Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

John 4:28

ἀφῆκεν οὖν … ἡ γυνὴ. “The woman accordingly,” that is, because of the interruption, “left her pitcher,” forgetting the object of her coming, in the greater discovery she had made; and also unconsciously showing that she meant to return. καὶ ἀπῆλθεν … ὁ χριστός; and went to the city and says to the men, easily accessible because lounging in groups at the hottest hour of the day, “Come, see a man who told me all I ever did”. The woman's absorption in the thought of the prophet's endowment causes her to forget the shame of the declaration which had convinced her. She does not positively affirm that He is the Christ, but says μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός; This is what grammarians call the “tentative” use of μήτι. The A.V [49] “Is not this the Christ?” is not so correct as R.V [50] “Can this be the Christ?” The Syriac has “Is not this perhaps the Christ?” The Vulgate has “Numquid ipse est Christus?” In some passages of the N.T. (Matthew 7:16; Acts 10:47) μήτι is used in questions which expect a more decided and exclusive negative than the simple μή, “certainly not,” “not at all”. But here and in Matthew 12:23 mere doubt expresses itself, doubt with rather a leaning to an affirmative answer (cf. Hoogeveen, Doctrina Partic., under μήτι; and Pape's Lexicon, where it is rendered “ob etwa”). The Greek commentators unite in lauding the skill with which the woman excites the curiosity of the men and leads without seeming to lead. [Euthymius says: τὸ δὲ μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός; ἀντὶ τοῦ, μήποτε οὗτός ἐστιν; ὑποκρίνεται γὰρ, οἷον ἐπιδιστάζειν, ὥστε παρʼ αὐτῶν γενέσθαι τὴν κρίσιν.]

[49] Authorised Version.

[50] Revised Version.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

John 4:28

Old Testament

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