PER047

The village of Sychar in Samaria

The article discusses Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Sychar, emphasising its importance in his Galilean ministry. The village’s conversion illustrates Jesus’ universal message.

3 min Sychar Samaritans Jesus’ ministry 2 verses 1 book

Resources

Biblical texts

Matthew
Matthew (King James Version) not cited in the book
Mark
Mark (King James Version) not cited in the book
Luke
Luke (King James Version) not cited in the book
John
John 4.27-42 (King James Version)

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

And many more believed because of his own word;

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Technical details

Bar chart for the year 31

Location: The village of Sychar in Samaria

Date: February of the year 31

Method: We continue with John

Note on the method: John alone gives us information about Jesus the Messiah’s journey to Galilee

Journey to Sychar

Historically, Jews generally avoided passing through Sychar in Samaria when travelling to Galilee, preferring a route along the Jordan. This practice arose from the tense and conflict-ridden relations between Jews and

The inhabitants of the village of Sychar in Samaria

The inhabitants of the village of Sychar in Samaria

Comments

Verse thirty-five of John’s Gospel gives us an indication of the event’s date by mentioning that there are ‘four months until the harvest’. This could place it around February. Here Jesus uses a in speaking of fields turning white, symbolising that the time of salvation has come for the .

John emphasises the warm welcome of the , contrasting with the attitude of the Jews in Jerusalem. This story contains no extraordinary miracles, but the testimony of a Samaritan woman to whom Jesus revealed details of her personal life.

This socially marginalised woman becomes a key instrument in the conversion of many people in her village. The encounter at the well of Sychar proves crucial in Jesus’ ministry.

The contrast is striking between Nicodemus, an educated religious man ignorant of the truths of salvation, and the Samaritan woman, socially rejected but quick to understand and accept Jesus’ message. John shows that closeness to spiritual conversion does not depend on established social or religious expectations.

According to John 4.43, Jesus the Messiah and his disciples spent two days in the village of Sychar, enjoying its inhabitants’ hospitality.