For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb, "One sows and another reaps," isn't just about a literal harvest; Jesus uses it to highlight a divine principle: the continuity of God's work. While we might feel discouraged if we don't see immediate results from our efforts, Jesus assures us that our labor is never in vain, as it contributes to a larger harvest that others, or even ourselves in a different season, will bring in.
For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is speaking to his disciples after his encounter with the Samaritan woman. He uses the analogy of a harvest to describe the spiritual readiness of the Samaritans, urging the disciples to look beyond their immediate needs and see the ripe opportunity for ministry. This verse explains that in this situation, like in many others, the work of God often involves different people contributing to the same ultimate outcome.
Ever feel like your efforts in serving God aren't yielding much? This verse speaks to a bigger picture than just your immediate results.
Jesus uses the well-known proverb, 'One sows and another reaps,' to describe the spiritual work happening. He's telling His disciples that the Samaritan woman they just encountered is like a seed planted, and now they are the ones about to bring in the harvest of her potential faith.
This isn't just about evangelism; it's a principle for all of God's work:
Why does God sometimes let others finish the work we started? It’s not about unfairness, but about divine timing and shared purpose.
Jesus' disciples were focused on the immediate task – buying food. But Jesus, ever focused on the eternal, points them to the spiritual harvest happening right before their eyes. He reveals that the Samaritan woman, whom He had just spoken with, was the 'seed' that would lead many others to believe.
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This highlights a crucial aspect of God's plan:
This proverb, often used to describe unfair labor or inheritance, takes on a profound meaning in Jesus' mission: the disciples are entering into a spiritual harvest prepared not just by Jesus' immediate work with the Samaritan woman, but by the centuries of prophetic 'sowing' that preceded him.
c. 1400-400 BC
Old Testament Sowing
The Old Testament prophets and leaders laid the foundational teachings about God's covenant and coming Messiah, serving as the initial 'sowing' of spiritual truth.
c. 1st century BC - early 1st century AD
Period of Expectation
A time of heightened anticipation for the Messiah in Judea, with many people and religious leaders pondering the prophetic promises.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Early Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and performing miracles, which the disciples are witnessing and participating in.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Encounter in Samaria
Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar, planting a 'seed' of spiritual truth directly with her.
c. AD 30
Samaritans Come to Jesus
The Samaritan woman brings many from her town to Jesus, and they believe based on his words, representing an initial 'harvest' from Jesus' direct sowing.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Sends Out Disciples
Jesus commissions his disciples to preach the Gospel throughout Judea and eventually the world, entering into the 'harvest' that he, and the prophets before him, had prepared.
This passage describes God giving people houses, wells, and vineyards they did not build or dig, illustrating the principle of entering into the labor of others, similar to how the disciples would reap the spiritual harvest.
Isaiah 65:21-22These verses speak of people building houses and planting vineyards, with the implication that they will enjoy the fruits of their labor, but also hints at the generational aspect of sowing and reaping that the disciples would experience in a spiritual context.
Matthew 9:37-38Jesus speaks of the harvest being plentiful and asks the disciples to pray for laborers, directly connecting the imagery of sowing and reaping to the urgent need for spreading the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8Paul explicitly uses the sowing and reaping metaphor, stating that he planted and Apollos watered, but God gave the growth, highlighting that both sowers and reapers are essential parts of God's work and will be rewarded accordingly.
Galatians 6:7This verse directly addresses the principle of sowing and reaping in a moral and spiritual sense, warning that whatever one sows, that will they also reap, emphasizing accountability for one's actions.
ellicottJohn 4:37: "And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth."
(37) Herein is that saying true —i.e., in the deeper sense of the word true (comp. Note on John 1:9 )—has its realisation; is ideally true. The proverb itself was known both to the Greeks and to the Romans (sec examples in Schottgen and Lampe), but the reference is probably to the Old Testament Scriptures. Those who heard it would certainly think of such passages as Deuteronomy 6:11 , or Isaiah 65:21-22 . The saying e…
barnesJohn 4:37: "And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth."
That saying - That proverb. This proverb is found in some of the Greek writers (Grotius). Similar proverbs were in use among the Jews. See Isaiah 65:21-22 ; Leviticus 26:16 ; Micah 6:15 . One soweth ... - One man may preach the gospel, and with little apparent effect; another, succeeding him, may be crowned with eminent success. The seed, long buried, may spring up in an abundant harvest.
This proverb, "One sows and another reaps," isn't just about a literal harvest; Jesus uses it to highlight a divine principle: the continuity of God's work. While we might feel discouraged if we don't see immediate results from our efforts, Jesus assures us that our labor is never in vain, as it contributes to a larger harvest that others, or even ourselves in a different season, will bring in.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples after his encounter with the Samaritan woman. He uses the analogy of a harvest to describe the spiritual readiness of the Samaritans, urging the disciples to look beyond their immediate needs and see the ripe opportunity for ministry. This verse explains that in this situation, like in many others, the work of God often involves different people contributing to the same ultimate outcome.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples after his encounter with the Samaritan woman. He uses the analogy of a harvest to describe the spiritual readiness of the Samaritans, urging the disciples to look beyond their immediate needs and see the ripe opportunity for ministry. This verse explains that in this situation, like in many others, the work of God often involves different people contributing to the same ultimate outcome.
"For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’" — This proverb, "One sows and another reaps," isn't just about a literal harvest; Jesus uses it to highlight a divine principle: the continuity of God's work. While we might feel discouraged if we don'…
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Last reviewed October 2026