YHN 4:23 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) But a time is coming, starting even now, when the true worshippers will be worshipping the father in spirit and truth, because those are the ones that he is wanting to worship him.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT However, an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for indeed the Father seeks such ones worshiping him.

UST Nevertheless, the time is coming and has now arrived when those who truly worship God will worship the Father spiritually and truthfully. This is because the Father indeed searches for such people to worship him.

BLB But an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father also seeks such who worship Him.

AICNT But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father seeks such as these to worship him [[in spirit]].[fn]

4:23, in spirit: Some manuscripts include. Latin(a b)

OEB But a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father spiritually and truly; for such are the worshipers that the Father desires.

LSB But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

WEBBE But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But a time is coming – and now is here – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers.

LSV but there comes an hour, and it now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also seeks such to worship Him;

FBV But the time is coming—and in fact it's here already—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for these are the kind of worshipers the Father wants.

TCNT But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to worship him.

T4T However, there will be a time when those who genuinely worship God will worship him as God’s Spirit directs and according to God’s truth. In fact, that time is now. Those are the kind of worshipers my Father seeks.

LEB But an hour is coming—and now is here[fn]—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for indeed the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers.

4:23 *The word “here” is not in the Greek text but is implied

BBE But the time is coming, and is even now here, when the true worshippers will give worship to the Father in the true way of the spirit, for these are the worshippers desired by the Father.

Moff But the time is coming, it has come already, when the real worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in reality; for these are the worshippers that the Father wants.

Wymth But a time is coming—nay, has already come—when the true worshippers will worship the Father with true spiritual worship; for indeed the Father desires such worshippers.

ASV But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.

DRA But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to adore him.

YLT but, there cometh an hour, and it now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also doth seek such to worship him;

Drby But [the] hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for also the Father seeks such as his worshippers.

RV But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.
(But the hour cometh/comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth/does the Father seek to be his worshippers. )

SLT But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for also the Father seeks such worshipping him.

Wbstr But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

KJB-1769 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
( But the hour cometh/comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh/seeks such to worship him. )

KJB-1611 But the houre commeth, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit, and in trueth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps But the houre commeth, and nowe is, when the true worshippers, shall worshippe the father in spirite, and in the trueth: For such the father also requireth to worshippe hym.
(But the hour cometh/comes, and now is, when the true worshippers, shall worship the father in spirit, and in the truth: For such the father also requireth to worship him.)

Gnva But the houre commeth, and nowe is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit, and trueth: for the Father requireth euen such to worship him.
(But the hour cometh/comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit, and truth: for the Father requireth even such to worship him. )

Cvdl But the tyme commeth, and is now allready, that the true worshippers shal worshippe the father in sprete and in the trueth: For the father wil haue soch so to worshippe him.
(But the time cometh/comes, and is now already, that the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in the truth: For the father will have such so to worship him.)

TNT But the houre commeth and nowe is when the true worshippers shall worshippe the father in sprete and in trouthe. For verely suche the father requyreth to worshippe him.
(But the hour cometh/comes and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in trouthe. For verily/truly such the father requireth to worship him. )

Wycl But the tyme is comun, and now it is, whanne trewe worschiperis schulen worschipe the fadir in spirit and treuthe; for also the fadir sekith suche, that worschipen hym.
(But the time is come, and now it is, when true worshipperis should worship the father in spirit and truth; for also the father seeketh/seeks suche, that worship him.)

Luth Aber es kommt die Zeit und ist schon jetzt, daß die wahrhaftigen Anbeter werden den Vater anbeten im Geist und in der Wahrheit; denn der Vater will auch haben, die ihn also anbeten.
(But it comes the time/period and is already now/currently, that the truthfullyen Anbeter become the father worship in_the spirit and in the/of_the truth; because/than the/of_the father will also have, the him/it also worship.)

ClVg Sed venit hora, et nunc est, quando veri adoratores adorabunt Patrem in spiritu et veritate. Nam et Pater tales quærit, qui adorent eum.[fn]
(But he_came hour, and now it_is, when true adoratores they_will_adore/worship Father in/into/on in_spirit and with_truth. For/Surely and Pater tales seeks, who/which adorent him. )

4.23 Sed venit hora, et nunc est, quando. Priusquam venirem in carne, nemo potuit adorare Patrem in spiritu et veritate, præter patriarchas et prophetas, quibus mea incarnatio revelata fuit, sed per meam præsentiam in carne fient veri adoratores. In spiritu et veritate. Non in templo, non in hoc monte, sed interius in intimo templo cordis et in veritate cognitionis Patrem esse adorandum.

4.23 But he_came hour, and now it_is, quando. Before to_comem in/into/on flesh/meat, nobody/no_one could to_adore Father in/into/on in_spirit and with_truth, besides patriarchas and a_prophets, to_whom my incarnatio revealed it_was, but through of_mine presence in/into/on flesh/meat they_will_be true adoratores. In in_spirit and with_truth. Not/No in/into/on temple, not/no in/into/on this mountain, but inside in/into/on intimo temple of_the_heart and in/into/on with_truth knowledge Father to_be adorandum.

UGNT ἀλλὰ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ Πατρὶ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ; καὶ γὰρ ὁ Πατὴρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ, τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν.
(alla erⱪetai hōra kai nun estin, hote hoi alaʸthinoi proskunaʸtai proskunaʸsousin tōi Patri en pneumati kai alaʸtheia; kai gar ho Pataʸr toioutous zaʸtei, tous proskunountas auton.)

SBL-GNT ἀλλὰ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ πατρὶ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ, καὶ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν·
(alla erⱪetai hōra kai nun estin, hote hoi alaʸthinoi proskunaʸtai proskunaʸsousin tōi patri en pneumati kai alaʸtheia, kai gar ho pataʸr toioutous zaʸtei tous proskunountas auton;)

RP-GNT Ἀλλ' ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ πατρὶ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ· καὶ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν.
(All' erⱪetai hōra kai nun estin, hote hoi alaʸthinoi proskunaʸtai proskunaʸsousin tōi patri en pneumati kai alaʸtheia; kai gar ho pataʸr toioutous zaʸtei tous proskunountas auton.)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἀλλ᾽ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσι τῷ πατρὶ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ· καὶ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας [fn]αὐτόν.
(All erⱪetai hōra kai nun estin, hote hoi alaʸthinoi proskunaʸtai proskunaʸsousi tōi patri en pneumati kai alaʸtheia; kai gar ho pataʸr toioutous zaʸtei tous proskunountas auton. )

4:23 αλλ ¦ αλλα NA²⁷ SBL TH WH

4:23 αὐτόν ¦ αὑτόν ST

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–42: Jesus spoke with a woman from Samaria

In this section Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman who had come to get water from a well. Jesus asked her for a drink of water. The woman was surprised that he spoke to her. Jesus was a Jew, and most Jewish people hated the Samaritans. But Jesus stayed and talked with the woman.

Jesus told the woman that he could give her living water, and he told her that he was the Messiah. The women went back to her town and brought many of the other Samaritan people to Jesus.

It is good to translate the section before giving it a title. Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus brought good news to the hated Samaritan people

The conversation at the well

Paragraph 4:19–26

The woman next asked Jesus about where people should worship God. The Samaritans said it was right to worship on Mount Gerizim, but the Jews worshiped in Jerusalem. Jesus said that where people worship is not important. It is how they worship that is important.

Jesus also said that the Samaritans really did not know whom they worshiped. The Jewish people knew whom they worshiped, and it was through them that all people will be saved. The woman mentioned the Messiah or Chosen Savior who was coming. Jesus told her that he was the Messiah. This is a very important part of the story.

4:23a

But a time is coming and has now come

Soon and even now
The time/day is arriving

But: This Greek connector that the BSB translates as But indicates that there is a contrast. The contrast is between what the situation had been and what it would be soon, and even was already starting. Now even the Samaritans can know God, and the place of worship does not matter. What matters is that worship comes from the spirit or the heart.

a time is coming and has now come: This Greek expression is talking about both the future and the present moment. Jesus was talking about the time after his death and resurrection. It was now here because Jesus was already on earth and had started his ministry. So events had started that would lead to his death and resurrection. Here are some other ways to say this expression that may be more natural in some languages:

the time is arriving

in the future, which you can see now

4:23b

when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth,

God’s true worshipers will worship God the Father anywhere/everywhere. They will do that in a spiritual and true way,
when people who truly worship God the Father will do so not do so in a special/particular place. Instead, they will worship from their spirits/hearts and based on the truth.

the true worshipers: This phrase refers to people who genuinely worship God, in an honest and real way. In some languages it may be natural to translate this using a verb phrase. For example:

those who truly worship

will worship: The Greek verb here is in the future tense. Jesus was speaking about a time that would soon begin.

in spirit: There are two possible ways to understand the Greek word translated spirit here.

It refers to the human spirit or inner self. For example:
when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (NLT)
(BSB, REB, NJB, GW, REB, NCV, NET, RSV, KJV, NIV84, NASB, ESV, NLT)
It refers to the Holy Spirit. For example:
when by the power of God’s Spirit people will worship the Father as he really is, offering him the true worship that he wants (GNT)
(GNT, CEV, NIV2011)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most translations and scholars.

In some languages you may not want to translate “worship the Father” in spirit literally. Scholars have suggested these two ideas about what the phrase means.

It means to worship God in a spiritual way, not in a physical or material way. Worship is to come from a person’s heart or inner self. It is not just physical actions, such as kneeling or saying certain words. Certainly, Jesus said that worship would not be limited to a particular place. It could also mean that idols were not acceptable. For example:
with their inner being
out of their heart
It means that only those who have been born again can truly worship. Jesus said to Nicodemus in 3:6, “What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” So to worship in spirit may mean that one must be born of the Spirit. Then he can have the right spirit to worship. For example:
out of their spirit
in a spiritual way

Either understanding is acceptable. English translations use the word spirit rather than “inner being” or “heart.” However, if you do not talk about living people having spirits in your language, you may use a word like “inner being” or “heart.”

in truth: In some languages you may not want to translate “worship the Father” in truth literally. Scholars have suggested these two ideas about what the phrase means.

It means to worship God sincerely. It is true or genuine worship because the worshiper truly wants to worship him. For example:
sincere will be his worship of him
their worship is true/genuine
It means that one’s worship is based on the truth about God. The worshiper must believe the truth that Jesus revealed and worship in a way that agrees with that truth. For example:
based on the truth which comes from him
that agrees with God’s true character

Either understanding is acceptable.

General Comment on 4:23b

In some languages it may be natural to make explicit that the Father is the one that “true worshipers” worship. Then later in the sentence a pronoun may be used as the object of the verb “worship.” For example:

when those who truly worship the Father will worship him in spirit and truth

4:23c

for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.

because God looks for people like that to worship him.
Those are the worshipers God seeks/desires.

for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him: Jesus told the woman that God wanted people to worship him in spirit and in truth. God did not want any other kind of worship, or any other kind of worshiper. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks (NIV)

These are the worshippers the Father wants. (REB)

for: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as for means “because.” It introduces the reason why people will worship this way: God wants them to. In some languages this word can be left implicit. For example:

that is the kind of worshipper the Father seeks (NJB)

the Father: The word Father refers to God the Father. In some languages it is more natural to make that explicit:

God the Father

is seeking: The Greek word that the BSB translates as seeking here means “wants, desires.” The verb form shows that God continues to want or desire these worshipers. It also implies that God is doing something to get what he wants. God continues to want this and he actively searches for people like this to worship him. God wants people to honor and praise him in a true and spiritual way. Here is another way to translate this verb:

The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. (NLT)

such as these: The phrase such as these means “(people) like these” or “this kind of worshiper.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἔρχεται ὥρα

˓is˒_coming ˓an˒_hour

See the discussion of an hour is coming in the General Notes to this chapter and see how you translated this phrase in verse [21](../04/21.md).

Note 2 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

τῷ Πατρὶ & ὁ Πατὴρ

˱before˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά ἔρχεται ὥρα καί νῦν ἐστίν ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοί προσκυνηταί προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ Πατρί ἐν πνεύματι καί ἀληθείᾳ καί γάρ ὁ Πατήρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τούς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν)

Father is an important title for God.

ἐν πνεύματι

in spirit

Here, spirit could refer to: (1) the inner person, which is what a person thinks and feels. Alternate translation: [with their spirits] (2) the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: [in the Holy Spirit]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ

in spirit (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά ἔρχεται ὥρα καί νῦν ἐστίν ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοί προσκυνηταί προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ Πατρί ἐν πνεύματι καί ἀληθείᾳ καί γάρ ὁ Πατήρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τούς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν)

Here, truth refers to thinking correctly of what is true about God, which is revealed in the Bible. If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of truth, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [in spirit and in accordance with God’s Word]

BMM BibleMapper.com Maps:

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Jesus Speaks with a Woman in Samaria

John 4

As the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman demonstrates, even simple geography–the divine arrangement of places where God leads us in life–can position us for fruitful ministry if we are willing to reach out to those along our journey. This episode in Jesus’ ministry occurred immediately after Jesus had cleared the Temple in Jerusalem and was gaining even more followers than John the Baptist (John 2:13-25; 4:1-3). Likely wanting to avoid a direct clash with Jewish leadership so early in his ministry, Jesus chose instead to return to Galilee. The most direct route from Jerusalem to Galilee passed through Samaria, and, as the Jewish historian Josephus notes, this was the route normally chosen by most Jews at the time (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XX:6). The city of Samaria (renamed Sebaste by Jesus’ time) was originally the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, but in 722 B.C. the Assyrians exiled many Israelites to other parts of their empire and relocated other foreign peoples in Israel (2 Kings 15:29; 17:1-24; 1 Chronicles 5:26; also see “Israelites Are Exiled to Assyria”). This diverse population then developed a new religion that mixed elements of Israelite worship with pagan worship (2 Kings 17:24-41), and centuries later they set up their own temple on Mount Gerizim. Because of their mixed ancestry and religion, Samaritans were often detested by many Jews (John 4:9), and hostilities periodically erupted between Jews and Samaritans. Jesus himself would later be refused entry into Samaria while traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem (Luke 9:52-56; also see “Jesus’ Final Journey to Jerusalem”), and Josephus notes that about 20 years after this time a number of Galileans were killed by Samaritans as they attempted to make their way to Jerusalem through the village of Ginae. Probably because of these hostilities, some Jews preferred to take alternate routes that bypassed Samaria. Still other Jews chose these routes to avoid even associating with Samaritans. Jesus, however, appears to have chosen the more direct route through Samaria, which led him to the village of Sychar–right next to the ancient site of Shechem and Mount Gerizim. There he met a Samaritan woman by a well and spoke to her about God’s gift of living water for her soul. He also revealed supernatural knowledge about her, so she asked him whether Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem was the proper place to worship. Jesus gently rebuked her belief in Samaritan worship practices, but he also assured her that one day the physical location of worshipers will no longer matter. Instead, all true believers will worship God in spirit and truth. When Jesus revealed to the woman that he was the Messiah, she left her water jar and told the townspeople about Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus’ disciples returned, and Jesus urged them to recognize that the fields were ripe for harvesting, presumably meaning that many Samaritans were ready to believe in him. Because of the Samaritan woman’s testimony, many of the townspeople believed in Jesus and persuaded him to stay there two more days before returning to Galilee. Years later the apostle Philip found fruitful ministry among the Samaritans as well, and many came to faith in Jesus (Acts 8:5-13; also see “The Ministries of Philip and Peter”).