John 4:31
New International Version
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”

English Standard Version
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

Berean Standard Bible
Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

Berean Literal Bible
But in the meantime the disciples were asking Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

King James Bible
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

New King James Version
In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

New American Standard Bible
Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat something.

NASB 1995
Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

NASB 1977
In the meanwhile the disciples were requesting Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

Amplified Bible
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus [to have a meal], saying, “Rabbi (Teacher), eat.”

Christian Standard Bible
In the meantime the disciples kept urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the meantime the disciples kept urging Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

American Standard Version
In the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat.

Contemporary English Version
While this was happening, Jesus' disciples were saying to him, "Teacher, please eat something."

English Revised Version
In the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, have something to eat."

Good News Translation
In the meantime the disciples were begging Jesus, "Teacher, have something to eat!"

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, have something to eat."

Majority Standard Bible
Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

NET Bible
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something."

New Heart English Bible
In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

Webster's Bible Translation
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

Weymouth New Testament
Meanwhile the disciples were urging Jesus. "Rabbi," they said, "eat something."

World English Bible
In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And in the meanwhile His disciples were asking Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat”;

Berean Literal Bible
But in the meantime the disciples were asking Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

Young's Literal Translation
And in the meanwhile his disciples were asking him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And in the mean time the disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, eat.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In the mean time the disciples prayed him, saying: Rabbi, eat.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Meanwhile, the disciples petitioned him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

New American Bible
Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”

New Revised Standard Version
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
During the interval his disciples begged him, saying, Teacher, eat.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And in the midst of these things his disciples were begging him and were saying to him, “Our Master, eat.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
In the mean time, the disciples besought him, saying: Rabbi, eat.

Godbey New Testament
Meanwhile His disciples were asking Him, saying, Master eat.

Haweis New Testament
In the mean time his disciples invited him, saying, Rabbi, eat.

Mace New Testament
In the mean while his disciples invited him, saying, pray master, eat.

Weymouth New Testament
Meanwhile the disciples were urging Jesus. "Rabbi," they said, "eat something."

Worrell New Testament
In the meantime the disciples were entreating Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

Worsley New Testament
In the mean time his disciples addressed Him, saying, Master, eat.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Disciples Return and Marvel
30So they left the town and made their way toward Jesus. 31Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”…

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 6:32-35
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. / For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” / “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.” ...

Matthew 6:25-26
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? / Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Luke 12:22-23
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. / For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

John 7:16
“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me.

John 8:28-29
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. / He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

John 12:49-50
I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. / And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”

John 14:31
But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.

John 19:28-30
After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” / A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth. / When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.


Treasury of Scripture

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

Master.

Genesis 24:33
And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

Acts 16:30-34
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? …

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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.














Meanwhile
This word sets the scene and indicates a transition in the narrative. It suggests that while one event was occurring, another was taking place simultaneously. In the context of John 4, this "meanwhile" connects the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman with the return of the disciples. It highlights the dual focus of the narrative: Jesus' personal ministry to the woman and His teaching moment with the disciples. This duality reflects the broader mission of Jesus, reaching both individuals and groups.

the disciples
The disciples were the chosen followers of Jesus, who were being trained to carry on His mission. In the historical context, they were ordinary men called to an extraordinary purpose. Their presence in this narrative underscores their role as learners and future leaders of the early Church. The disciples often represent the believer's journey from misunderstanding to deeper spiritual insight.

urged Him
The Greek word used here can imply a strong request or even a plea. The disciples' urging reflects their concern for Jesus' physical well-being, showing their care and perhaps their misunderstanding of His priorities. This moment is a teaching opportunity for Jesus to reveal deeper spiritual truths, emphasizing the importance of spiritual nourishment over physical needs.

“Rabbi, eat something.”
"Rabbi" is a term of respect, acknowledging Jesus as a teacher. The disciples' request for Jesus to eat demonstrates their focus on physical sustenance, which is a natural human concern. However, this sets the stage for Jesus to introduce a spiritual lesson. The juxtaposition of physical hunger with spiritual fulfillment is a recurring theme in the Gospels, pointing to the deeper nourishment found in doing God's will.

(31) Master.--The Hebrew word Rabbi has been preserved in the earlier passages (John 1:38; John 1:49; John 3:2; John 3:26), and will meet us again in John 6:25. It is less ambiguous than the English word, and should be restored here and in John 9:2; John 11:28. . . . Verse 31. - In the mean while (χρόνῳ understood) - while the men of Sychar were coming across the green corn-fields in excited and eager longing for the bread of life and the water of life eternal - his disciples besought him; rather, were entreating him - the verb ἐρωτάω is used for question and interrogation, and is generally used of one who feels on terms of equality with the person addressed on the matter in hand (cf. John 14:16; John 15:7; John 16:19, 23; John 17:15, for its distinctness from αὐτεω) - saying, Rabbi, eat. Have we not gone to Sychar to find provisions for thee? Do not despise our effort.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Meanwhile,
Ἐν (En)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

urged
ἠρώτων (ērōtōn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2065: Apparently from ereo; to interrogate; by implication, to request.

Him,
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
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.

“Rabbi,
Ῥαββί (Rhabbi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4461: Of Hebrew origin; my master, i.e Rabbi, as an official title of honor.

eat [something].”
φάγε (phage)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.


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NT Gospels: John 4:31 In the meanwhile the disciples urged him (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 4:30
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