John 4:18
16 Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband.
In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I see that You are a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”
- KJV
- For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
- WEB
- for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.”
- ASV
- for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.
- DARBY
- for thou hast had five husbands, and he whom now thou hast is not thy husband: this thou hast spoken truly.
- BLB
- For you have had five husbands, and the one whom you have now is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
- ÅB
- for du har hatt fem menn, og den du nå har, er ikke din mann. Der talte du sant.
- OTB
- Du har hatt fem menn, og han du nå har, er ikke din mann. Det du har sagt, er sant.»
- B1930
- for du har hatt fem menn, og den du nu har, er ikke din mann. Der talte du sant.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 3:20
But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.
Read in contextRomans 7:3
So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man.
Read in context1 Corinthians 7:10–11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
Read in contextMark 10:12
And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
Read in contextGenesis 34:7–8
When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.
Read in contextGenesis 34:31
But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”
Read in contextGenesis 34:2
When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force.
Read in contextRuth 4:10
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
Read in context