John 4:3

4:3 After John the Baptist had been imprisoned (see Mark 6:14-29), Jesus left Judea (cp. Mark 1:14).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Joh 4:3 . On this coming to the ears of Jesus ἀφῆκε τὴν Ἰουδαίαν , He forsook or abandoned Judaea. The verb is used of neglecting or dismissing from thought, hence of forgiving sin; but there is here no ethical sense in the word, and it may be translated “left”. καὶ ἀπῆλθε πάλιν , “again” in reference to the visit to Galilee already narrated, Joh 1:44 , Joh 2:1 . Jesus feared a collision with the Pharisees at this early stage, because it could only mar His work. He refuses to be hurried, and remains master of the situation throughout. He therefore retired to Galilee, where He thought He would be hidden. Cf. Joh 4:44 .

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(3) Again.—This word is almost certainly part of the original text, though it is not found in some MSS. Its omission is due to a difficulty of interpretation. What is the previous return into Galilee? The only one mentioned in this Gospel is that of Joh_1:43. We have had another note of time in Joh_3:24, from which we learn that this Judæan period of the ministry preceded the imprisonment of John, and therefore the commencement of the Galilean ministry recorded in Mat_4:12 (see Note there) and Mar_1:14. This second return, then, is the starting-point of the history of our Lord’s work in Galilee as told by the earlier Gospels.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

3. He left Judæa] The stronghold of the Pharisees and of the party opposed to Christ. We are to infer, therefore, that this report made them commence operations against Him.

departed again into Galilee] ‘Again’ is somewhat wanting in authority. It points to the period from Joh_1:43 to Joh_2:12. Christ had come up from Capernaum to Jerusalem for the Passover (Joh_2:13): He now returns to Galilee. It is sometimes assumed that this visit to Galilee marks the beginning of the Galilean ministry recorded by the Synoptists (comp. Mat_4:12). This may be correct, but it is not quite certain. See note on Mar_1:14-15.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He left Judaea,.... Where he had been for some time: at the feast of the passover he went up to Jerusalem, and after a short stay there, he came into the country part of Judea, where he tarried longer; and in both about the space of eight months; for it was now but four months to harvest, which began at the passover; see Joh 2:13. And now upon thee Pharisees being made acquainted with his success in these parts, he leaves them; not through fear of them, but because he would not irritate and provoke them, and stir up their malice and envy against him, which might put them upon measures to seek to take away his life; whereas his time was not yet come, and he had other work to do elsewhere:

and departed again into Galilee; where he had spent the greatest part of his time, in private life; from whence he came to Jordan unto John to be baptized by him; and after that went thither again, where he wrought his first miracle: and now having been in Judea some time, he removes to Galilee again; and of this journey of his thither, after the imprisonment of John, an account is given, in Mat 4:12. The Persic version leaves out the word "again", and so do the Alexandrian copy, and many copies; but is by others retained, and very justly.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

Ver. 3. He left Judea] God must be trusted, not tempted.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He left Judea - The envy and malice of the Pharisees he might have known were growing so rapidly as to endanger his life. As his time to die had not yet come, he retired to Galilee, a country farther from Jerusalem, and much less under their control than Judea. See Mar 2:22; Luk 3:1. Though he feared not death and did not shrink from suffering, yet he did not needlessly throw himself into danger or provoke opposition. He could do as much good in Galilee, probably, as in Judea, and he therefore withdrew himself from immediate danger.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

He left the province of Judea, which was near to Jerusalem, where the Pharisees had their chief residence and greatest power; and went the second time into Galilee, whither he went once before, Joh 1:43, where he found Philip and Nathanael. Galilee was a province under the jurisdiction of Herod, Luk 3:1. This motion of our Saviour’s into Galilee, is reported by Matthew in Mat 4:12, and also by Mark in Mar 1:14 and Luke in Luk 4:14. The two former give another reason of his motion, viz. his hearing that John was cast into prison; of which, and the cause of it, see Mat 14:3-6; so as after that he publicly preached no more, which might possibly augment the number of Christ’s disciples; John’s disciples following him. Both these causes probably concurred, to cause this motion. John, who by preaching and baptizing had laid the foundation of a gospel church in Galilee, was imprisoned; and our Saviour knew that, the number of his disciples increasing upon John’s confinement, an information had been carried against him to the Pharisees; this made him, knowing that his time was not yet come, withdraw himself out of the province of Judea into that of Galilee, as well to supply the want there (John being in prison) as to provide for his own security.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

3. Departed again into Galilee—Where he remained until his second Passover. See Synopsis.

Again—Because he had journeyed to Galilee before, immediately after his temptation and baptism. See Synopsis, §§ 18, 19.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. But it should be observed that afhke is a very peculiar word for a simple departure. The verb afihmi is used when kataleipw might have been expected (Westcott). The word means "to leave a thing to itself," to its own ways, to treat it as no longer exercising an influence on the mind. (It is, with the noun affesiv , used for "forgive," "forgiveness," of sins.) Jesus left Judaea, which had so imperfectly accepted his claims. The word suggests that his departure was a consequence of the action of the Pharisees; And he departed again. This refers to the first departure after the early testimonies of John, when Jesus went to Cana and Capernaum. (Joh_1:43) Whether this journey corresponded with that mentioned in Matthew and Mark, as following the baptism and temptation of Jesus, or not, it is not to be confounded with the journey which John had already recorded.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He left Judea - To shun the effects of their resentment.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Ver. 3. ἀφῆκε, He left) for the purpose of fortifying the disciples, as yet weak, against the stumbling-block [to their faith] about to arise from the opposition of the Pharisees.—V. g.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

3. ἀφῆκεν. ‘He left it alone, let it go’ (Joh 4:28) as something that He would have retained, but now left to itself. First the Temple, then Jerusalem, and now Judaea has to be abandoned, because He can win no welcome. On the contrary, the report of His very partial success seems at once to have provoked opposition, which He avoids by retiring. Perhaps also He wished to avoid the appearance of being a rival of John. There is no trace of His continuing to baptize in Galilee.

πάλιν. Omitted by some important witnesses. It points to Joh 1:43 to Joh 2:12. He had come from Capernaum to Jerusalem for the Passover (Joh 2:13); He now returns to Galilee, where His opponents would have less influence. That this return is the beginning of the Galilean ministry recorded by the Synoptists (Mat 4:12) is possibly but by no means certainly correct. See on Joh 6:1 and Mar 1:14-15.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

3. ἀφῆκεν τὴν Ἰουδαίαν, “He forsook Judæa.” ἀφίημι is an unusual word to use of leaving a place, but cf. 16:28.

DΘ fam. 13 with Latin texts read τὴν Ἰουδαίαν γῆν (cf. 3:22).

καὶ ἀπῆλθεν πάλιν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, “He departed again into Galilee,” the first ministry in Galilee having been already described (1:43-2:12); see on 3:24. We should not have expected the aor. ἀπῆλθεν, as the journey is not yet completed, and the Samaritan episode comes next. But it is quite good Greek, εἰς meaning “towards.” “He left again for Galilee,” is the exact rendering.

πάλιν is a favourite word with Jn., as with Mk. It is used of going back to a place, as it is here, 4:46, 6:15, 10:40, 11:7, 18:33, 38, 19:4, 9, 20:10. AB*ΓD omit πάλιν, but ins.אB2CDLTbWΘ fam. 13 with the O.L. and Old Syriac vss.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He left [αφηκε] . The verb means literally to send away, dismiss. It is used of forgiving offenses (Mt 6:43; Jas 5:15); of yielding up (Mt 27:50); of letting alone (Mt 19:14); of allowing or permitting (Luk 6:12). See on these passages. Its employment here is peculiar. Compare Joh 16:28, of Christ 's leaving the world.

Again. See Joh 1:44.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.