Bible Strands
John 4:9
“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Samaritan woman speaks to Jesus at Jacob’s well while his disciples are away in the town buying food. She identifies his Jewish identity and questions his request for water given the established ethnic divide.
The words — The Greek πῶς (pōs) literally means “how,” framing her query as a statement of impossibility rather than genuine curiosity. Σαμαρῖτις (Samaritis) marks her ethnic and religious boundary that normally prohibits contact with Jews.
The thread — This social barrier echoes Acts 10:28, which records the Jewish prohibition against associating with foreigners, and traces back to the Assyrian resettlement described in 2 Kings 17:24. Jesus’ willingness to cross this line also anticipates the later mission to the Gentiles outlined in Matthew 10:5.
Why it lands — The text forces a reader to confront the historical and religious boundaries Jesus intentionally crosses. It demands recognition that divine provision does not respect human divisions of ethnicity or ritual purity.
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
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? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Cross-references
- Acts 10:28 He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
- 2 Kings 17:24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
- Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
- John 8:48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
- Luke 17:16 He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
- Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Luke 10:33 But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
- John 4:27 Just then His disciples returned and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, “What do You want from her?” or “Why are You talking with her?”
- Ezra 4:1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
- Nehemiah 4:1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews