John 4:3

Modern

He left Judea and returned to Galilee.

Traditional

He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.

Literal

He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.

Latin

…reliquit Judæam, et abiit iterum in Galilæam.

Greek

English

He left Judea and returned to Galilee.

After John the Baptist had been imprisoned, Jesus left Judea (see Mark 6:14–29; compare Mark 1:14).

At an ancient well in Samaria, Jesus offered himself as living water. This living water means the life that comes from God. Jesus spoke openly about who he was. When he revealed God’s truth, people had to respond. They either followed him or turned away.
The Samaritan woman is very different from Nicodemus. She was a woman, not a man. She was a Samaritan, not a Jew. She had a sinful past, not a reputation for righteousness. She was an outsider, not a respected teacher of Israel.
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and did not openly respond to the challenges from Jesus (3:1–21). The Samaritan woman spoke with Jesus in the daylight. She recognized him as Lord. She remained in the light and showed signs of becoming a disciple (see 1:35–51).

Theme notes and profiles

Matthew 10:23
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
John 10:40
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
John 11:54
As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.
John 3:22
After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
John 3:32
He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
Mark 3:7
So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
John 2:11
Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
John 1:43
The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”

Galilee: Region in northern Israel; key location in Jesus' ministry Judea: The southern region of Israel, centered around Jerusalem