4:29a

Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did: This woman was inviting the people of Sychar to come and meet Jesus. She exaggerated about Jesus telling her everything she had ever done. She exaggerated in order to make them interested. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did. (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Let us go see a person who told me all that I have done.

4:29b

Could this be the Christ?: This is a rhetorical question. The woman was hoping that this was the person they had been waiting for. However, she was not sure.

There are two ways of translating this expression of hope:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Could he be the Messiah? (Contemporary English Version)

• Use a statement: For example:

He could be the Messiah. Come and meet him.

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

Christ: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Christ means “anointed one.” The Jews used this title to refer to the king and savior whom God had appointed and promised to send. See the note on Christ at 4:25a.

General Comment on 4:28–29

In some languages it is more natural to use indirect speech in the verses 4:28–29b. For example:

The woman left her water jar at the well and went to town. She told the people to come and meet someone who knew all about her. She wondered if he could be the Messiah.

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