The Meaning of John 4:18 Explained

John 4:18

KJV: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

YLT: for five husbands thou hast had, and, now, he whom thou hast is not thy husband; this hast thou said truly.'

Darby: for thou hast had five husbands, and he whom now thou hast is not thy husband: this thou hast spoken truly.

ASV: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  thou hast had  five  husbands;  and  he whom  thou  now  hast  is  not  thy  husband:  in that  saidst thou  truly. 

What does John 4:18 Mean?

Context Summary

John 4:15-26 - The True Worship Of The Father Of All
What a train of memories our Lord's words evoked! A spasm of remorse seized the woman, as she remembered the grave within her heart where her first love lay buried, trampled down by the wild crew of later passion. But why awaken such memories? Why open the cupboard and bid that skeleton step down? It could not be otherwise! Christ was there not to enter into an argument but to awaken the dormant conscience and save. The woman evaded the sword thrust, but she realized that she was dealing with a master hand in the spiritual realm. Hence her question about worship. This led to one of the greatest sayings ever uttered on earth-that God is Spirit; that He is ever searching for true worshipers; and that He is indifferent to places and nationalities and method, that we cannot worship until we live in the spirit-realm and are willing to conform ourselves absolutely to truth-these thoughts have revolutionized the religious thinking of mankind. They have not yet fulfilled their mission, but they bear witness to the unique supremacy of the Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 4

1  Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her
27  His disciples marvel
31  He declares to them his zeal for God's glory
39  Many Samaritans believe on him
43  He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum

What do the individual words in John 4:18 mean?

Five for husbands you have had and now he whom you have not is your husband this truly you have spoken
πέντε γὰρ ἄνδρας ἔσχες καὶ νῦν ὃν ἔχεις οὐκ ἔστιν σου ἀνήρ τοῦτο ἀληθὲς εἴρηκας

πέντε  Five 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πέντε  
Sense: five.
ἄνδρας  husbands 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
ἔσχες  you  have  had 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
νῦν  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: νῦν  
Sense: at this time, the present, now.
ὃν  he  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἔχεις  you  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
σου  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἀνήρ  husband 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀληθὲς  truly 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀληθής  
Sense: true.
εἴρηκας  you  have  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to utter, speak, say.