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John 4:26 – NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV
John 4:26 (NASB) – Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am [He.”]
John 4:26 (HCSB) – “I am (He),” Jesus told her, “the One speaking to you.”
John 4:26 (ESV2011) Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Anyone familiar with the gospel of John is familiar with the “I Am” statements. Often they are grouped together thematically as “the seven I am statements” such as “I am the bread of life” (Jn.6:35). Others are declarations of Jesus’ eternality and association with “I AM” of Exodus. One of these is famously John 8:58 – “Before Abraham was, I am.” Personally I believe there are more hidden within the text than first meets the eye. John 4:26 is one of them. As you can see from the three above translations, only the HCSB captures the “I am” as it is originally stated in the Greek. This matches the context for earlier Jesus had said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you ‘Give Me a drink…” (Jn.4:10). Who is saying this? “I AM.”
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