John 4:31-38

Workers for the Harvest

4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ¹  “Rabbi, eat something.” ²  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 ³  to one another, “No one brought him anything ⁴  to eat, did they?” ⁵  4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me ⁶  and to complete ⁷  his work. ⁸  4:35 Don’t you say, ⁹  ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up ¹⁰  and see that the fields are already white ¹¹  for harvest! 4:36 The one who reaps receives pay ¹²  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, ¹³  ‘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.”

[4:31]  ¹ tn Grk “were asking him, saying.”

[4:31]  ² tn The direct object of φάγε (fage) in Greek is understood; “something” is supplied in English.

[4:33]  ³ tn An ingressive imperfect conveys the idea that Jesus’ reply provoked the disciples’ response.

[4:33]  ⁴ tn The direct object of ἤνεγκεν (hnenken) in Greek is understood; “anything” is supplied in English.

[4:33]  ⁵ 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?”).

[4:34]  ⁶ sn The one who sent me refers to the Father.

[4:34]  ⁷ tn Or “to accomplish.”

[4:34]  ⁸ tn The substantival ἵνα (Jina) clause has been translated as an English infinitive clause.

[4:35]  ⁹ tn The recitative ὅτι (Joti) after λέγετε (legete) has not been translated.

[4:35]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “lift up your eyes” (an idiom). BDAG 357 s.v. ἐπαίρω 1 has “look up” here.

[4:35]  ¹¹ tn That is, “ripe.”

[4:36]  ¹² tn Or “a reward”; see L&N 38.14 and 57.173. This is something of a wordplay.

[4:37]  ¹³ tn The recitative ὅτι (Joti) after ἀληθινός (alhqino") has not been translated.