John Chapter 4 verse 8 Holy Bible
For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food.
read chapter 4 in ASV
For his disciples had gone to the town to get food.
read chapter 4 in BBE
(for his disciples had gone away into the city that they might buy provisions).
read chapter 4 in DARBY
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
read chapter 4 in KJV
read chapter 4 in WBT
For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
read chapter 4 in WEB
for his disciples were gone away to the city, that they may buy victuals;
read chapter 4 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 8. - For his disciples had departed into the city to buy food. This is stated as a reason why he asked water from the chance wayfarer, who had obviously with her the "water pot" and the ἄντλημα (ver. 11), a word used for the rope with which the bucket or water jar was let down into the well. There are very discordant statements as to the degree of separation which the Jews insisted upon between themselves and Samaritans. The later rabbis greatly aggravated the feeling. They refused to eat the bread of Samaritans, as though it were more defiling than swine's flesh; objected to drink their wine or vinegar; and, if this animosity at the time of Christ had been equally pronounced, would have limited the disciples in their choice of food to uncooked eggs, fruits, and vegetables, and possibly to meal and wine. But it seems, from the earlier rabbinical books (Edersheim quotes several, which modify Lightfoot's authorities), that the meat of a Samaritan was lawful food if an Israelite had witnessed its killing, and that their bread, wine, etc., were not forbidden. We see no reason for thinking that Jesus was left absolutely alone on this occasion, and, from John's habitual method of avoiding direct mention of himself, it becomes perfectly possible that he was there listening silently to all these gracious words. Moulton cannot doubt that the beloved disciple subsequently received the whole from the Lord's own lips; but there is no reason to conclude that he must have been absent, and very much to suggest his quiet presence (Weiss, 'Life of Christ,' 2:34).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) For introduces His reason for asking this favour of her. The disciples had gone on. He was alone, and without the means of getting water for Himself (John 4:11).Meat.--Better, food, as the former word is misleading in modern English. See Genesis 1:29-30, and Deuteronomy 20:20, where herbs and fruits are termed "meat." It will be remembered that the meat-offering did not consist of flesh, but of flour and oil and ears of corn (Leviticus 2).
