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Selected Verse: John 4:11 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Joh 4:11	King James	The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Hast nothing to draw with - It seems that there were no means of drawing water affixed to the well, as with us. Probably each one took a pail or pitcher and a cord for the purpose. In traveling this was indispensable. The woman, seeing that Jesus had no means of drawing water, and not yet understanding his design, naturally inquired whence he could obtain the water. The well is deep - If the same one that is there now, it was about 100 feet deep.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Hast nothing to draw with - It seems that there were no means of drawing water affixed to the well, as with us. Probably each one took a pail or pitcher and a cord for the purpose. In traveling this was indispensable. The woman, seeing that Jesus had no means of drawing water, and not yet understanding his design, naturally inquired whence he could obtain the water.

The well is deep - If the same one that is there now, it was about 100 feet deep.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
To draw with (ἄντλημα) The noun means what is drawn, the act of drawing, and the thing to draw with. Here the bucket, of skin, with three cross sticks at the mouth to keep it open, and let down by a goat's-hair rope. Not to be confounded with the water-pot (ὑδρία) of Joh 4:28. The word is found only here in the New Testament. Well (φρέαρ) See on Joh 4:6. It may have been fed by living springs (πηγαὶ). That living water (τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν) Literally, the water the living.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

To draw with (ἄντλημα)

The noun means what is drawn, the act of drawing, and the thing to draw with. Here the bucket, of skin, with three cross sticks at the mouth to keep it open, and let down by a goat's-hair rope. Not to be confounded with the water-pot (ὑδρία) of Joh 4:28. The word is found only here in the New Testament.

Well (φρέαρ)

See on Joh 4:6. It may have been fed by living springs (πηγαὶ).

That living water (τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν)

Literally, the water the living.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Thou hast nothing to draw with - Ουτε αντλημα εχεις, Thou hast no bucket. Good water is not plentiful in the east; and travelers are often obliged to carry leathern bottles or buckets with them, and a line also, to let them down into the deep wells, in order to draw up water. If the well was in our Lord's time, as it was found by Mr. Maundrell, thirty-five yards deep, it would require a considerable line to reach it; and with such it is not likely that even the disciples of our Lord were provided. The woman might well say, The well is deep, and thou hast nothing to draw with; whence then hast thou that living water?

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Thou hast nothing to draw with - Ουτε αντλημα εχεις, Thou hast no bucket. Good water is not plentiful in the east; and travelers are often obliged to carry leathern bottles or buckets with them, and a line also, to let them down into the deep wells, in order to draw up water. If the well was in our Lord's time, as it was found by Mr. Maundrell, thirty-five yards deep, it would require a considerable line to reach it; and with such it is not likely that even the disciples of our Lord were provided. The woman might well say, The well is deep, and thou hast nothing to draw with; whence then hast thou that living water?

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