Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 4:3
He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.
3. He left Juda ] 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.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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 Saviours 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 Christs disciples; Johns 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 Johns 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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. left Judeato avoidpersecution, which at that early stage would have marred His work.
departed into Galileebywhich time John had been cast into prison (Mr1:14).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 Mt 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Left Judea ( ). Unusual use of . First () aorist active indicative. Originally the word means to send away, to dismiss, to forsake, to forgive, to allow. Jesus uses it in this sense in 16:28. Evidently because Jesus did not wish to bring the coming conflict with the Pharisees to an issue yet. So he mainly avoids Jerusalem and Judea now till the end. Each time hereafter that Jesus appears in Jerusalem and Judea before the last visit there is an open breach with the Pharisees who attack him (John 5:1-47; John 7:14; John 10:22-42; John 11:17-53).
Again into Galilee ( ). Reference to 2:1-12. The Synoptics tell nothing of this early work in Perea (Joh 1:19-51), Galilee, or Judea (2:13-4:2). John supplements their records purposely.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
He left [] . 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.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “He left Judea,” (apeken ten loudaian) “He left or went away from Judea,” leaving it to its own ways, knowing that hostility of the Pharisees would increase as believing Jews were baptized and turned from the Mosaic law rites and worship of the synagogues to follow, worship, and serve Him, in new order of worship.
2) “And departed again into Galilee.” (kai apelthen palin eis ten Galilaian) “And went away again into the country of Galilee,” as He had before, Joh 1:43, to the north of Judea, to His native home state in Israel, where He might be harassed less by the hate of the Jews.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(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 Judan 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 Lords work in Galilee as told by the earlier Gospels.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
Ver. 3. He left Judea ] God must be trusted, not tempted.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 4:3 . On this coming to the ears of Jesus , 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”. , “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 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
again. See Joh 1:43.
into. Greek. eis. App-104.
Galilee. See App-169.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ver. 3. , 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.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 4:3
Joh 4:3
he left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.-He left Judea where the Pharisees chiefly controlled and went back to Galilee where the religious parties were not so bitter.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
left: Joh 3:32, Joh 10:40, Joh 11:54, Mat 10:23, Mar 3:7
again: Joh 1:43
Reciprocal: Gen 30:1 – or else I die Jer 20:9 – I will Eze 3:14 – General Joh 3:22 – these Joh 7:1 – walked
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
Envy is a terrible condition of the mind. The Pharisees did not have any great love for John, although they pretended to be interested in his work (Mat 3:7), yet they could not bear to see Jesus having any special success. Rather than come out into an open conflict with them at this time, the Lord decided to leave Judea and go to Galilee, which was the home of his childhood and early manhood.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 3
Into Galilee; as a place of greater retirement and safety.