John 4:3
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He left Judea and returned to Galilee.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
left Judea--to avoid persecution, which at that early stage would have marred His work. departed into Galilee--by which time John had been cast into prison (Mar 1:14).
Open source ↗It was, more than any thing else, the glory of the land of Israel, that it was Emmanuel's land (Isa 8:8), not only the place of his birth, but the scene of his preaching and miracles. This land in our Saviour's time was divided into three parts: Judea in the south, Galilee in the north, and Samaria lying between them. Now, in this chapter, we have Christ in each of these three parts of that land. I. Departing out of Judea (Joh 4:1-3). II. Passing through Samaria, which, though a visit in transitu, here takes up most room. 1. His coming into Samaria (Joh 4:4-6). 2. His discourse with the Samaritan woman at a well (v. 7-26). 3. The notice which the woman gave of him to the city (Joh 4:27-30). 4. Christ's talk with his disciples in the meantime (Joh 4:31-38). 5. The good effect of this among the Samaritans (Joh 4:39-42). III. We find him residing for some time in Galilee (Joh 4:43-46), and his curing a nobleman's son there, that was at death's door (Joh 4:46-54).
Open source ↗4:3 After John the Baptist had been imprisoned (see Mark 6:14-29), Jesus left Judea (cp. Mark 1:14).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”