John 4:10

“Jesus answered and said unto her, etc.] In a very serious manner, in a different way from hers: if thou knewest the gift of God; meaning, not the Holy Spirit with his gifts and graces, as some think, but himself; for the following clause is explanatory of it; and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; and Christ is also spoken of in the Old Testament, as the gift of God, (<230906>Isaiah 9:6) and he had lately spoken of himself as such, (<430316>John 3:16) and he is, by way of eminency, “the gift of God”; which is comprehensive of all others, is exceeding large, and very suitable to the wants and cases of men; and is irrevocable, unchangeable, and unspeakable: for he is God’s gift,…”

“If thou knewest, &c.--that is, "In Me thou seest only a petitioner to thee but if thou knewest who that Petitioner is, and the Gift that God is giving to men, thou wouldst have changed places with Him, gladly suing of Him living water--nor shouldst thou have sued in vain" (gently reflecting on her for not immediately meeting His request).”

“The gift of God - The word “gift,” here denotes “favor.” It may refer to Jesus Himself, as the gift of God to the world, given to save men from death Joh 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15, or it may refer to the opportunity then afforded her of seeking salvation. If thou knewest how favorable an opportunity God now gives thee to gain a knowledge of himself, etc. And who it is ... - If thou knewest that the Messiah was speaking. Living water - The Jews used the expression “living water” to denote springs, fountains, or running streams, in opposition to dead and stagnant water. Jesus here means to denote by it his doctrine, or his grace and religion, in opposition to the impure and dead notions of the…”

“If thou hadst known the gift - The living water; and who it is - He who alone is able to give it: thou wouldst have asked of him - On those words the stress lies. Water - In like manner he draws the allegory from bread, Joh 6:27, and from light, Joh 8:12; the first, the most simple, necessary, common, and salutary things in nature. Living water - The Spirit and its fruits. But she might the more easily mistake his meaning, because living water was a common phrase among the Jews for spring water. John 4:12”

“4:10 Shechem had no rivers and thus no living water (see “Living Water” Theme Note). However, Jesus was speaking symbolically: This gift from God was the Holy Spirit (7:37-39).”

“If: Joh 3:16; Isa 9:6, Isa 42:6, Isa 49:6-8; Luk 11:13; Rom 8:32; Co1 1:30; Co2 9:15; Eph 2:8 and who: Joh 4:25, Joh 4:26, Joh 9:35-38, Joh 16:3, Joh 17:3; Jo1 5:20 thou wouldest: Ch2 33:12, Ch2 33:13, Ch2 33:18, Ch2 33:19; Psa 10:17; Isa 55:6-9; Luk 11:8-10, Luk 18:13, Luk 18:14; Luk 23:42, Luk 23:43; Act 9:11; Rev 3:17, Rev 3:18 living: Joh 4:14, Joh 6:35, Joh 6:51, Joh 7:37-39; Exo 17:6; Psa 36:8, Psa 36:9, Psa 46:4; Isa 12:3, Isa 35:6; Isa 41:17, Isa 41:18, Isa 43:20, Isa 44:3, Isa 49:10, Isa 55:1-3; Jer 2:13; Eze 47:1-9; Zac 13:1, Zac 14:8; Co1 10:4; Rev 7:17, Rev 21:6, Rev 22:1, Rev 22:2, Rev 22:17 John 4:11”