John 4:14 Meaning and Explanation
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus gives a satisfaction that lasts and becomes a fountain of life within us.
The Context of John 4:14
Jesus is sitting by Jacob's well outside the Samaritan town of Sychar, weary from the journey, around noon. A woman has come alone to draw water, and He has asked her for a drink. Now He turns the conversation from the well's water to a deeper kind.
What Does John 4:14 Mean?
The woman knows about thirst. She has come in the heat of the day, lowering her bucket into a deep well, and she will be back tomorrow, and the day after, because well water always runs out. Jesus takes that daily, wearying cycle and sets His gift beside it. Whoever drinks the water He gives "shall never thirst." Then He says something even more striking: this water sinks deeper than outward refreshment, becoming "a well of water springing up" inside the person, a living spring rising up toward everlasting life.
He is speaking of Himself and the life He brings. The things we keep returning to, hoping they will finally fill us, leave us thirsty again. What Jesus gives takes root within and keeps on giving, a fountain that does not depend on the next trip to the well. To receive Him is to carry that spring inside, welling up day after day. The tired woman at the well, and anyone who has grown weary of going back to empty wells, is offered a thirst that is finally answered.
John 4:14 in the Original Language
hallomai (ἅλλομαι), 'springing up' -- to leap or spring up, used of leaping water and of a man who jumps to his feet; living, lively motion.
How to Apply John 4:14 Today
When we are tired of returning to things that never quite fill us, this verse offers another way. What Jesus gives lasts and overflows; it becomes a spring within us, rising up toward life that lasts. We are invited to drink from Him and never thirst the same way again.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 4:14
What does John 4:14 mean?
Jesus gives a satisfaction that lasts and becomes a fountain of life within us.
What is the context of John 4:14?
Jesus is sitting by Jacob's well outside the Samaritan town of Sychar, weary from the journey, around noon. A woman has come alone to draw water, and He has asked her for a drink. Now He turns the conversation from the well's water to a deeper kind.
How can I apply John 4:14 today?
When we are tired of returning to things that never quite fill us, this verse offers another way. What Jesus gives lasts and overflows; it becomes a spring within us, rising up toward life that lasts. We are invited to drink from Him and never thirst the same way again.