Samaritan Woman In John 4: 1-42

This research paper will examine the pericope, the Samaritan Woman, in the Gospel of John as found in John 4:1-42. The different areas of the pericope, which would be expounded on, are historical context, literary context, relationship with the synoptic parallels, major points in the pericope and its modern application.

The historical context of John’s narration of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman is important because it creates the backdrop and framework upon which this incident took place. Knowledge of this will provide greater understanding when reading this passage.

The Samaritans were a mixed population who came from the heathen colonists of Salmanezer from Assyrian provinces, Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hameth and Sepharvaim, and from the remnants of the

Nash noted that it was actually unnecessary for Jesus to pass through Samaria. It was actually preferential for Jews to go across and travel north on the eastern bank of the Jordan in order to avoid Samaria. However, it was God’s will that Jesus would take this way to pass through Samaria, and meet the Samaritan woman at the well. The encounter with the Samaritan woman was definitely not a mere chanced encounter, but it was a divine encounter.

It can also be noted that the Samaritan woman was an outcaste and was ostracized by many. In those times, drawing water and chatting at the well was a social highlight for a woman. Many women would travel together to draw water and socialize. However, the Samaritan woman came by herself to draw water from the community well. The literary context can be expounded in detail. Being wearied with his journey, he sat thus on the well. This was the posture of Jesus at this point in time. It can be noted that Jesus was exhausted by his journey. From this, we can see that first, Jesus was a genuine man, and he struggled with the same physical problems as other men. Next, Jesus did not live in riches, as he did not travel on horseback or in a