John 4:5

Translations

Modern

So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

Traditional

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Literal

Therefore He comes to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Latin

Venit ergo in civitatem Samariæ, quæ dicitur Sichar, juxta prædium quod dedit Jacob Joseph filio suo.

Interlinear

Greek

English

So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

Notes

John 4:4–6

When traveling north to Galilee, Jesus chose the less common route through Samaria. Samaria and Judea had a long history of racial tension (see 2 Kings 17:24–41; Ezra 4:1–5; Nehemiah 4; 6:1–19). In the time of Jesus, there was intense racial and cultural conflict between Jews and Samaritans. Jews usually avoided Samaria by first going east to Jericho and then traveling north through the Jordan Valley.
Sychar was likely in the area of Shechem. Jesus arrived at Jacob's well. Jacob had owned land near Shechem (Genesis 33:18–19).

John 4:1–42

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

Jacob Samaritans Encounters with Jesus John’s Profile of Discipleship Shechem

Events

The Samaritan Womanc. AD 27

Related verses

Joshua 24:32
And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the plot of land that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. So it became an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants.
Genesis 33:19
And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.
Genesis 48:22
And to you, as one who is above your brothers, I give the ridge of land that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”
John 4:12
Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?”

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Joseph: Son of Jacob, ruler in Egypt

Places

Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants Sychar: Samaritan city near Jacob's well

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Disease History of Israel Jacob’s Well Jesus Christ John, Gospel of Samaritans Sychar Worship

Topics

Galilee: The Northern District of Palestine: Routes From, to Judaea Jacob: Gives the Land of the Amorites to Joseph Jacob: The Well of Jesus, the Christ: Visits Sychar and Teaches the Samaritan Woman Joseph: Son of Jacob: His Father's Favorite Child Modern Samaria: Cities of, Mentioned in Scripture: Sychar Roads: from Judaea to Galilee, by Way of Samaria Samaria: Country of: Jesus Travels Through Samaria: Country of: Roads Through, from Judaea Into Galilee Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Jesus Visits; Disciples Made In

John 4:5

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