John Calvin Commentary John 4:17

"The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband:" — John 4:17 (ASV)

I have not a husband. We do not yet fully perceive the fruit of this advice, by which Christ intended to pierce the heart of this woman, to lead her to repentance. And, indeed, we are so intoxicated, or rather stupefied, by our self-love, that we are not at all moved by the first wounds that are inflicted.

But Christ applies an appropriate cure for this sluggishness by pressing the ulcer more sharply, for He openly reproaches her with her wickedness. I do not think, however, that it is a single case of fornication that is pointed out here. For when He says that she has had five husbands, the reason for this was probably that, being a perverse and disobedient wife, she compelled her husbands to divorce her.

I interpret the words thus: “Though God joined you to lawful husbands, you did not cease to sin, until, rendered infamous by numerous divorces, you prostituted yourself to fornication.”