John 4 (NET)

Departure From Judea

1 Now when Jesus1 knew that the Pharisees2 had heard that he3 was winning4 and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were),5 3 he left Judea and set out once more for Galilee.6

Conversation With a Samaritan Woman

4 But he had7 to pass through Samaria.8 5 Now he came to a Samaritan town9 called Sychar,10 near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.11 6 Jacob’s well was there, so Jesus, since he was tired from the journey, sat right down beside12 the well. It was about noon.13

7 A Samaritan woman14 came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water15 to drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone off into the town to buy supplies.16)17 9 So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you – a Jew18 – ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water19 to drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common20 with Samaritans.)21

10 Jesus answered22 her, “If you had known23 the gift of God and who it is who said to you, ‘Give me some water24 to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”25 11 “Sir,”26 the woman27 said to him, “you have no bucket and the well28 is deep; where then do you get this29 living water?30 12 Surely you’re not greater than our ancestor31 Jacob, are you? For he gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock.”32

13 Jesus replied,33 “Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty34 again. 14 But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again,35 but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain36 of water springing up37 to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw38 water.”39 16 He40 said to her, “Go call your husband and come back here.”41 17 The woman replied,42 “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “Right you are when you said,43 ‘I have no husband,’44 18 for you have had five husbands, and the man you are living with45 now is not your husband. This you said truthfully!”

19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I see46 that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,47 and you people48 say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.”49 21 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman,50 a time51 is coming when you will worship52 the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You people53 worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews.54 23 But a time55 is coming – and now is here56 – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks57 such people to be58 his worshipers.59 24 God is spirit,60 and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ);61 “whenever he62 comes, he will tell63 us everything.”64 26 Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”

The Disciples Return

27 Now at that very moment his disciples came back.65 They were shocked66 because he was speaking67 with a woman. However, no one said, “What do you want?”68 or “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the people,69 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can’t be the Messiah,70 can he?”71 30 So72 they left the town and began coming73 to him.

Workers for the Harvest

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him,74 “Rabbi, eat something.”75 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 So the disciples began to say76 to one another, “No one brought him anything77 to eat, did they?”78 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me79 and to complete80 his work.81 35 Don’t you say,82 ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up83 and see that the fields are already white84 for harvest! 36 The one who reaps receives pay85 and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. 37 For in this instance the saying is true,86 ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

The Samaritans Respond

39 Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified,87 “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking88 him to stay with them.89 He stayed there two days, 41 and because of his word many more90 believed. 42 They said to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one91 really is the Savior of the world.”92

Onward to Galilee

43 After the two days he departed from there to Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)93 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem94 at the feast95 (for they themselves had gone to the feast).96

Healing the Royal Official’s Son

46 Now he came again to Cana97 in Galilee where he had made the water wine.98 In99 Capernaum100 there was a certain royal official101 whose son was sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him102 to come down and heal his son, who was about to die. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people103 see signs and wonders you will never believe!”104 49 “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus told him, “Go home;105 your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.106

51 While he was on his way down,107 his slaves108 met him and told him that his son was going to live. 52 So he asked them the time109 when his condition began to improve,110 and111 they told him, “Yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon112 the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that it was the very time113 Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household. 54 Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign114 when he returned from Judea to Galilee.

14:1tc Several early and important witnesses, along with the majority of later ones (Ì^66c,75 A B C L W^s Ψ 083 Ë¹³ 33 Ï sa), have κύριος (kurio", “Lord”) here instead of ᾿Ιησοῦς (Ihsou", “Jesus”). As significant as this external support is, the internal evidence seems to be on the side of ᾿Ιησοῦς. “Jesus” is mentioned two more times in the first two verses of chapter four in a way that is stylistically awkward (so much so that the translation has substituted the pronoun for the first one; see tn note below). This seems to be sufficient reason to motivate scribes to change the wording to κύριος. Further, the reading ᾿Ιησοῦς is not without decent support, though admittedly not as strong as that for κύριος (Ì^66* א D Θ 086 Ë¹ 565 1241 al lat bo). On the other hand, this Gospel speaks of Jesus as Lord in the evangelist’s narrative descriptions elsewhere only in 11:2; 20:18, 20; 21:12; and probably 6:23, preferring ᾿Ιησοῦς most of the time. This fact could be used to argue that scribes, acquainted with John’s style, changed κύριος to ᾿Ιησοῦς. But the immediate context generally is weighed more heavily than an author’s style. It is possible that neither word was in the original text and scribes supplied what they thought most appropriate (see TCGNT 176). But without ms evidence to this effect coupled with the harder reading ᾿Ιησοῦς, this conjecture must remain doubtful. All in all, it is best to regard ᾿Ιησοῦς as the original reading here. 24:1sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24. 34:1tn Grk “Jesus”; the repetition of the proper name is somewhat redundant in English (see the beginning of the verse) and so the pronoun (“he”) has been substituted here. 44:1tn Grk “was making.” 54:2sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. 64:3sn The author doesn’t tell why Jesus chose to set out once more for Galilee. Some have suggested that the Pharisees turned their attention to Jesus because John the Baptist had now been thrown into prison. But the text gives no hint of this. In any case, perhaps Jesus simply did not want to provoke a confrontation at this time (knowing that his “hour” had not yet come). 74:4sn Travel through Samaria was not geographically necessary; the normal route for Jews ran up the east side of the Jordan River (Transjordan). Although some take the impersonal verb had to (δεῖ, dei) here to indicate logical necessity only, normally in John’s Gospel its use involves God’s will or plan (3:7, 3:14, 3:30, 4:4, 4:20, 4:24, 9:4, 10:16, 12:34, 20:9). 84:4sn Samaria. The Samaritans were descendants of 2 groups: (1) The remnant of native Israelites who were not deported after the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 b.c.; (2) Foreign colonists brought in from Babylonia and Media by the Assyrian conquerors to settle the land with inhabitants who would be loyal to Assyria. There was theological opposition between the Samaritans and the Jews because the former refused to worship in Jerusalem. After the exile the Samaritans put obstacles in the way of the Jewish restoration of Jerusalem, and in the 2nd century b.c. the Samaritans helped the Syrians in their wars against the Jews. In 128 b.c. the Jewish high priest retaliated and burned the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim. 94:5tn Grk “town of Samaria.” The noun Σαμαρείας (Samareias) has been translated as an attributive genitive. 104:5sn Sychar was somewhere in the vicinity of Shechem, possibly the village of Askar, 1.5 km northeast of Jacob’s well. 114:5sn Perhaps referred to in Gen 48:22. 124:6tn Grk “on (ἐπί, epi) the well.” There may have been a low stone rim encircling the well, or the reading of Ì⁶⁶ (“on the ground”) may be correct. 134:6tn Grk “the sixth hour.”sn It was about noon. The suggestion has been made by some that time should be reckoned from midnight rather than sunrise. This would make the time 6 a.m. rather than noon. That would fit in this passage but not in John 19:14 which places the time when Jesus is condemned to be crucified at “the sixth hour.” 144:7tn Grk “a woman from Samaria.” According to BDAG 912 s.v. Σαμάρεια, the prepositional phrase is to be translated as a simple attributive: “γυνὴ ἐκ τῆς Σαμαρείας a Samaritan woman J 4:7.” 154:7tn The phrase “some water” is supplied as the understood direct object of the infinitive πεῖν (pein). 164:8tn Grk “buy food.” 174:8sn This is a parenthetical note by the author, indicating why Jesus asked the woman for a drink (for presumably his disciples also took the water bucket with them). 184:9tn Or “a Judean.” Here BDAG 478 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαίος 2.a states, “Judean (with respect to birth, nationality, or cult).” The same term occurs in the plural later in this verse. In one sense “Judean” would work very well in the translation here, since the contrast is between residents of the two geographical regions. However, since in the context of this chapter the discussion soon becomes a religious rather than a territorial one (cf. vv. 19-26), the translation “Jew” has been retained here and in v. 22. 194:9tn “Water” is supplied as the understood direct object of the infinitive πεῖν (pein). 204:9tn D. Daube (“Jesus and the Samaritan Woman: the Meaning of συγχράομαι [Jn 4:7ff],” JBL 69 [1950]: 137-47) suggests this meaning.sn The background to the statement use nothing in common is the general assumption among Jews that the Samaritans were ritually impure or unclean. Thus a Jew who used a drinking vessel after a Samaritan had touched it would become ceremonially unclean. 214:9sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. 224:10tn Grk “answered and said to her.” 234:10tn Or “if you knew.” 244:10tn The phrase “some water” is supplied as the understood direct object of the infinitive πεῖν (pein). 254:10tn This is a second class conditional sentence in Greek.sn The word translated living is used in Greek of flowing water, which leads to the woman’s misunderstanding in the following verse. She thought Jesus was referring to some unknown source of drinkable water. 264:11tn Or “Lord.” The Greek term κύριος (kurios) means both “Sir” and “Lord.” In this passage there is probably a gradual transition from one to the other as the woman’s respect for Jesus grows throughout the conversation (4:11, 15, 19). 274:11tc ‡ Two early and important Greek mss along with two versional witnesses (Ì⁷⁵ B sy^s ac²) lack ἡ γυνή (Jh gunh, “the woman”) here; א* has ἐκείνη (ekeinh, “that one” or possibly “she”) instead of ἡ γυνή. It is possible that no explicit subject was in the original text and scribes added either ἡ γυνή or ἐκείνη to make the meaning clear. It is also possible that the archetype of Ì⁷⁵ א B expunged the subject because it was not altogether necessary, with the scribe of א later adding the pronoun. However, ἡ γυνή is not in doubt in any other introduction to the woman’s words in this chapter (cf. vv. 9, 15, 17, 19, 25), suggesting that intentional deletion was not the motive for the shorter reading in v. 11 (or else why would they delete the words only here?). Thus, the fact that virtually all witnesses (Ì⁶⁶ א² A C D L W^s Θ Ψ 050 083 086 Ë^1,13 Ï latt sy^c,p,h sa bo) have ἡ γυνή here may suggest that it is a motivated reading, conforming this verse to the rest of the pericope. Although a decision is difficult, it is probably best to regard the shorter reading as authentic. NA²⁷ has ἡ γυνή in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity. For English stylistic reasons, the translation also includes “the woman” here. 284:11tn The word for “well” has now shifted to φρέαρ (frear, “cistern”); earlier in the passage it was πηγή (phgh). 294:11tn The anaphoric article has been translated “this.” 304:11sn Where then do you get this living water? The woman’s reply is an example of the “misunderstood statement,” a technique appearing frequently in John’s Gospel. Jesus was speaking of living water which was spiritual (ultimately a Johannine figure for the Holy Spirit, see John 7:38-39), but the woman thought he was speaking of flowing (fresh drinkable) water. Her misunderstanding gave Jesus the opportunity to explain what he really meant. 314:12tn Or “our forefather”; Grk “our father.” 324:12tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end. In this instance all of v. 12 is one question. It has been broken into two sentences for the sake of English style (instead of “for he” the Greek reads “who”). 334:13tn Grk “answered and said to her.” 344:13tn Grk “will thirst.” 354:14tn Grk “will never be thirsty forever.” The possibility of a later thirst is emphatically denied. 364:14tn Or “well.” “Fountain” is used as the translation for πηγή (phgh) here since the idea is that of an artesian well that flows freely, but the term “artesian well” is not common in contemporary English. 374:14tn The verb ἁλλομένου (Jallomenou) is used of quick movement (like jumping) on the part of living beings. This is the only instance of its being applied to the action of water. However, in the LXX it is used to describe the “Spirit of God” as it falls on Samson and Saul. See Judg 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Kgdms 10:2, 10 LXX (= 1 Sam 10:6, 10 ET); and Isa 35:6 (note context). 384:15tn Grk “or come here to draw.” 394:15tn The direct object of the infinitive ἀντλεῖν (antlein) is understood in Greek but supplied for clarity in the English translation. 404:16tc Most witnesses have “Jesus” here, either with the article (א^c C² D L W^s Ψ 086 Ï lat) or without (א* A Θ Ë^1,13 al), while several important and early witnesses lack the name (Ì^66,75 B C* 33^vid pc). It is unlikely that scribes would have deliberately expunged the name of Jesus from the text here, especially since it aids the reader with the flow of the dialogue. Further, that the name occurs both anarthrously and with the article suggests that it was a later addition. (For similar arguments, see the tc note on “woman” in 4:11). 414:16tn Grk “come here” (“back” is implied). 424:17tn Grk “answered and said to him.” 434:17tn Grk “Well have you said.” 444:17tn The word order in Jesus’ reply is reversed from the woman’s original statement. The word “husband” in Jesus’ reply is placed in an emphatic position. 454:18tn Grk “the one you have.” 464:19tn Grk “behold” or “perceive,” but these are not as common in contemporary English usage. 474:20sn This mountain refers to Mount Gerizim, where the Samaritan shrine was located. 484:20tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to indicate that the Greek verb translated “say” is second person plural and thus refers to more than Jesus alone. 494:20map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 504:21sn Woman was a polite form of address (see BDAG 208-9 s.v. γυνή 1), similar to “Madam” or “Ma’am” used in English in different regions. 514:21tn Grk “an hour.” 524:21tn The verb is plural. 534:22tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to indicate that the Greek verb translated “worship” is second person plural and thus refers to more than the woman alone. 544:22tn Or “from the Judeans.” See the note on “Jew” in v. 9. 554:23tn Grk “an hour.” 564:23tn “Here” is not in the Greek text but is supplied to conform to contemporary English idiom. 574:23sn See also John 4:27. 584:23tn Or “as.” The object-complement construction implies either “as” or “to be.” 594:23tn This is a double accusative construction of object and complement with τοιούτους (toioutous) as the object and the participle προσκυνοῦντας (proskunounta") as the complement.sn The Father wants such people as his worshipers. Note how the woman has been concerned about where people ought to worship, while Jesus is concerned about who people ought to worship. 604:24tn Here πνεῦμα (pneuma) is understood as a qualitative predicate nominative while the articular θεός (qeos) is the subject. 614:25tn Both Greek “Christ” and Hebrew and Aramaic “Messiah” mean “the one who has been anointed.”sn The one called Christ. This is a parenthetical statement by the author. See the note on Christ in 1:20. 624:25tn Grk “that one.” 634:25tn Or “he will announce to us.” 644:25tn Grk “all things.” 654:27tn Or “his disciples returned”; Grk “came” (“back” is supplied in keeping with English usage). Because of the length of the Greek sentence it is better to divide here and begin a new English sentence, leaving the καί (kai) before ἐθαύμαζον (eqaumazon) untranslated. 664:27tn BDAG 444 s.v. θαυμάζω 1.a.γ has “be surprised that” followed by indirect discourse. The context calls for a slightly stronger wording. 674:27tn The ὅτι (Joti) could also be translated as declarative (“that he had been speaking with a woman”) but since this would probably require translating the imperfect verb as a past perfect (which is normal after a declarative ὅτι), it is preferable to take this ὅτι as causal. 684:27tn Grk “seek.” See John 4:23.sn The question “What do you want?” is John’s editorial comment (for no one in the text was asking it). The author is making a literary link with Jesus’ statement in v. 23: It is evident that, in spite of what the disciples may have been thinking, what Jesus was seeking is what the Father was seeking, that is to say, someone to worship him. 694:28tn The term ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) used here can mean either “people” (when used generically) or “men” (though there is a more specific term in Greek for adult males, ανήρ [anhr]). Thus the woman could have been speaking either (1) to all the people or (2) to the male leaders of the city as their representatives. However, most recent English translations regard the former as more likely and render the word “people” here. 704:29tn Grk “the Christ” (both Greek “Christ” and Hebrew and Aramaic “Messiah” mean “one who has been anointed”). Although the Greek text reads χριστός (cristos) here, it is more consistent based on 4:25 (where Μεσσίας [Messias] is the lead term and is qualified by χριστός) to translate χριστός as “Messiah” here. 714:29tn The use of μήτι (mhti) normally presupposes a negative answer. This should not be taken as an indication that the woman did not believe, however. It may well be an example of “reverse psychology,” designed to gain a hearing for her testimony among those whose doubts about her background would obviate her claims. 724:30tn “So” is supplied for transitional smoothness in English. 734:30sn The imperfect tense is here rendered began coming for the author is not finished with this part of the story yet; these same Samaritans will appear again in v. 35. 744:31tn Grk “were asking him, saying.” 754:31tn The direct object of φάγε (fage) in Greek is understood; “something” is supplied in English. 764:33tn An ingressive imperfect conveys the idea that Jesus’ reply provoked the disciples’ response. 774:33tn The direct object of ἤνεγκεν (hnenken) in Greek is understood; “anything” is supplied in English. 784:33tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here it is “did they?”). 794:34sn The one who sent me refers to the Father. 804:34tn Or “to accomplish.” 814:34tn The substantival ἵνα (Jina) clause has been translated as an English infinitive clause.sn No one brought him anything to eat, did they? In the discussion with the disciples which took place while the woman had gone into the city, note again the misunderstanding: The disciples thought Jesus referred to physical food, while he was really speaking figuratively and spiritually again. Thus Jesus was forced to explain what he meant, and the explanation that his food was his mission, to do the will of God and accomplish his work, leads naturally into the metaphor of the harvest. The fruit of his mission was represented by the Samaritans who were coming to him. 824:35tn The recitative ὅτι (Joti) after λέγετε (legete) has not been translated. 834:35tn Grk “lift up your eyes” (an idiom). BDAG 357 s.v. ἐπαίρω 1 has “look up” here. 844:35tn That is, “ripe.” 854:36tn Or “a reward”; see L&N 38.14 and 57.173. This is something of a wordplay. 864:37tn The recitative ὅτι (Joti) after ἀληθινός (alhqino") has not been translated. 874:39tn Grk “when she testified.” 884:40tn Following the arrival of the Samaritans, the imperfect verb has been translated as ingressive. 894:40tn Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the sequencing with the following verse, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun. 904:41tn Or “and they believed much more.” 914:42tn Or “this.” The Greek pronoun can mean either “this one” or “this” (BDAG 740 s.v. οὗτος 1). 924:42sn There is irony in the Samaritans’ declaration that Jesus was really the Savior of the world, an irony foreshadowed in the prologue to the Fourth Gospel (1:11): “He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.” Yet the Samaritans welcomed Jesus and proclaimed him to be not the Jewish Messiah only, but the Savior of the world. 934:44sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. 944:45sn All the things he had done in Jerusalem probably refers to the signs mentioned in John 2:23.map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 954:45sn See John 2:23-25. 964:45sn John 4:44-45. The last part of v. 45 is a parenthetical note by the author. The major problem in these verses concerns the contradiction between the proverb stated by Jesus in v. 44 and the reception of the Galileans in v. 45. Origen solved the problem by referring his own country to Judea (which Jesus had just left) and not Galilee. But this runs counter to the thrust of John’s Gospel, which takes pains to identify Jesus with Galilee (cf. 1:46) and does not even mention his Judean birth. R. E. Brown typifies the contemporary approach: He regards v. 44 as an addition by a later redactor who wanted to emphasize Jesus’ unsatisfactory reception in Galilee. Neither expedient is necessary, though, if honor is understood in its sense of attributing true worth to someone. The Galileans did welcome him, but their welcome was to prove a superficial response based on what they had seen him do at the feast. There is no indication that the signs they saw brought them to place their faith in Jesus any more than Nicodemus did on the basis of the signs. But a superficial welcome based on enthusiasm for miracles is no real honor at all. 974:46map For location see Map1-C3; Map2-D2; Map3-C5. 984:46sn See John 2:1-11. 994:46tn Grk “And in.” 1004:46sn Capernaum was a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, 680 ft (204 m) below sea level. It was a major trade and economic center in the North Galilean region.map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-C3; Map3-B2. 1014:46tn Although βασιλικός (basiliko") has often been translated “nobleman” it is almost certainly refers here to a servant of Herod, tetrarch of Galilee (who in the NT is called a king, Matt 14:9, Mark 6:14-29). Capernaum was a border town, so doubtless there were many administrative officials in residence there. 1024:47tn The direct object of ἠρώτα (hrwta) is supplied from context. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context. 1034:48tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to indicate that the verb is second person plural (referring to more than the royal official alone). 1044:48tn Or “you never believe.” The verb πιστεύσητε (pisteushte) is aorist subjunctive and may have either nuance. 1054:50tn Grk “Go”; the word “home” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. 1064:50tn Grk “and left.” The words “for home” are implied by the following verse. 1074:51sn While he was on his way down. Going to Capernaum from Cana, one must go east across the Galilean hills and then descend to the Sea of Galilee. The 20 mi (33 km) journey could not be made in a single day. The use of the description on his way down shows the author was familiar with Palestinian geography. 1084:51tn Traditionally, “servants.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force. 1094:52tn Grk “the hour.” 1104:52tn BDAG 558 s.v. κομψότερον translates the idiom κομψότερον ἔχειν (komyoteron ecein) as “begin to improve.” 1114:52tn The second οὖν (oun) in 4:52 has been translated as “and” to improve English style by avoiding redundancy. 1124:52tn Grk “at the seventh hour.” 1134:53tn Grk “at that hour.” 1144:54tn This sentence in Greek involves an object-complement construction. The force can be either “Jesus did this as,” or possibly “Jesus made this to be.” The latter translation accents not only Jesus’ power but his sovereignty too. Cf. 2:11 where the same construction occurs.