Bible Strands
John 4:8
(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator interjects to explain that Jesus’ disciples had left the immediate location to purchase provisions in the nearby town while Jesus conversed with the Samaritan woman.
The words — The Greek term μαθηταὶ (mathētai) identifies Jesus’ followers, while ἀπεληλύθεισαν (apelēlutheisan) denotes their completed departure from the scene.
The thread — This logistical detail parallels other accounts where Jesus’ followers are tasked with procuring food for large groups or themselves, as seen in Luke 9:13 and John 6:5.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize that the ensuing conversation occurs with Jesus alone, stripping away group dynamics to focus the interaction on the immediate exchange.
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
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
Cross-references
- Luke 9:13 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”
- John 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”
- John 4:5 So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
- John 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”