The Woman at the Well (The Samaritan Woman)

Context & Setting

• Main Biblical Reference: John 4:1–42
• Historical Period: 1st century AD (Roman-era Judea and Samaria)
• Geographic Location: Samaria, near Sychar; Jacob’s well
• Key Characters: Jesus; a Samaritan woman; the disciples; townspeople of Sychar

The Narrative

The Beginning:
Jesus travels through Samaria and, tired from the journey, sits by Jacob’s well around midday. His disciples go into town to buy food, and a Samaritan woman comes to draw water. Jesus begins the conversation by asking her for a drink, crossing a social boundary between Jews and Samaritans.

The Middle:
Jesus speaks of giving “living water,” shifting the discussion from physical water to God’s gift of eternal life through him. The woman questions him about worship—whether the proper place is Mount Gerizim (Samaritan tradition) or Jerusalem (Jewish tradition). Jesus teaches that true worship is not confined to a location but is “in spirit and truth,” and he reveals knowledge of her personal life, showing divine insight. When she speaks of the coming Messiah, Jesus openly identifies himself: “I who speak to you am he.”

The End:
The woman leaves her water jar, returns to her town, and tells others about Jesus. Many Samaritans come to see him, and after hearing him, many believe—not only because of her testimony but because of Jesus’ own words. They confess him as “the Savior of the world.”

Theological Meaning

This account shows Jesus extending God’s saving mission beyond ethnic and religious boundaries, offering grace to those seen as outsiders. The “living water” points to the life God gives through Christ—an inward renewal that satisfies deeper spiritual thirst and leads to eternal life. Jesus’ teaching on worship highlights God’s desire for genuine, Spirit-enabled worship grounded in truth, anticipating the universal scope of the gospel. The Samaritans’ confession underscores Jesus’ identity and mission as the Savior for all peoples.

Historical & Cultural Insight

Jews and Samaritans shared parts of Israel’s heritage but were divided by longstanding religious and social conflict, including competing claims about the proper place of worship (Jerusalem vs. Mount Gerizim). In daily life, drawing water was often a communal activity, and a midday visit to a well would have been unusual—helping the narrative’s focus on a personal, transformative encounter that becomes a public testimony.

Key Memory Verse

“Everyone who drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever.” — John 4:14