What Does John 4:4 Mean in the King James?
And he must needs go through Samaria.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek says it was necessary for him to pass through Samaria, making the route itself part of the purpose.
THE MEANING
This sentence holds a necessity and a route together: what is necessary runs through Samaria. For the reader now, the way forward may include the place that first looks like an interruption; “through” keeps that place within the path.
THE ROOT
ἔδει
edei
GROWS FROM
δεῖ
dei
It is necessary; one must.
“must” in this verse is edei. The verb is impersonal: the sentence says “it was necessary for him” without naming who or what sets the necessity. The source remains unstated, while passing through Samaria is presented as necessary.
ALSO GROWS
dei: It is necessary; one must.
δεῖ
This present form names necessity directly, as the verse does without stating its source.
deon: What is necessary; what is needful.
δέον
This related form makes necessity itself into “what is needful,” echoing how the route through Samaria is framed as required.
διέρχεσθαι
dierchesthai
GROWS FROM
ἔρχομαι
erchomai
Come or go; move.
The verb διέρχομαι combines διά (dia, “through”) with ἔρχομαι (erchomai, “go” or “come”). It describes movement across and through Samaria, placing the region within the route rather than merely naming a destination.
ALSO GROWS
erchomai: Come or go.
ἔρχομαι
This base verb supplies the movement in “go through.”
eiserchomai: Enter or go in.
εἰσέρχομαι
This compound uses the same movement root with a prefix meaning “in,” showing how Greek builds different paths from the shared root.
exerchomai: Go out or come out.
ἐξέρχομαι
This compound uses the same movement root with a prefix meaning “out,” extending the sense of a route with an entry and an exit.
THE PATTERN
Scripture repeatedly names passage through difficult terrain as part of the way onward.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.THE THREAD
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:John 3:14 uses the same Greek necessity verb, δεῖ (dei, “it is necessary”). Here that necessity takes the form of going through Samaria; there it takes the form of being lifted up.
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