John 4:5 kjv
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.
John 4:5 nkjv
So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
John 4:5 niv
So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
John 4:5 esv
So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
John 4:5 nlt
Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
John 4 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 4:4 | He needed to go through Samaria. | Jesus' intentional, divine purpose to encounter Samaritans. |
| Jn 4:7 | A woman of Samaria came to draw water. | Direct outcome of Jesus being at the well, leading to salvation. |
| Gen 33:18-19 | Jacob bought a parcel of a field…where he pitched his tent. | Jacob's original acquisition of the land near Sychar. |
| Josh 24:32 | The bones of Joseph... they buried in Shechem... | Joseph's burial in the land given to him, confirming its significance. |
| Deut 11:29 | ...blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Ebal. | Gerizim's significance to Samaritans, often identified with Sychar's locale. |
| Lk 9:51-56 | Samaritans would not receive Him... "Did not Jesus rebuke them?" | Illustrates the severe animosity between Jews and Samaritans. |
| Mt 10:5-6 | "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans." | Jesus' initial instruction to disciples contrasted with His later actions. |
| Acts 1:8 | You shall be witnesses to Me... to the end of the earth. | Jesus' universal mission, starting with regions like Samaria. |
| Acts 8:4-8 | Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. | Fulfillment of the Great Commission, ministering in Samaria. |
| Acts 8:25 | ...preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. | Apostles following Jesus' example in extending outreach to Samaria. |
| Ezra 4:1-5 | Adversaries of Judah... hindered their work. | Historical roots of Samaritan-Jewish conflict during rebuilding the Temple. |
| Neh 2:19-20 | Sanballat... ridiculed us... "Will you rebel against the king?" | Further evidence of antagonism, highlighting ethnic/religious divide. |
| Lk 10:33 | A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed... | Jesus' parable challenging Jewish prejudices about Samaritans. |
| Jn 4:12 | "Are You greater than our father Jacob...?" | Connects Jacob's legacy directly to the Person of Jesus. |
| Rom 10:12 | For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. | New Covenant truth that Jesus' ministry in Samaria foreshadowed. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free... in Christ Jesus. | Emphasizes the breaking of ethnic and social barriers in Christ. |
| Eph 2:14 | For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one... | Jesus breaks down dividing walls, exemplified by His outreach to Samaritans. |
| Isa 49:6 | I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles... | Prophecy of Messiah's broader mission, fulfilled by Jesus reaching Samaria. |
| Amos 9:7 | "Are you not as the children of the Ethiopians to Me... O children of Israel?" | God's sovereignty and concern extends beyond one nation. |
| Ps 72:11 | Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him... | Prophetic psalm speaking of global homage to Messiah. |
| Jn 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... | God's condescension to interact directly with humanity, including Samaritans. |
| Phil 2:6-7 | ...made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant... | Jesus humbling Himself to reach people beyond social norms. |
John 4 verses
John 4 5 Meaning
John 4:5 describes Jesus' specific destination after entering Samaria, pinpointing the exact location where He encounters the Samaritan woman. It grounds the upcoming significant theological discourse within a historically and biblically meaningful setting, highlighting Jesus' intentional traversal through a religiously and ethnically alienated territory, setting the stage for the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Samaritans.
John 4 5 Context
John chapter 4 immediately follows Jesus' initial ministry in Judea, including a period of baptism that garnered more disciples than John the Baptist. Due to the rising opposition from the Pharisees (Jn 4:1), Jesus decided to leave Judea for Galilee (Jn 4:3). The most direct route between Judea and Galilee passed through Samaria, a region historically and culturally hostile to Jews (Jn 4:4). John 4:5 establishes the specific location of this pivotal encounter. It specifies "Sychar," near the very ancient and significant "plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph," referencing a site revered by both Jews and Samaritans, often identified with Jacob's Well. This detailed geographical anchoring underscores the intentionality of Jesus' presence and sets the stage for a profound dialogue with a Samaritan woman about water, worship, and the Messiah, transcending deep-seated ethnic and religious animosities.
John 4 5 Word analysis
So He came: This implies deliberate action, indicating that Jesus' journey was not merely for geographical transit but was divinely purposed. It highlights His active engagement rather than passive travel, linking to the divine "necessity" mentioned in Jn 4:4.
to a city of Samaria: "Samaria" (Greek: Samareia) here refers to the geographical region. Entering this territory demonstrated Jesus' willingness to transcend ingrained prejudice, as Samaria was traditionally shunned by Jews due to centuries of religious and ethnic estrangement.
called Sychar: This identifies the specific locality within Samaria. While its exact archaeological identification has been debated, Sychar is commonly associated with modern Askar or a site very close to the famous Jacob's Well. This specific mention grounds the narrative firmly in a tangible historical setting.
near the plot of ground: (Greek: plēsion tou chōriou) The phrase "plot of ground" (chōrion) denotes a specific parcel of land. Its proximity highlights the traditional reverence and historical association of the upcoming scene.
that Jacob: The patriarch Jacob is foundational to the identity of both Jews and Samaritans, though with different interpretations. Mentioning him immediately grounds the location in sacred history, connecting to shared, ancient heritage.
gave to his son Joseph: This specific familial gift, recounted in Gen 48:22 and attested by Joseph's burial there in Josh 24:32, emphasizes the ancestral claims and spiritual legacy associated with this precise land. It serves as a historical and theological touchstone for the Samaritan woman's subsequent reference to patriarchal descent (Jn 4:12).
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar": This phrase encapsulates Jesus deliberately entering a hostile territory and a specific town within it. It demonstrates His intentional outreach beyond the boundaries of traditional Jewish ministry, challenging prevalent social and religious norms of separation and setting up the theme of universal accessibility of the Gospel.
- "near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph": This part roots the story in deeply significant Old Testament history. By specifying the location through its connection to Jacob and Joseph, the verse anchors the New Testament narrative to ancient patriarchal promises. It subtly prepares the reader for the subsequent conversation where the Samaritan woman will appeal to Jacob's authority and question Jesus' standing relative to him. This detail validates the Samaritans' ancient connection to Israelite heritage, albeit through their unique lens, making Jesus' subsequent engagement all the more poignant and challenging to conventional Jewish thinking.
John 4 5 Bonus section
The detail of Jacob's ground highlights a significant common thread between Jews and Samaritans—their reverence for the patriarchs. While Jews generally viewed Samaritans as illegitimate, Jesus, by resting at this shared sacred site, acknowledged their historical link without endorsing their schismatic theology, paving the way for sincere theological dialogue. The selection of Sychar, not the more prominent Samaritan capital city of Samaria (Sebaste), indicates Jesus' focus on reaching ordinary people rather than engaging the political or religious establishment of Samaria. This aligns with His broader ministry pattern of seeking out the marginalized and forgotten. Furthermore, some Jewish writings associated the name "Sychar" with "Shekar" (falsehood or drunkenness), reflecting a negative Jewish view. By coming to Sychar, Jesus implicitly transforms the perception of this place, turning a site of scorn into a site of profound spiritual revelation and redemption.
John 4 5 Commentary
John 4:5 is not merely a geographical descriptor but a deliberate and pivotal statement in the Gospel narrative. Jesus' intentional arrival at Sychar, within the ostracized region of Samaria, signifies His mission's boundary-breaking nature, challenging deep-seated ethnic and religious prejudice. His choice to stop near a site steeped in shared Israelite history—Jacob's ancestral land—highlights His respectful acknowledgment of the Samaritans' heritage, even while preparing to redefine worship and reveal Himself as the promised Messiah to them. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic shift in ministry, extending the reach of God's redemptive plan beyond conventional Jewish limits and demonstrating His inclusive grace to all peoples, symbolized by His willingness to engage the most unexpected recipients.