John 4:17 (WEB)
The woman answered, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’
Fathers and councils · 16
John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
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Jerome
““The Samaritan woman in the Gospel, when she declares that her present husband is her sixth, is rebuked by the Lord on the ground that he is not her husband.”” — editor's note: Joh. iv. 16–18. Jerome’s version of the story is inaccurate.
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Tertullian
“…as when to the Samaritaness—not an adulteress by her now sixth marriage, but a prostitute—He showed (what He did show readily to any one) who He was;—no benefit is hence conferred upon our adversaries, even if it had been to such as were already Christians that He (in these several cases) granted pardon.” — editor's note: John iv. 1–25.
Read the whole comment“…and whereof one male knows one female; while He denies the Samaritan woman’s (partner to be) a husband, that He may show that manifold husbandry is adultery; while, in the revelation of His own glory, He prefers, from among so many saints and prophets, to have with him Moses and Elias—the one a monogamist, the other…” — editor's note: See John iv. 16–18.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
To the woman’s question, Art Thou greater than our father Jacob? He does not reply, I am greater, lest He should seem to boast; but His answer implies it; Jesus answered and said to her, Whosoever drinketh of this…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Which is true indeed both of material water, and of that of which it is the type. For the water in the well is the pleasure of the world, that abode of darkness. Men draw it with the waterpot of their lusts; pleasure…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The excellence of this water, viz. that he that drinketh of it never thirsts, He explains in what follows, But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. As a…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
For the water which I give him is ever multiplying. The saints receive through grace the seed and principle of good; but they themselves make it grow by their own cultivation.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
See how the woman is led by degrees to the highest doctrine. First, she thought He was some lax Jew. Then hearing of the living water, she thought it meant material water. Afterwards she understands it as spoken…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Or thus; The woman as yet understands Him of the flesh only. She is delighted to be relieved for ever from thirst, and takes this promise of our Lord’s in a carnal sense. For God had once granted to His servant…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The woman then being urgent in asking for the promised water, Jesus saith unto her, Go call thy husband; to shew that he too ought to have a share in these things. But she was in a hurry to receive the gift, and…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Understand, that the woman had not a lawful husband, but had formed an irregular connexion with some one. He tells her, Thou hast had fire husbands, in order to shew her His miraculous knowledge.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
May not Jacob’s well signify mystically the letter of Scripture; the water of Jesus, that which is above the letter, which all are not allowed to penetrate into? That which is written was dictated by men, whereas the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The five husbands some interpret to be the five books which were given by Moses. And the words, He whom thou now hast is not thy husband, they understand as spoken by our Lord of Himself; as if He said, Thou hast…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Jesus seeing that the woman did not understand, and wishing to enlighten her, says, Call thy husband; i. e. apply thine understanding. For when the life is well ordered, the understanding governs the soul itself,…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
And what more proper place than Jacob’s well, for exposing the unlawful husband, i. e. the perverse law? For the Samaritan woman is meant to figure to us a soul, that has subjected itself to a hind of law of its own,…
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Cross-references · 5
Cited together in Origen on John 4:13–18 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Origen on John 4:13–18 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 4:13–18 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 4:13–18 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 4:13–18 (2) (Catena Aurea).