John 4:27

¶ And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

And {G2532} upon {G1909} this {G5129} came {G2064} his {G846} disciples {G3101}, and {G2532} marvelled {G2296} that {G3754} he talked {G2980} with {G3326} the woman {G1135}: yet {G3305} no man {G3762} said {G2036}, What {G5101} seekest thou {G2212}? or {G2228}, Why {G5101} talkest thou {G2980} with {G3326} her {G846}?

Just then, his talmidim arrived. They were amazed that he was talking with a woman; but none of them said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”

Just then His disciples returned and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, “What do You want from her?” or “Why are You talking with her?”

And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her?

Commentary

John 4:27 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. As Jesus was concluding His profound conversation, His disciples returned from the nearby town of Sychar, where they had gone to buy food.

Context and Cultural Norms

The disciples' reaction, described as "marvelled," underscores the significant cultural and social barriers Jesus was intentionally breaking. In ancient Jewish society, it was highly unconventional, even scandalous, for a rabbi to engage in public conversation with a woman, especially one who was not a close family member. Furthermore, the woman was a Samaritan, and the animosity between Jews and Samaritans was deep-seated and well-known, as highlighted earlier in the chapter. John 4:9 notes that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. The disciples' astonishment reflects their awareness of these societal expectations and their surprise at Jesus's disregard for them in His ministry.

Disciples' Respect and Restraint

Despite their astonishment, the latter part of the verse, "yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?", reveals an important aspect of the disciples' character and their growing respect for Jesus's authority. While their thoughts were evident in their demeanor, they refrained from directly questioning or rebuking Jesus. This demonstrates their implicit trust in His actions, even when those actions defied conventional wisdom or cultural norms. They recognized that Jesus operated on a higher principle, even if they didn't fully grasp it at that moment.

Key Themes and Significance

  • Breaking Barriers: This verse subtly emphasizes Jesus's consistent pattern of transcending social, gender, and ethnic barriers to reach all people. His conversation with the Samaritan woman, and the disciples' reaction to it, serves as a powerful illustration of His inclusive mission.
  • Divine Authority: The disciples' silence, despite their surprise, speaks volumes about their reverence for Jesus's divine authority. They understood that His ways were often beyond their immediate comprehension, yet they trusted Him.
  • Focus on the Spiritual: Jesus was focused on the spiritual needs of the woman and the Samaritan community, prioritizing evangelism over social propriety. This aligns with His earlier declaration that His "meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work".

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "marvelled" is ethaumazon (ἐθαύμαζον), which conveys a sense of wonder, astonishment, or even bewilderment. It implies that their surprise was not merely casual but profound, indicating a significant break from what they considered normal or acceptable behavior for a religious teacher.

Practical Application

John 4:27 challenges believers today to examine their own biases and preconceived notions about who is "worthy" of God's attention or who should be reached with the Gospel. Like Jesus, we are called to look beyond external appearances, social standing, or ethnic background, and instead, see individuals as souls in need of the living water. It also encourages us to trust in God's often unconventional methods, even when they defy our human understanding or comfort zones.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 7:39 (6 votes)

    Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw [it], he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman [this is] that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

  • John 4:8 (3 votes)

    (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

  • John 4:9 (3 votes)

    Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.