John 4:32-38

4:32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 4:33 So the disciples began to say ¹  to one another, “No one brought him anything ²  to eat, did they?” ³  4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me ⁴  and to complete ⁵  his work. ⁶  4:35 Don’t you say, ⁷  ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up ⁸  and see that the fields are already white ⁹  for harvest! 4:36 The one who reaps receives pay ¹⁰  and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. 4:37 For in this instance the saying is true, ¹¹  ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 4:38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

¹ tn An ingressive imperfect conveys the idea that Jesus’ reply provoked the disciples’ response.

² tn The direct object of ἤνεγκεν (hnenken) in Greek is understood; “anything” is supplied in English.

³ tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here it is “did they?”).

¹ sn The one who sent me refers to the Father.

² tn Or “to accomplish.”

³ tn The substantival ἵνα (Jina) clause has been translated as an English infinitive clause.

¹ tn The recitative ὅτι (Joti) after λέγετε (legete) has not been translated.

² tn Grk “lift up your eyes” (an idiom). BDAG 357 s.v. ἐπαίρω 1 has “look up” here.

³ tn That is, “ripe.”

¹ tn Or “a reward”; see L&N 38.14 and 57.173. This is something of a wordplay.

¹ tn The recitative ὅτι (Joti) after ἀληθινός (alhqino") has not been translated.