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John 4:23

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

KJV

ἀλλὰ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ πατρὶ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ· καὶ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ τοιούτους ζητεῖ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτόν.

Greek NT

Sed venit hora, et nunc est, quando veri adoratores adorabunt Patrem in spiritu et veritate. Nam et Pater tales quærit, qui adorent eum.

Vulgate

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.

ASV

But the hour cometh and now is, when the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to adore him.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

19 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
ζητέω
zeteo
verb · 117×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
νῦν
nun
adverb · 147×
πατήρ
pater
noun · 412×
πνεῦμα
pneuma
noun · 379×
προσκυνέω
proskuneo
verb · 59×
προσκυνητής
proskunetes
noun · 1×
τοιοῦτος
toioutos
demonstrative · 57×
ἀλήθεια
aletheia
noun · 109×
ἀληθινός
alethinos
adjective · 28×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
ἔρχομαι
erchomai
verb · 627×
o
article · 19778×
ὅτε
ote
adverb · 100×
ὥρα
ora
noun · 106×

Themes

Historic Christian voices

11 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§586Far from having been hostile to the Temple, where he gave the essential part of his teaching, Jesus was willing to pay the Temple-tax, associating with him Peter, whom he had just made the foundation of his future Church.359 He even identified himself with the Temple by presenting himself as God's definitive dwelling-place among men.360 Therefore his being put to bodily death36…
§728Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food for the life of the world.110 He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus,111 to the Samaritan woman,112 and to …
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210201.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
The light of nature showeth that there is a God who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good and doeth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart and with all the soul and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own reve…
If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink. In his conversation with the Samaritan woman, Christ reveals himself as the giver of living water — the grace of the Spirit which springs up unto everlasting life. The discussion about worshipping in Jerusalem or Samaria leads to the great principle: God is a Spirit, and they that worship him m…
Heidelberg Catechism · 2 passages
Q. What is God's will for us in the second commandment? A. That we in no way make any image of God nor worship him in any other way than he has commanded in his Word.
Q. What belongs to a prayer that pleases God and is heard by him? A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed himself in his Word, asking for everything he has commanded us to ask for. Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humble ourselves in his majestic presence. Third, we must rest on this unshakabl…
We teach that the true God alone is to be adored and worshipped. This honor we impart to none other, according to the commandment of God: "You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve." Indeed, all the prophets severely censured the people of Israel whenever they worshipped strange gods. And the apostles taught that gold and silver images are not gods, that…

Cross-references

  • 1Chr 29:17 — I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy t
  • 1Cor 14:15 — What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
  • 1Pet 2:9 — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
  • 1Sam 12:24 — Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
  • 1Tim 2:8 — I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
  • Col 1:6 — Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
  • Col 1:12 — Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
  • Eph 5:19 — Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
  • Eph 6:18 — Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  • Ezek 22:30 — And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
  • Gal 4:6 — And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
  • Isa 1:10 — Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
  • Isa 10:20 — And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the H
  • Isa 26:8 — Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
  • Isa 29:13 — Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the p
  • Isa 43:21 — This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
  • Isa 48:1 — Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but n
  • Isa 58:2 — Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in appr
  • Isa 62:12 — And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
  • Isa 66:1 — Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
  • Isa 66:23 — And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
  • Jer 3:10 — And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
  • Jer 4:2 — And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
  • John 1:17 — For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
  • John 4:21 — Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
  • John 4:21 — Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
  • John 5:25 — Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
  • John 5:25 — Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
  • John 12:23 — And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
  • John 16:32 — Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
  • John 16:32 — Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
  • Josh 24:14 — Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
  • Josh 24:14 — Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
  • Jude 1:20 — But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
  • Luke 18:11 — The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
  • Mal 3:3 — And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
  • Matt 15:7 — Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
  • Phil 3:3 — For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
  • Phil 3:3 — For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
  • Prov 15:8 — The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.