Translation commentary on John 4:7

In this verse a Samaritan woman (so also Jerusalem Bible, Goodspeed, Moffatt, New English Bible) is literally “a woman of Samaria,” while in verse 9 the woman is literally “the Samaritan woman.” In English, however, it is more natural to say a Samaritan woman than to say “a woman of Samaria.” And since the woman has already been identified, it is not necessary to identify her again as a Samaritan in verse 9.

Different languages may employ quite distinct means of indicating the relation of a person to his “home region,” for example, “a woman born in Samaria,” or “a woman who calls Samaria her home,” or “a woman from Samaria region.” Sometimes the region from which a person comes is identified as related to the dialect spoken there, for example, “a woman speaking the Samaria speech.”

To draw some water may be rendered “to get water from the well.” In some instances it may be necessary to be specific, for example, “to let her jar down into the well and to pull up water.”

Give me a drink of water is literally “give me to drink,” but the context makes it clear that water is requested, and Good News Translation makes this information explicit. Most translations have “give me a drink.”

At this point a marginal note may be needed to explain “give me a drink of water,” for in some receptor languages this type of request may have misleading implications. For example, in some societies this type of request is a subtle form of requesting sexual relations. It is, of course, impossible to change the nature of Jesus’ request, but a footnote may be introduced to indicate that there are no improper connotations.

In translating give me a drink of water, it is important to avoid suggesting a demand or impolite request. A form equivalent to “Please give me a drink of water” may be desirable.

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 4:7

Paragraph 4:7–15

A Samaritan woman came to the well where Jesus was resting. Jesus asked her for water to drink, and then he offered her living water that would lead to eternal life.

4:7a

a Samaritan woman: This phrase refers to a woman who was a member of the Samaritan people group and lived in the region of Samaria.

came: The woman came to the well. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:

came to the well (New Century Version)

to draw water: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to draw water indicates the woman’s purpose in coming to the well. The woman’s purpose was to draw water, meaning to get or remove water. She probably pulled the water up from the bottom of the well in a bucket. Then she carried it home in a jar. This was the way people usually got water in Jesus’ time. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

to get some water (God’s Word)
-or-
to draw water from the well (Contemporary English Version)

4:7b

Jesus said to her: The pronoun her refers to the woman who came to the well. In some languages it is more natural to make this explicit. For example:

Jesus said to ⌊this woman⌋

said: Jesus asked the woman to give him a drink of water. Translate this verb using a word that is natural for making a polite request. For example:

asked (Contemporary English Version)

Give Me a drink: Jesus made this request politely. In some languages it is more polite and natural to say it in one of these ways:

Please give me a drink. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Would you please give me a drink of water? (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 4:7b

In some languages it may be more natural to translate 4:7b as indirect speech. For example:

Jesus asked her for a drink of water.

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