John 4:32-34

4:32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 4:33 So the disciples began to say ¹  to one another, “No one brought him anything ²  to eat, did they?” ³  4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me ⁴  and to complete ⁵  his work. ⁶ 

---

¹ tn An ingressive imperfect conveys the idea that Jesus’ reply provoked the disciples’ response.

² tn The direct object of ἤνεγκεν (hnenken) in Greek is understood; “anything” is supplied in English.

³ tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here it is “did they?”).

⁴ sn The one who sent me refers to the Father.

⁵ tn Or “to accomplish.”

⁶ tn The substantival ἵνα (Jina) clause has been translated as an English infinitive clause.

sn No one brought him anything to eat, did they? In the discussion with the disciples which took place while the woman had gone into the city, note again the misunderstanding: The disciples thought Jesus referred to physical food, while he was really speaking figuratively and spiritually again. Thus Jesus was forced to explain what he meant, and the explanation that his food was his mission, to do the will of God and accomplish his work, leads naturally into the metaphor of the harvest. The fruit of his mission was represented by the Samaritans who were coming to him.