John 4:11

“Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text records the Samaritan woman responding to Jesus at Jacob’s well immediately after He promises living water. She points out that He lacks a drawing vessel and the well is deep.

The words — ἄντλημα (antlēma) denotes a bucket or drawing implement, and ἔχεις (echeis) means you possess. The text states these terms to ground her question in physical lack rather than spiritual insight.

The thread — Her literal framing mirrors the physical misunderstanding in John 3:4 and the natural man’s rejection of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 2:14. These passages share a pattern of interpreting divine provision through earthly constraints.

Why it lands — The text presents a direct question about the source of spiritual reality. It asks the reader to identify where they look for sustenance and to abandon reliance on physical means when divine gifts are offered.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John 3:4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”