John 4:42
“And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Samaritans affirm that their faith is now rooted in their own encounter with Jesus, whom they confess as the Messiah and Savior of the world.
Context
The Samaritans testify to their direct encounter with Jesus and their confession of his identity.
What Does John 4:42 Mean?
There is a gentleness in what they say to the woman, not a dismissal but a honoring. We believe, not because of your saying acknowledges her gift—she brought them to the well—but also makes clear that faith has moved into their own hands now. They have seen him. They have heard him. They know for themselves. This is how faith is meant to mature.
And the confession they make is breathtaking. They call him not only the Messiah, which was extraordinary for Samaritans, but the Savior of the world. From the lips of a despised people comes a statement of universal redemption. Jesus came for more than Israel. He came for Samaria, for Rome, for every corner of the earth.
Application
Faith is meant to move from I believe because someone told me to I know because I have met him myself. Encourage others toward this deeper knowing. Your testimony is a door; Jesus himself is the feast beyond it.