Bible Strands
John 4:32
But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to His disciples immediately after they urge Him to consume physical food following His dialogue with the Samaritan woman at the well. He addresses their literal expectation of a meal with a statement of spiritual priority.
The words — The term βρῶσιν (brōsin) literally means "food," coupled with ἔχω (echō), "to have," indicating possession of sustenance. Jesus pairs this with φαγεῖν (phagein), "to eat," to frame the possession as an active, ongoing reality distinct from their request.
The thread — The priority of divine instruction over physical nourishment appears in Job 23:12, which values obedience to God's lips above daily bread, and Psalms 119:103, which describes God's words as sweeter than honey. Jesus explicitly defines this sustenance in John 4:34 as doing the will of the One who sent Him and finishing His work.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that Jesus' primary drive is obedience to the Father rather than physical necessity. A reader must accept that divine commission supersedes ordinary human needs without reducing the statement to a generic metaphor.
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
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Cross-references
- Job 23:12 I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
- Psalms 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!
- John 4:34 Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- Proverbs 18:20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
- Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
- Psalms 63:5 My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.
- Psalms 25:14 The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
- Proverbs 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
- Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
- Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.