Paragraph 4:16–18

This paragraph tells how the woman began to believe that Jesus was a prophet: Jesus let her know that he knew her history.

4:16a

Jesus told her: This quote introducer indicates that Jesus spoke again to the Samaritan woman. See the General Comment on 4:16a–b for another possible word order.

Go, call your husband: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as call means “invite.” In some languages it is more natural to use a different verb. For example:

Go get your husband (New Century Version)

4:16b

and come back: Jesus implied that he wanted the woman to bring her husband back with her. In some languages it is more natural to make that information explicit here. For example:

and bring him here (God’s Word)

The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as come here is singular and refers to the woman. However, in some languages, you might need to use a plural verb or pronoun to indicate that the woman’s husband should also come.

General Comment on 4:16a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to place the quote introducer in the middle or at the end of the sentence. For example:

‘Go and call your husband,’ said Jesus, ‘and come back here.’ (Revised English Bible)

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