Translation commentary on John 4:14

A contrast is evident between the tense of the verb drinks in this verse and in the preceding verse. The verb in verse 13 is in the present tense, suggesting habitual action; in verse 14 the word drinks is in the aorist tense, suggesting a single action. Thus the water from Jacob’s well supplies only the physical needs of men, and only temporarily, so that people must return for more. One drink of the water that Jesus gives for the spiritual needs of people provides eternal life. The contrast between the present and aorist forms of the verb drink may be indicated in some languages by translating the first part of verse 14 “If anyone ever drinks the water that I give him, he will never be thirsty again” or “But if he once drinks the water….”

Will never be thirsty again (so Jerusalem Bible; Moffatt “will never thirst any more”; see New English Bible, Goodspeed) is literally “will not be thirsty into the age.” In this context “the age” (see comments at 3.15) is equivalent to “eternity” or “forever,” and when joined with a negative (“not … into the age”), the meaning is never … again.

In the Greek the next sentence reads literally “but the water which I will give to him will become in him a spring of water leaping up into eternal life.” To make explicit the meaning of “spring of water leaping into eternal life,” Good News Translation has a spring which will provide him with life-giving water and give him eternal life, which is clearly the meaning. Most translations are rather formal in their rendering. New American Bible attempts to make a dynamic equivalent by translating “the water I give shall become a fountain within him, leaping up to provide eternal life.” In certain languages will become in him a spring may require some indication that this statement of Jesus is to be understood figuratively, for example, “will become in him just like a spring” or “will be in him something resembling a spring.”

The verb “leaping up” (see Acts 3.8, where TEV translates “jumped up … jumping” in its double occurrence) denotes lively action. In the Septuagint it is used of the coming of God’s “spirit” on Samson, Saul, and David, and some commentators believe it to be the background of its use in the present passage.

If life-giving water is translated “water that gives life,” it may be important to unite this expression with the phrase give him eternal life, that is, one may translate “provide him with water which gives him eternal life” or, in some languages, “… real life which never ends”—to emphasize the qualitative significance of eternal life, rather than merely its duration.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 4:14

4:14a

But: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates contrast between the results of two different actions. The two actions are drinking the well’s water and drinking the water that Jesus will give. Those who drink the well’s water will get thirsty again. Those who drink Jesus’ water will never be thirsty again and will have eternal life. The contrast shows that Jesus’ water was better than the well water.

whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst: This clause does not mean that those people would never want to drink water again, although that is what the woman thought. Jesus was talking about a spiritual thirst or desire. When people receive living water (spiritual life) from Jesus, it will satisfy them. They may thirst for more of God, but they know that he has already given them what they really thirst for. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as never is a strong negative word that emphasizes what Jesus said. In some languages it may be more natural to say:

But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
But no one who drinks the water that I give will ever be thirsty again. (Contemporary English Version)

4:14b–c

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life: Jesus continued to use a metaphor to describe what would happen to those who drink his water that gives life. (See the note at 4:10d for more information on “living water.”) In this sentence he said that the water would keep coming forever like a spring that never stops. That shows that this water gives eternal life. If this metaphor is difficult to understand in your language, you may need to use a simile instead. For example:

The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Because the water that I give, it will become like a spring in his body which never becomes dry which gives him life that lasts forever.

4:14b

Indeed: The Greek text includes a conjunction that is usually translated as “but,” but the Berean Standard Bible translates emphatically as Indeed. Here, the Greek conjunction connects a negative statement (“those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty ”) to a positive statement (“The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life ”). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction “but.”

…whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life (NET Bible)

• Use a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

…those who drink the water that I will give them will never become thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them a spring that gushes up to eternal life. (God’s Word)

• Do not use a conjunction as in the New Revised Standard Version. For example:

…no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life. (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

Those who drink the water that I will give, it will become like a spring in his body that always flows and gives forever life. He will never be thirsty again.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

the water I give him will become: The Greek text emphasizes the word I. Jesus was contrasting himself and the water that he will give with Jacob and the water that he gave.

In some languages it may be natural to say to whom Jesus will give this water. For example:

the water I will give them will become (God’s Word)

4:14c

in him: This phrase refers to the spirits or souls of the people who drink or receive the water Jesus offers. Their bodies would die, but their souls/spirits would live forever. If it is not natural to say in him, use an expression that indicates that this water will affect these people. For example:

for them

a fount of water springing up: This phrase refers to fresh (not salty) water that jumps or rises up (gushes) out of the ground. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

a spring of water welling up (New International Version)
-or-
a fresh, bubbling spring (New Living Translation (2004))

to eternal life: This phrase indicates that this water brings eternal life. The phrase eternal life refers to the new spiritual life that God gives us when we believe in Jesus. It is life that never ends. See the note at 3:15 and how you translated the phrase there. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

forever life ⌊from God⌋
-or-

⌊spiritual⌋ life that never ends
-or-
living forever ⌊with God⌋

General Comment on 4:14a–c

In some languages it may be natural to follow the Greek and translate 4:14a using a singular subject meaning “whoever.” For example:

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (New International Version)
-or-
but anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. For it will jump up like a fountain inside that person and bring eternal life.

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