John 4:23 “But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will wo…”

John 4:23

But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers.

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

But the houre commeth, and nowe is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit, and trueth: for the Father requireth euen such to worship him.

Darby Translation

But [the] hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for also the Father seeks such as his worshippers.

Young's Literal Translation

but, there cometh an hour, and it now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also doth seek such to worship him;

Bible in Basic English

But the time is coming, and is even now here, when the true worshippers will give worship to the Father in the true way of the spirit, for these are the worshippers desired by the Father.

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Cross references

“the hour”

John 5:25 John 12:23

John 5:25 · BSB

Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

John 12:23 · BSB

But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

“true”

Matthew 15:7–9 Isaiah 29:13 Isaiah 58:2 Luke 18:11–13 Isaiah 1:10–15 Isaiah 58:8–14

Matthew 15:7–9 · BSB

You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

Isaiah 29:13 · BSB

Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Isaiah 58:2 · BSB

For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”

Luke 18:11–13 · BSB

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

Isaiah 1:10–15 · BSB

Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Isaiah 58:8–14 · BSB

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

“in spirit”

Philippians 3:3 Galatians 4:6 Romans 8:26 Ephesians 6:18 Romans 8:15 Romans 1:9

Philippians 3:3 · BSB

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

Galatians 4:6 · BSB

And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

Romans 8:26 · BSB

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

Ephesians 6:18 · BSB

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

Romans 8:15 · BSB

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Romans 1:9 · BSB

God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you

“in truth”

John 1:17 Joshua 24:14 Psalm 17:1 1 Samuel 12:24 Psalm 51:6 Jeremiah 3:10

John 1:17 · BSB

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Joshua 24:14 · BSB

Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Psalm 17:1 · BSB

Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit.

1 Samuel 12:24 · BSB

Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

Psalm 51:6 · BSB

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Jeremiah 3:10 · BSB

Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

“the Father seeketh”

Isaiah 43:21 Proverbs 15:8 1 Peter 2:9 Psalm 147:11 Song of Solomon 2:14 Ezekiel 22:30

Isaiah 43:21 · BSB

The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

Proverbs 15:8 · BSB

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

1 Peter 2:9 · BSB

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Psalm 147:11 · BSB

The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.

Song of Solomon 2:14 · BSB

O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.

Ezekiel 22:30 · BSB

I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.

Also

John 4:21 John 16:32

John 4:21 · BSB

“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

John 16:32 · BSB

“Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

24God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Read John 4