John 4:8
New International Version
(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

New Living Translation
He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

English Standard Version
(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)

Berean Standard Bible
(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

Berean Literal Bible
For His disciples had gone away into the city, that they might buy food.

King James Bible
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

New King James Version
For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

New American Standard Bible
For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food.

NASB 1995
For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

NASB 1977
For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Legacy Standard Bible
For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Amplified Bible
For His disciples had gone off into the city to buy food—

Christian Standard Bible
because his disciples had gone into town to buy food.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for His disciples had gone into town to buy food.”

American Standard Version
For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food.

English Revised Version
For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
(His disciples had gone into the city to buy some food.)

Good News Translation
His disciples had gone into town to buy food.)

International Standard Version
since his disciples had gone off into town to buy food.

Majority Standard Bible
(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

NET Bible
(For his disciples had gone off into the town to buy supplies.)

New Heart English Bible
For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Webster's Bible Translation
(For his disciples had gone to the city to buy provisions.)

Weymouth New Testament
for His disciples were gone to the town to buy provisions.

World English Bible
For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for His disciples were gone away into the city that they may buy food;

Berean Literal Bible
For His disciples had gone away into the city, that they might buy food.

Young's Literal Translation
for his disciples were gone away to the city, that they may buy victuals;

Smith's Literal Translation
(For his disciples were gone into the city that they might buy food.)
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For his disciples were gone into the city to buy meats.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For his disciples had gone into the city in order to buy food.

New American Bible
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.

New Revised Standard Version
(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.)
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
His disciples had entered into the city to buy food for themselves.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For his disciples had entered the city to buy provisions for themselves.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For his disciples had gone into the city to buy food.

Godbey New Testament
For His disciples had gone into the city, that they might purchase food.

Haweis New Testament
(For his disciples were gone into the city to buy provisions.)

Mace New Testament
for his disciples were gone away to the city to buy provisions.

Weymouth New Testament
for His disciples were gone to the town to buy provisions.

Worrell New Testament
For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy bread.

Worsley New Testament
(For his disciples were gone away to the city to buy food.)

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8( His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)…

Cross References
John 6:5-7
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?” / But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. / Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”

John 13:29
Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.

Matthew 14:15-17
When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” / “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.” / “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

Mark 6:36-38
Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” / But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?” / “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Luke 9:12-13
As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.” / 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 12:6
Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

John 2:2-3
and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. / When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

Matthew 15:32-34
Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.” / The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?” / “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

Mark 8:1-4
In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said, / “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. / If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.” ...

Luke 22:35-36
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. / “Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.

John 21:5
So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.

Acts 11:28-29
One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.) / So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

1 Corinthians 9:4-5
Have we no right to food and to drink? / Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

2 Corinthians 11:9
And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.

Philippians 4:15-16
And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving. / For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.


Treasury of Scripture

(For his disciples were gone away to the city to buy meat.)

to buy.

John 6:5-7
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? …

Luke 9:13
But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

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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.














His disciples
The term "disciples" refers to the followers of Jesus who were committed to learning from Him and spreading His teachings. In the Greek, "μαθηταί" (mathētai) implies students or learners, emphasizing their role as those who are being taught by the Master. Historically, discipleship in the Jewish context involved a close relationship with a rabbi, where the disciple would not only learn teachings but also observe and emulate the rabbi's way of life. This highlights the intimate and transformative relationship between Jesus and His followers.

had gone
The phrase "had gone" indicates a past action, suggesting that the disciples were not present at the moment of the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. The Greek verb "ἀπεληλύθεισαν" (apelēlytheisan) is in the pluperfect tense, which often denotes an action completed in the past with relevance to another past event. This absence sets the stage for the significant encounter that follows, showing that sometimes divine appointments occur when we least expect them.

into the town
The "town" referred to here is Sychar, a Samaritan city. The Greek word "πόλιν" (polin) can mean city or town, and its use here underscores the geographical and cultural setting of the narrative. Samaria was a region with a complex history of tension and animosity between Jews and Samaritans. This context is crucial for understanding the radical nature of Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman, as Jews typically avoided contact with Samaritans.

to buy food
The act of buying food indicates a practical need and a common human activity. The Greek "ἀγοράσωσιν τροφάς" (agorasōsin trophas) reflects the disciples' role in attending to the physical needs of the group. This detail serves to highlight the humanity of Jesus and His followers, who experienced hunger and required sustenance. It also sets up a contrast between the physical nourishment sought by the disciples and the spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers to the Samaritan woman and, by extension, to all who seek Him.

(8) For introduces His reason for asking this favour of her. The disciples had gone on. He was alone, and without the means of getting water for Himself (John 4:11).

Meat.--Better, food, as the former word is misleading in modern English. See Genesis 1:29-30, and Deuteronomy 20:20, where herbs and fruits are termed "meat." It will be remembered that the meat-offering did not consist of flesh, but of flour and oil and ears of corn (Leviticus 2).

Verse 8. - For his disciples had departed into the city to buy food. This is stated as a reason why he asked water from the chance wayfarer, who had obviously with her the "water pot" and the ἄντλημα (ver. 11), a word used for the rope with which the bucket or water jar was let down into the well. There are very discordant statements as to the degree of separation which the Jews insisted upon between themselves and Samaritans. The later rabbis greatly aggravated the feeling. They refused to eat the bread of Samaritans, as though it were more defiling than swine's flesh; objected to drink their wine or vinegar; and, if this animosity at the time of Christ had been equally pronounced, would have limited the disciples in their choice of food to uncooked eggs, fruits, and vegetables, and possibly to meal and wine. But it seems, from the earlier rabbinical books (Edersheim quotes several, which modify Lightfoot's authorities), that the meat of a Samaritan was lawful food if an Israelite had witnessed its killing, and that their bread, wine, etc., were not forbidden. We see no reason for thinking that Jesus was left absolutely alone on this occasion, and, from John's habitual method of avoiding direct mention of himself, it becomes perfectly possible that he was there listening silently to all these gracious words. Moulton cannot doubt that the beloved disciple subsequently received the whole from the Lord's own lips; but there is no reason to conclude that he must have been absent, and very much to suggest his quiet presence (Weiss, 'Life of Christ,' 2:34).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
(
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

had gone
ἀπεληλύθεισαν (apelēlytheisan)
Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 565: From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

town
πόλιν (polin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.

to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

buy
ἀγοράσωσιν (agorasōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 59: To buy. From agora; properly, to go to market, i.e. to purchase; specially, to redeem.

food.)
τροφὰς (trophas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5160: Food, nourishment, maintenance. From trepho; nourishment; by implication, rations.


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