John 4:25

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 4:25 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.
John 4:25 — American Standard Version

Context — John 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The woman saith unto him, etc.] Not knowing well what to say to these things Christ had been discoursing about, as the place, object, and manner of worship; and being undetermined in her judgment of them, by what he had said, was willing to refer them to the Messiah’s coming; of which she, and the Samaritans, had some knowledge, I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ: the last clause, “which is called Christ”, are not the words of the woman explaining the Hebrew word Messiah; for as, on the one hand, she did not understand Greek, so, on the other, she could not think that the person she was conversing with, who she knew was a Jew, needed that word to be explained to him; but they…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I know Messias cometh . . . when He is come, &c.--If we take our Lord's immediate disclosure of Himself, in answer to this, as the proper key to its meaning to His ear, we can hardly doubt that the woman was already all but prepared for even this startling announcement, which indeed she seems (from Joh 4:29) to have already begun to suspect by His revealing her to herself. Thus quickly, under so matchless a Teacher, was she brought up from her sunken condition to a frame of mind and heart capable of the noblest revelations. tell us all things--an expectation founded probably on Deu 18:15.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I know that Messias cometh - As the Samaritans acknowledged the five books of Moses, so they expected, also, the coming of the Messiah. Which is called Christ - These are probably the words of the evangelist, as it is not likely that the woman would explain the name on such an occasion. Will tell us all things - Jesus had decided the question proposed to him John 4:20 in favor of the Jews. The woman does not seem to have been satisfied with this answer, and said that the Messiah would tell them all about this question. Probably she was expecting that he would soon appear. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The woman saith - With joy for what she had already learned, and desire of fuller instruction. John 4:26”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Messias: Joh 4:42, Joh 1:41, Joh 1:42, Joh 1:49; Dan 9:24-26 when: Joh 4:29, Joh 4:39; Deu 18:15-18 John 4:26”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification