John 4:32
New International Version
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

New Living Translation
But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

English Standard Version
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

Berean Standard Bible
But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

Berean Literal Bible
But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know."

King James Bible
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

New King James Version
But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

New American Standard Bible
But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

NASB 1995
But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

NASB 1977
But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

Amplified Bible
But He told them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

Christian Standard Bible
But he said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But He said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”

American Standard Version
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not.

Contemporary English Version
But Jesus told them, "I have food you don't know anything about."

English Revised Version
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus told them, "I have food to eat that you don't know about."

Good News Translation
But he answered, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

International Standard Version
But he told them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

Majority Standard Bible
But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

NET Bible
But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

New Heart English Bible
But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."

Webster's Bible Translation
But he said to them, I have food to eat that ye know not of.

Weymouth New Testament
"I have food to eat," He replied, "of which you do not know."

World English Bible
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He said to them, “I have food to eat that you have not known.”

Berean Literal Bible
But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know."

Young's Literal Translation
and he said to them, 'I have food to eat that ye have not known.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said to them, I have food to eat which ye know not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said to them: I have meat to eat, which you know not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he said to them, “I have food to eat which you do not know.”

New American Bible
But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

New Revised Standard Version
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But he said to them, I have food to eat, of which you do not know.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But he said to them: I have food to eat of which you know not.

Godbey New Testament
He said to them, I have meat to eat, which you know not.

Haweis New Testament
But he said to them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Mace New Testament
but he answered them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of:

Weymouth New Testament
"I have food to eat," He replied, "of which you do not know."

Worrell New Testament
But He said to them, "I have food to eat that ye know not of."

Worsley New Testament
But He said unto them, I have food to eat, which ye know not of.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Disciples Return and Marvel
31Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33So the disciples asked one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?”…

Cross References
Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

John 6:27
Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

Matthew 6:25
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Luke 12:23
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Job 23:12
I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

Psalm 19:10
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

Psalm 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.

John 17:4
I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.

John 5:30
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 8:29
He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”


Treasury of Scripture

But he said to them, I have meat to eat that you know not of.

I have.

John 4:34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Job 23:12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Psalm 63:5
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

that.

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Proverbs 14:10
The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

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John 4
1. Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her.
27. His disciples marvel.
31. He declares to them his zeal for God's glory.
39. Many Samaritans believe on him.
43. He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum.














But He told them
This phrase indicates a direct communication from Jesus to His disciples. The Greek word for "told" is "λέγει" (legei), which is a present active indicative verb, suggesting an ongoing action. Jesus is actively engaging with His disciples, teaching them in real-time. This highlights the importance of His words and the immediacy of the lesson He is about to impart. In the historical context, rabbis often taught through dialogue, and Jesus, as the ultimate Rabbi, uses this method to reveal deeper spiritual truths.

I have food
The Greek word for "food" is "βρῶσιν" (brosin), which refers to sustenance or nourishment. In the physical sense, food is essential for life, but Jesus is speaking metaphorically about spiritual sustenance. This phrase challenges the disciples to think beyond the physical realm and consider the spiritual nourishment that comes from doing God's will. Historically, food was a central part of daily life and survival, making this metaphor particularly poignant for His audience.

to eat
The verb "to eat" in Greek is "φαγεῖν" (phagein), which is an infinitive form, indicating an action that is to be undertaken. Eating is a basic human need, yet Jesus uses it here to symbolize the act of receiving and internalizing spiritual truths. This action of "eating" spiritually implies a deep, personal engagement with God's will and purpose, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from spiritual, not just physical, nourishment.

that you know nothing about
The phrase "you know nothing about" is translated from the Greek "οὐκ οἴδατε" (ouk oidate), which means "you do not know" or "you are unaware." This highlights the disciples' lack of understanding regarding the spiritual dimension of Jesus' mission. It underscores a common theme in the Gospels where Jesus' followers often misunderstand His teachings. This phrase invites readers to recognize their own limitations in understanding God's ways and encourages a deeper pursuit of spiritual insight. Historically, this reflects the broader theme of revelation and mystery in the Scriptures, where God's truths are progressively revealed to those who seek Him earnestly.

(32) I have meat to eat that ye know not of.--The emphasis is on the pronouns, which are opposed to each other. "Meat" is better rendered food (see Note on John 4:8). The Greek word here is the same as in John 6:27; John 6:55.

Verse 32. - But he saith to them, I have food to eat that ye know not; of which you are ignorant, but which you may come to know by and by. Βρῶσιν and βρῶμα are both used. The first denotes, strictly speaking, the act of eating; and the second the material for food; but they are, in Greek literature, generally used almost interchangeably. There were Divine desires and sacred satisfactions which discriminated the Lord's consciousness from that of his disciples. Thoma refers to the mighty fasts of the great lawgiver and prophet as the literary antecedent of this significant event; but this superiority to food is true of every great soul. The men of the spirit are consumed with desires which dwarf the desires of the flesh, and they forget to eat their bread. Nor can we forget that the synoptic narrative places the forty dave' fast in this very epoch of Christ's life, chronologically speaking. (See note at end of this chapter.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

He told
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“I
Ἐγὼ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

have
ἔχω (echō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

food
βρῶσιν (brōsin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1035: (a) abstr: eating, (b) food, a meal, (c) rust. From the base of bibrosko; eating; by extension food.

to eat
φαγεῖν (phagein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.

that
ἣν (hēn)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

know
οἴδατε (oidate)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

nothing [about].”
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.


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NT Gospels: John 4:32 But he said to them I have (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 4:31
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