New International VersionThe fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
New Living Translationfor you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
English Standard Versionfor you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
Berean Standard BibleIn fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”
Berean Literal BibleFor you have had five husbands, and he whom you have now is not your husband; this you have spoken truly."
King James BibleFor thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
New King James Versionfor you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
New American Standard Biblefor you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this which you have said is true.”
NASB 1995for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
NASB 1977for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
Legacy Standard Biblefor you had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
Amplified Biblefor you have had five husbands, and the man you are now living with is not your husband. You have said this truthfully.”
Christian Standard Bible“For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
Holman Christian Standard Bible“For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."”
American Standard Versionfor thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.
English Revised Versionfor thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationYou've had five husbands, and the man you have now isn't your husband. You've told the truth."
Good News TranslationYou have been married to five men, and the man you live with now is not really your husband. You have told me the truth."
International Standard Versionbecause you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true."
NET Biblefor you have had five husbands, and the man you are living with now is not your husband. This you said truthfully!"
New Heart English Biblefor you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly."
Webster's Bible TranslationFor thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband: in that thou hast spoken truth.
Weymouth New Testament"for you have had five husbands, and the man you have at present is not your husband. You have spoken the truth in saying that." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIn fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”
World English Biblefor you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor you have had five husbands, and now, he whom you have is not your husband; you have said this correctly.”
Berean Literal BibleFor you have had five husbands, and he whom you have now is not your husband; this you have spoken truly."
Young's Literal Translation for five husbands thou hast had, and, now, he whom thou hast is not thy husband; this hast thou said truly.'
Smith's Literal TranslationFor thou hadst five husbands; and now he whom thou hast is not thy husband: this thou saidst true. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor thou hast had five husbands: and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband. This thou hast said truly.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor you have had five husbands, but he whom you have now is not your husband. You have spoken this in truth.”
New American BibleFor you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
New Revised Standard Versionfor you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor you have had five husbands; and the one you now have is not your husband; what you said is true.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishFor you have had five husbands, and this man that is with you now is not your husband; this you have spoken truly.” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentfor you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband. In this you have spoken truly.
Godbey New Testamentfor thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: thou hast spoken this truly.
Haweis New Testament
for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in this thou hast spoken true.
Mace New Testament
for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have, is not your husband: in that you said true.
Weymouth New Testament
"for you have had five husbands, and the man you have at present is not your husband. You have spoken the truth in saying that."
Worrell New Testament
for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband: this you have said truly."
Worsley New Testament
for thou hast had five husbands; and he, whom thou now hast, is not thy husband: this thou hast said true.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jesus and the Samaritan Woman… 17“I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband. 18In fact,you have hadfivehusbands,andthe manyou now haveisnotyourhusband.You have spokentruthfully.”19“Sir,” the woman said, “I see that You are a prophet.…
Cross References Matthew 19:9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Mark 10:11-12So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. / And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
Luke 16:18Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Romans 7:2-3For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / 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 if she marries another man.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
Matthew 5:32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Hebrews 13:4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
1 Timothy 5:14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
Genesis 2:24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Exodus 20:14You shall not commit adultery.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ...
Malachi 2:14-16Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.
Proverbs 6:32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
Treasury of Scripture For you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband: in that said you truly. is not. Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thouart but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for sheis a man's wife. Genesis 34:2,7,8,31 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her… Numbers 5:29 Thisis the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth asideto another instead of her husband, and is defiled; Jump to Previous FactFiveHusbandHusbandsPresentQuiteTruthTrue.Jump to Next FactFiveHusbandHusbandsPresentQuiteTruthTrue.John 4 1.Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her.27.His disciples marvel.31.He declares to them his zeal for God's glory.39.Many Samaritans believe on him.43.He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum.In fact, you have had five husbandsThis phrase highlights the Samaritan woman's past, revealing her multiple marriages. In the cultural context of first-century Samaria, having multiple husbands could indicate a history of personal tragedy, such as widowhood or divorce, which was often stigmatized. The Samaritans, though related to the Jews, had distinct religious practices and were often looked down upon by the Jewish people. This background sets the stage for Jesus' interaction with her, breaking social norms by speaking to a Samaritan woman. The number five may also symbolize incompleteness or imperfection, contrasting with the completeness found in Christ. and the man you now have is not your husband
This statement addresses the woman's current living situation, suggesting a relationship outside the bounds of marriage. In the biblical context, living with someone who is not one's spouse was considered sinful, reflecting a departure from the covenantal understanding of marriage. This situation underscores the woman's need for spiritual renewal and redemption, which Jesus offers. It also highlights Jesus' omniscience, as He knows her circumstances without prior knowledge, demonstrating His divine insight. You have spoken truthfully.
Here, Jesus acknowledges the woman's honesty in her response to Him. This affirmation is significant, as it shows Jesus' appreciation for truthfulness, even when it reveals personal shortcomings. It also serves as a turning point in their conversation, leading to a deeper revelation of Jesus' identity as the Messiah. This moment of truth is pivotal, as it opens the door for the woman to receive the living water Jesus offers, symbolizing eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is engaging in a conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, revealing His divine knowledge and offering her living water. 2. Samaritan WomanA resident of Sychar in Samaria, she encounters Jesus at Jacob's well. Her life account, including her marital history, becomes a focal point of their conversation. 3. Jacob's WellA significant historical and religious site for both Jews and Samaritans, it serves as the setting for this transformative encounter. 4. SycharA town in Samaria where this interaction takes place, highlighting the cultural and religious tensions between Jews and Samaritans. 5. SamaritansA group with a complex relationship with the Jews, often viewed with suspicion and prejudice, which makes Jesus' interaction with the woman even more significant. Teaching Points Truth and TransformationJesus' revelation of the woman's past is not to condemn but to lead her to transformation. We should seek truth in our lives, allowing it to guide us to spiritual growth. Breaking Cultural BarriersJesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman shows the importance of reaching across cultural and social divides to share the Gospel. Living WaterJesus offers something far greater than physical satisfaction—spiritual fulfillment. We should seek the living water that only Christ can provide. Honesty Before GodThe woman's truthful acknowledgment of her situation is a step towards redemption. We should be honest with God about our struggles and sins. Redemption and WitnessThe woman's encounter with Jesus leads her to become a witness to her community. Our personal transformation can be a powerful testimony to others. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of John 4:18?
2.How does John 4:18 reveal Jesus' knowledge of our personal lives and sins?
3.What can we learn about confession and repentance from John 4:18?
4.How does John 4:18 connect with Psalm 139:1-4 about God's omniscience?
5.How should John 4:18 influence our honesty in relationships and accountability?
6.In what ways can John 4:18 encourage us to seek Jesus' transformative power?
7.Why did Jesus mention the woman's five husbands in John 4:18?
8.How does John 4:18 reflect on the concept of sin and repentance?
9.What cultural norms of marriage does John 4:18 challenge?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 4?
11.How can you inscribe mercy and truth in your heart?
12.How can I overcome fear of God's wrath?
13.Is it possible for God to lie?
14.How can faith overcome fear?What Does John 4:18 Mean In fact• Jesus’ words, “In fact,” signal that He is about to reveal supernatural knowledge (John 2:24-25). • Christ’s foreknowledge affirms His divinity and omniscience, aligning withPsalm 139:1-4, where God knows every word before it is spoken. • By beginning this way, Jesus lovingly exposes hidden realities without condemnation, preparing the Samaritan woman for the living water He offers (John 4:10-14).
you have had five husbands• This literal statement uncovers the woman’s complicated marital history. • Scripture treats each marriage covenant seriously (Genesis 2:24;Malachi 2:14). • Her multiple marriages reflect brokenness common to all humanity—“for all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). • The Lord neither ignores sin nor avoids sinners; instead, He meets people where they are (Luke 5:31-32).
and the man you now have is not your husband• Jesus identifies her current relationship as outside the bounds of marriage, paralleling biblical warnings against sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:9-11;Hebrews 13:4). • By addressing the present, not just the past, He invites repentance and a fresh start (Isaiah 1:18;John 8:11). • Christ’s approach balances truth and grace, confronting sin while extending hope (John 1:17).
You have spoken truthfully• Despite her sin, the woman’s honest admission receives commendation.Proverbs 12:22 shows the Lord delights in truthfulness. • Honesty becomes the doorway to deeper revelation; she soon recognizes Jesus as a prophet (John 4:19) and later proclaims Him to her city (John 4:29-30). • This interaction illustratesJames 4:6—God gives grace to the humble.
summaryJohn 4:18 reveals Jesus’ omniscience, the Samaritan woman’s broken past, and His readiness to forgive and transform. He exposes sin to heal, not to shame, pairing truthful confrontation with gracious invitation. The passage assures us that when we come honestly before Christ, no matter our history, He offers living water that satisfies forever. (18) In that saidst thou truly.--The stroke goes deeper. It lays bare the secrets of all those years over which she thought the veil of the past had for ever been drawn. The bright days of joy and dark days of sin; the heart's promises made and broken; the sad days of death, which five times over had robbed her of a husband; or, worse than death, the sin which had severed the sacred bonds; the shame of the present shameless life--all these are at least hidden from a stranger. But His words pierce to the inmost thoughts, and prove Him to know all the acts of her life ( John 4:29). "Thou hast well said, A husband I have not. The holy name may not be given to the paramour thou now hast; with the loss of purity is linked the loss of truthfulness; the very truth thou utterest is meant to convey to Me an untruth, but to One who knows all, the words are really true;--"in that saidst thou truly."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek In fact,γὰρ(gar)Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.you have hadἔσχες(esches)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.fiveπέντε(pente)Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4002:Five. A primary number; 'five'.husbands,ἄνδρας(andras)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435:A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.the manὃν(hon)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.you now haveἔχεις(echeis)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.isἔστιν(estin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.notοὐκ(ouk)Adverb
Strong's 3756:No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.yourσου(sou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.husband.ἀνήρ(anēr)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 435:A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.You have spokenεἴρηκας(eirēkas)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2046:Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say.truthfully.”ἀληθὲς(alēthes)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 227:Unconcealed, true, true in fact, worthy of credit, truthful. TRUE.
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NT Gospels: John 4:18 For you have had five husbands (Jhn Jo Jn) |
