John 4:5
What does John 4:5 mean?
A plain-English look at John 4:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 4:5 means
Jesus arrived at Sychar, a Samaritan city located near the historical land Jacob gave to his son Joseph. This detail connects Jesus' journey to the rich tapestry of Israel's history, specifically to figures revered by both Jews and Samaritans. The mention of Jacob's patrimony establishes a significant setting for the upcoming dialogue, hinting at the shared heritage that could serve as a bridge, despite deep-seated divisions.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So he came to a town of Samaria which was named Sychar, near to the bit of land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862He cometh, therefore, to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the place that Jacob gave to Joseph his son;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He cometh therefore to a city of Samaria, which is called Sichar, near the land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He comes therefore to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near to the land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Context
Verse 5 identifies the specific location in Samaria where Jesus' journey brought Him. It follows the statement of divine necessity for Jesus to pass through Samaria. This precise geographical and historical anchoring at Sychar and Jacob's land sets the immediate scene for the encounter at Jacob's well, providing crucial context for the woman's later references to Jacob.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Joshua 24:32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money: and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
- Genesis 48:22
Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
- John 4:12
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?
- Genesis 33:19
And he bought the parcel of ground, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.
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