Joh 4:21-24 | NETfull | STEP | Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

John 4:21-24

21 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, ^{▼▼ Woman was a polite form of address (see BDAG 208-9 s.v. γυνή 1), similar to “Madam” or “Ma’am” used in English in different regions.} a time ^{▼▼ Grk “an hour.”} is coming when you will worship ^{▼▼ The verb is plural.} the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You people ^{▼▼ The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to indicate that the Greek verb translated “worship” is second person plural and thus refers to more than the woman alone.} worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews. ^{▼▼ Or “from the Judeans.” See the note on “Jew” in v. 9.} 23 But a time ^{▼▼ Grk “an hour.”} is coming – and now is here ^{▼▼ “Here” is not in the Greek text but is supplied to conform to contemporary English idiom.} – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks ^{▼▼ See also John 4:27.} such people to be ^{▼▼ Or “as.” The object-complement construction implies either “as” or “to be.”} his worshipers. ^{▼▼ This is a double accusative construction of object and complement with τοιούτους (toioutous) as the object and the participle προσκυνοῦντας (proskunountas) as the complement.} ^{▼▼ The Father wants such people as his worshipers. Note how the woman has been concerned about where people ought to worship, while Jesus is concerned about who people ought to worship.} 24 God is spirit, ^{▼▼ Here πνεῦμα (pneuma) is understood as a qualitative predicate nominative while the articular θεός (qeos) is the subject.} and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”