John 4:27

Just then His disciples returned and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, “What do You want from her?” or “Why are You talking with her?”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The disciples return from the town to find Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman. They observe the encounter but ask neither why He is talking with her nor what He wants from her.

The words — The Greek text records ἦλθαν (ēlthan), meaning "came," and μαθηταὶ (mathētai), meaning "disciples," to mark their sudden arrival and unspoken observation.

The thread — The disciples' silent surprise mirrors the Pharisee's internal reaction in Luke 7:39 when Jesus breaks social norms. Their return also follows the food-buying trip noted in John 4:8 and immediately precedes the woman's departure in John 4:28.

Why it lands — The text records a divine interaction that operates outside human social boundaries without seeking permission or explanation. It requires the reader to suspend judgment and recognize that God's work does not depend on human approval or conventional expectations.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

Cross-references

Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
John 4:8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)