, who appears ordinary yet possesses divine attributes. Finally, the entire verse serves as a powerful **Personal Testimony**, showcasing the transformative power of an encounter with Jesus and the natural overflow of conviction into evangelism.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 4:29 is a pivotal verse that bridges personal revelation with public proclamation, illustrating how a genuine encounter with Christ compels an immediate and unashamed witness. The woman's testimony highlights the unique way Jesus reveals Himself, not through abstract theology, but through intimate knowledge of an individual's life, leading to a profound conviction of His divine identity. Her question, "is not this the Christ?", is the natural outpouring of a heart awakened to the truth, demonstrating that the recognition of Jesus as Messiah is a deeply personal yet universally significant theological truth. Her willingness to share this, despite her past, underscores the transformative power of grace and the universal call to evangelism.

* [Isaiah 61:1-2](/isaiah/61-1-2 "Isaiah 61:1-2 - The Anointed One's Mission")
* [Matthew 16:16](/matthew/16-16 "Matthew 16:16 - Peter's Confession of Christ")
* [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Great Commission to Witness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Samaritan woman's response to Jesus offers a profound model for contemporary faith and evangelism. Her immediate, uninhibited testimony, despite her past and societal standing, reminds us that the most powerful witness often stems from a personal encounter with Jesus' transformative power. We don't need to be theological experts; our story of what Jesus has done in our lives is a compelling and undeniable truth. This verse challenges us to move beyond intellectual assent to a vibrant, urgent faith that naturally overflows into sharing the good news. It encourages us to embrace our own stories, recognizing that Jesus' grace covers our past and empowers us to be His witnesses, inviting others to "come and see" for themselves the One who knows all things and offers living water.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "things" in your life has Jesus revealed to you, leading to a deeper conviction of who He is?**
* **How does the Samaritan woman's immediate desire to share her encounter challenge or inspire your own approach to evangelism?**
* **In what ways might societal or personal "shame" prevent us from openly testifying about Jesus, and how can we overcome these barriers?**
* **What does it mean for you, personally, to ask, "is not this the Christ?" in your own faith journey?**

### FAQ

**Why did the woman emphasize that Jesus "told me all things that ever I did"?**

Answer: The woman emphasized this because it was the irrefutable evidence of Jesus' divine knowledge and, consequently, His true identity. No ordinary man could have known the intimate details of her life, particularly her past relationships, as revealed in [John 4:16-18](/john/4-16-18 "John 4:16-18 - Jesus Reveals the Woman's Past"). This revelation bypassed any need for theological debate or intellectual persuasion; it was a direct, supernatural insight that went straight to her heart and mind, convincing her that Jesus was more than a prophet—He was the Anointed One, the Christ. Her testimony was powerful precisely because it was based on an undeniable, personal experience of Jesus' omniscience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Samaritan woman's dawning realization in [John 4:29](/john/4-29 "John 4:29 - The Woman's Testimony") serves as a powerful foreshadowing of Christ's universal mission and identity. Her question, "is not this the Christ?", points directly to Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, the Anointed One who would bring salvation. Jesus' ability to "tell her all things that ever I did" reveals His divine omniscience, a characteristic of God Himself, confirming His unique relationship with the Father as described in [John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God"). Her immediate and unashamed testimony, which leads many Samaritans to believe in Him, anticipates the Great Commission given to His disciples in [Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission") and the Spirit-empowered witness in [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth"). Ultimately, her journey from a marginalized woman seeking water to a fervent evangelist proclaiming the "Saviour of the world" in [John 4:42](/john/4-42 "John 4:42 - Jesus, the Saviour of the World") beautifully illustrates how Jesus, the Christ, breaks down all barriers—ethnic, social, and moral—to offer living water and new life to all who believe in Him, fulfilling His purpose as the light of the world in [John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World").

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

John 4:17

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

John 4:18

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

1 Corinthians 14:24

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

1 Corinthians 14:25

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

John 1:41

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

John 1:49

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

John 4:25

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.