4:25a

Messiah: The word Messiah is a Hebrew title that means “Anointed One.” The Jews used this title to refer to the King and Savior whom God had appointed and promised to send. See Christ, Messiah in Key Biblical Terms.

(called Christ): It is not clear in the Greek text who explains the meaning of Messiah. There are two possibilities:

(1) John the author is the one who explains that the Messiah is called Christ. For example:

“I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us everything.” (Messiah is the one called Christ.) (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible, New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word)

(2) The woman is the one who explains that the Messiah is called Christ. For example:

“I know that the Messiah will come. He is the one we call Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (Contemporary English Version)

(English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) as do many scholars. The woman probably did not think that she needed to explain the word “Messiah” to a Jew.

Christ: Here the word Christ is used as a title. The title Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah,” and the two words have the same meaning, “anointed one.” See “Messiah” in 1:41b and the note there. See also Christ, Messiah in Key Biblical Terms.

4:25b

When He comes: This clause refers to the coming of the Messiah. The woman did not know that the Messiah had already come, and that Jesus was in fact the Messiah. In some languages it may be necessary to make it explicit that He refers to the Messiah. For example:

When the Messiah comes (New Century Version)

He will explain everything: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as explain means “to inform,” “to announce,” or “to tell.” Some English translations translate this verb as “proclaim” (New Revised Standard Version). The word may imply the idea of explain, but it is recommended that you translate the regular meaning of the word. For example:

he will tell us everything (NET Bible)
-or-
He will declare all things to us (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
he will make everything known to us

Jesus the Messiah had already told the people many things. However, the woman did not know that Jesus was the Messiah. So you should use the future tense, as she did.

to us: The pronoun us is exclusive here and refers to the Samaritans in general. In some languages you may need to make that explicit. For example:

When the Messiah comes, he will proclaim/explain everything to us (excl.) ⌊Samaritans⌋ .

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