Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
While the woman was in town telling all about Jesus, there was another scene being enacted at the well. The whole purpose of the disciples going into town was to buy food, most probably because they and Jesus were hungry. Now that they had returned the most natural thing would be for them to share what they had bought with Jesus.
“prayed” (KJV) or “urged” (NIV) means “kept beseeching.” They knew Jesus was weary and had gone without food long enough that He was in need of it and yet He would not take of what they had even though they continued to ask Him. We find out why He doesn’t yet eat in the next verse.