John 4 - The King James Study Bible

4:4. Go through Samaria: The circuitous route taken by strict Jews from Jerusalem to Galilee was toward Jericho, across the Jordan River to the east side, north through Perea (bypassing the hated Samaritans), and finally recrossing the Jordan into Galilee. See verse 9 below.

4:5. Sychar was the Old Testament Shechem (Gen. 33:18–20).

4:9. The Samaritans had intermarried with Gentiles during the Assyrian captivity (2 Kin. 17:24–41). They acknowledged only the Pentateuch as Scripture, and around 400 B.C. built a temple on Mount Gerizim.

4:10. The living water refers to the Holy Spirit (cf. 7:38,39).

4:20. This mountain means Gerizim. See the note on verse 9.

4:24. The original stresses the idea of God’s nature or being as spiritual (cf. 5:37).

4:25. Messias: Compare to Deuteronomy 18:15–22.

4:35. Fields . . . white already to harvest: Jesus may have pointed to the multitudes who came from Sychar to see Him because of the testimony of the woman.

4:39–42. At first they believed because of the woman’s testimony. But to people of this culture, this was not adequate. They would have to hear for themselves. Jesus’ acceptance of the woman in her new role shows that He did not share this condescending attitude toward women.

4:54. This was only the second miracle worked in Galilee. Evidently Jesus had performed others in Judea. See 2:23; 3:2.