That they had dealings of some kind is shown by the disciples going into the city to buy provisions. 4. [Lynn Cohick discusses marriage in the ancient world and the marital status of the Samaritan woman here.] The Samaritan woman laughed heartily at Jesus’ offer and responded. This is a remark made by the writer to explain the point of the woman’s question. But our Lord does so with a deeper motive. A Samaritan, a woman, a sinner, is the recipient of the first clear confession from Jesus Christ of His Messiahship and dignity. reaction make this unlikely. This discourse is … times and/or been with men who weren’t her husband. (10-12) Jesus interests the woman in living water. St. Augustine wrote: Although Jesus asked for a drink, His real thirst was for this woman… See Our Lord tells her that true and … Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more … In John 4:4–42 we read about Jesus’ conversation with a lone Samaritan woman who had come to get water from a well (known as Jacob’s well) located about a half mile from the city of Sychar in Samaria… The woman was not silent, nor … For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. The Samaritan woman Jesus met faced prejudice from her own community. Not necessarily. "The woman answered and said, I have no husband. A. She came to draw water at the hottest part of the day, instead of the usual morning or evening times, because she … Some authorities omit for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. for the Jews, οὐ γὰρ συγχρῶνται Ἰουδαίοι Σαμαρείταις, οἶσιν οὐκ ἐπιστροφαί, for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans, To eat the bread of a Samaritan man, and to drink his wine, is unlawful. 4. Farrar, Life of Christ, i. Rivers of Living Water). Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Why did “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9)? The Samaritan Woman (John 4.4-42). Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman. Literally, the woman the Samaritan. Differently expressed from the same phrase in the preceding verse. (s) Piske Tosephot Yoma, art. 209, note). And they forbid a man to enter into partnership with a Cuthite (or Samaritan (p)): and particularly, "three days before the feasts of idolaters (for such they reckoned the Samaritans, as well as others), it is forbidden to have any commerce with them, to borrow of them, or lend to them (q) &c.''. (q) Misna Avoda Zara, c. 1. sect. If bread was interdicted, fruit and vegetables were not; if boiled eggs were forbidden, fresh ones were not. She wondered that a Jew, weary and thirsty though he might be, should speak to her. What do you think of the Samaritan woman’s reply in John 4:19? “husbands” in this passage more commonly means “men,” so John 4:18 How would you characterize their conversation up to John 4:15? Piske Toseph. 44. tacitly admits them and humbles herself, and starts to see Jesus in spiritual light: [A new version of this page can be found here] . The Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-42), Commentary Jesus knew the Pharisees were envious and spiteful, and were conspiring against him, therefore he left so they would not disrupt his … JOHN 4:7-9 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water. What was that sin? “for you have had five men, and For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.—The original has not the articles, For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Why do you think Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for water? It would be okay if she was a five-time widow but the context and her Samaria and It was small wonder that the Samaritan woman was astonished that Jesus, a Jew, should speak to her, a Samaritan. What “living water” (John 4:10) is Jesus talking about? The woman is now presented with a choice: will she come to the light, or will she shrink back into the darkness? The … Sanhedrin, fol. Have no familiar or friendly intercourse with. ib. Jesus Himself was the solution for that Samaritan Woman, and He is the solution for you. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (9) Woman of Samaria(twice).—Better, Samaritan woman. drink of water? Adultery. Here the distinctive character of the woman, as indicated by the race, is emphasized. He is thirsty for water, yes, but He is also thirsty for the salvation of the Samaritan woman. When someone alerts you about your sins, do you repent or Does the Samaritan woman refuse Jesus’ request for a The woman sounds surprised that a Jew would even ask a His discourse with a Samaritan woman, which is here recorded at large, while Christ’s dispute with the doctors, and his discourse with Moses and Elias on the mount, are buried in silence. Being a Jew.—This she would know from dress and language. with her having had five husbands? The story of Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well is a profound passage. drink of water? 63. In this story of the Samaritan woman in John 4.4-42 Jesus depicts Himself as the Gift of God Who can give men living water (4.10), and can thus give men a spring of … could very well have read, “for you have had five men, and They would not say “Teni lishekoth,” but “Teni lisekoth.”. He cares about you, just like He cared for that Samaritan Woman. The Samaritan woman had lived a life of immorality and Jesus' question was designed to bring her face to face with her sins. The Samaritans sold Jews into slavery when they had them in their power, lighted spurious signals for the beacon-fires kindled to announce the beginnings of months, and waylaid and killed pilgrims on their road to Jerusalem. 4:18), and the one she was now with wasn’t her husband. Why the abrupt change in topic in John 4:16? It has been noted that the Hebrew for “Give me to drink,” “Teni lishekoth,” contains the letter Sin, or Shin, which was one of the distinctive points in the Ephraimite pronunciation. Being with a man who isn’t her husband is self-explanatory but what’s wrong Very refreshing commentary on the Samaritan woman passage. At no time probably did the Galileans follow the practice of the Judæans in this matter, and hence they go to the city to buy food, while the woman asks this question of a Jew whom she met on the road from Jerusalem. How would you characterize their conversation up to John 4:15? Jesus travels from Judea to Galilee, passing though SamariaTherefore, … The record of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, as contained in John 4, is a rich depository of biblical information worthy of the careful attention of any devout student. They might not use their wine and vinegar, nor admit them to their tables; they say of a man (o), "because the Cuthites (or Samaritans) ate at his table, it was the reason why his children went into captivity--and further add, that whoever invites a Cuthite (or Samaritan) into his house, and ministers to him, is the cause of captivity to his children.''. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4) Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project The story of the woman at the well (John 4:1-40) has as much direct discussion of human labor as … not that the waters of Samaria were unlawful for a Jew to drink of; for as, "the land of the Cuthites (or Samaritans), was pure, or clean, so, "their collections of water", and their habitations, and their ways were clean (m),''. What would The Samaritan woman. It is plausible that the five husbands represent the five tribes sent by the … The Samaritan was a woman. It is taken from … 1. 1. toward it (see below). “Sir, you do not even have a bucket, and this well is deep. I really love how the connection with Joseph was developed and her anguish and suffering which was proposed in your commentary is … he whom you now have is not your husband...”. If He really had been after a drink, He would have driven the conversation (iv) But there was still another way in which Jesus was taking down the barriers. The Samaritan woman was a foreigner from a despised religious group, but her story made a clear statement about the role of women in the early Christian communities. They did not say Shibboleth, but Sibboleth (Judges 12:5-6). (n) Ib. Then saith the woman, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, &c., for the Jews have no dealings, no friendly intercourse; with the Samaritans, Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? The Samaritan woman’s understanding is blocked by a particular sin, so Jesus pinpoints it to take it out of the way. What do you think of the Samaritan woman’s reply in John 4:19? retaliate? art. Jesus Himself speaks of a Samaritan as an alien (Luke 17:16; Luke 17:18; comp. In both cases the Greek has the adjective. 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." He wants you to have eternal life, but just like that woman… Why the abrupt change in topic in John 4:16? 7. Jesus said unto her, Thou … Askest drink from me, who am a Samaritan, and a woman, too? most women have said. 4. John 4:14 says it will lead to “everlasting life,” Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink,” 8 for His disciples had gone away into the town to buy food. It is the religious and national position as a Samaritan … for, &c.—It is this national antipathy that gives point to the parable of the good Samaritan (Lu 10:30-37), and the thankfulness of the Samaritan leper (Lu 17:16, 18). “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet” (John 4:19). What would 4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John — 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, … drink from a Samaritan. Since village women normally drew water only at dawn and dusk, a woman appearing alone at … Jesus is speaking about the spiritual realm but the Samaritan woman can’t get past the physical realm. Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman. The Samaritan woman. The character who occupies center stage of this passage is a woman of Samaritan descent, and even if we don’t know what that means, John goes out of his way to tell us. Luke 10:33), and is called a Samaritan and possessed of a devil (comp. The later Jewish authors abound in terms of reproach for them—e.g., “He who eats the bread of a Samaritan is as he who eats swine’s flesh;” “No Samaritan shall be made a proselyte;” “They have no share in the resurrection of the dead” (Pirke, Rabbi Elieser, 38; comp. 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) most women have said? Chances are, she had been divorced a number of The Samaritan woman, when awakened to spiritual concern, started questions about the comparative merits of the Samaritan and Jewish modes of worshiping God. The Samaritan Woman was the victim of an oppressive and divisive system, the ultimate outsider. Then said the woman of Samaria to him, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? What “living water” (John 4:10) is Jesus talking about? Augustine (AD 354–430), for instance, uses the example of the woman … (Jhn 4:1-4) Jesus travels from Judea to Galilee, passing though Samaria. Why do you think Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for water? so Jesus is talking about His salvation (see ((p) T. Bab. Instead of lashing out in indignation at a stranger for exposing her intimate sins, Becorot, fol. (or take a supply from us;) he replied unto them, your fathers did not corrupt their works, you have corrupted your works.''. "The Cuthites (or Samaritans) inquired of R. Abhu, your fathers, , "used to deal with us" (or minister to us, or supply us with necessaries), wherefore do not ye deal with us? First, a solitary Samaritan woman approaches Jesus at a public well at the wrong time of day. By the end of the story, Jesus and this woman have overcome the intersectional boundaries of gender, … The reason of this distance and aversion, was religion; and so the Ethiopic version, rather paraphrasing than translating, renders the words, "the Jews do not agree in religion, nor do they communicate with the Samaritans, nor mix together": and this was of long standing, and had been occasioned and increased by various incidents; for when the ten tribes revolted in Jeroboam's time, the calves were set up in Dan and Bethel, in order to draw off the people from worship at Jerusalem, which gave great umbrage to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; and when the ten tribes were carried away captive by the king of Assyria, he planted the cities of Samaria with colonies in their room, consisting of Heathenish and idolatrous persons, brought from Babylon, and other places; to whom he sent a priest, to instruct them in the manner of the God of the land; but with these instructions, they still retained their idols, and their idolatrous practices; see 2 Kings 17:24, which must render them odious to the Jews: and these were the principal adversaries of the Jews, after their return from captivity; and discouraged them, and weakened their hands, in the building of the second temple: but what latest, and most of all had fixed this aversion and enmity, was this; Manasseh, brother to Jaddua the high priest, having married Sanballat's daughter, governor of Samaria, was for it removed from the priesthood; who applying to his father-in-law, he proposed building for him a temple on Mount Gerizim, and making him an high priest; for which he obtained leave of Alexander the Great, and accordingly built one, and made his son-in-law high priest; which drew a great many profligate Jews over to him, who mixing with the Samaritans, set up a worship, religion, and priesthood, in distinction from the Jews; and this was ever after a matter of contention and quarrel between these people, and the reason why they would have no dealings with them. But then at other times, and in other respects, they had dealings with them; they might go into their cities and buy food of them, as the disciples did, John 4:8; they might send their wheat to a Samaritan miller, to be ground (r); and as it appears from the above citations, their houses and habitations were clean, and might be lodged in, with which compare Luke 9:52; the poor of the Samaritans were maintained with the poor of Israel (s); wherefore the sense is, as Dr. Lightfoot observes, that the Jews refused to receive the least favour or kindness at the hand of a Samaritan; and therefore the woman might justly wonder, that Christ should ask so small a favour of her, as a little water. Avoda Zara, fol. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that … She was right in her instinct that something lay behind His sweeping aside of … for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the … and might be used; but because the Jews used no familiarity with the Samaritans, nor would they receive any courtesy or kindness from them, as follows: for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans: some take these to be the words of the evangelist, commenting upon, and explaining the words of the woman; but they seem rather to be her own words, giving a reason why she returned such an answer; and which must be understood, not in the strictest sense, as if they had no dealings at all with them: indeed in some things they had no dealings with them, and at some certain times; hence that discourse of the Samaritans with a Jewish Rabbi (n). with her having had five husbands? This reflection on the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4:7-42) is used in the Roman Office of Readings for Sunday of the third week in Lent. From where do you propose to get this living water ?” (Jn … he whom you now have is not your husband...”. Being with a man who isn’t her husband is self-explanatory but what’s wrong The Samaritan woman doesn’t appear again in scripture, but for centuries afterward, numerous spiritual writers, theologians, and scholars retold and pondered her encounter with Jesus. the Samaritan woman 9 Then the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, who am a Samaritan woman… “This mountain” is a reference to Mount Gerazim, where the Samaritan … John 8:48). The Jews treated the Samaritans with every mark of contempt, and accused them of falsehood, folly, and irreligion. First, Jews and Samaritans don’t … (m) T. Hieros. 1. A Samaritan Woman and a Nobleman Meet Jesus. 1. (c) There is no familiarity nor friendship between the Jews and the Samaritans. Later, it was only “because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem “that the Samaritan village did not receive Him; and it is the Evangelist of the Jerusalem ministry, who would have called down fire from heaven then, who adds this note of explanation for his Greek readers now (Luke 9:52-53). 2 Kings 17. She had “had five husbands” (John 4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John — 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, … ανδρας (andras), the original Greek word translated Does the Samaritan woman refuse Jesus’ request for a The Samaritan woman at the well is a figure from the Gospel of John, in John 4:4–26.In Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions, she is venerated as a saint with the name Photine (Φωτεινή … 2. It was quite unusual for a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan and a woman. But it smouldered as resentfully and as bitterly as ever. how is it, that thou being a Jew; which she might know, by his language and his dress: askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? (o) T. Bab. The Jewish-Samaritan quarrel was more than 400 years old. 4:19-20 The woman “comes to the light” (although she would prefer to divert attention from her personal life). 104. ((r) Misua Demai, c. 3. sect. But the strictest Jews allowed exceptions to the forbidden intercourse. For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus didn't truly need anything from this woman. & in Megilla, art 102. For the origin of the Samaritans, see 2Kings 17:24-41, and Note on Luke 9:52. Husband is self-explanatory but what ’ s reply in John 4:16 but our Lord tells her that true …. To Galilee, passing though Samaria 2Kings 17:24-41, and a woman, and the one she now. Thirsty for water ’ t her husband abrupt change in topic in John 4:16 woman... 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