Today, I’m starting a series about the Samaritan woman at the well. You’ve likely heard this amazing story, but I’d like to examine it from a different perspective. The context is crucial—there are details modern readers might miss. In John 4, Jesus is in Judea, drawing attention from religious leaders who dislike His message. He chooses to leave Jerusalem in the south and return to Galilee in the north.

You may know from biblical history that between northern and southern Israel is Samaria, home to the Samaritans. They are often referred to as half-bloods by the Jews, because five hundred years before, when the Jews had been conquered in the north by Assyrians they had meshed together, creating a new ethnic group. There’s long-standing hostility and mistrust between Jews and Samaritans, who share similar beliefs but worship on different mountains. 

My friend, Jesus, is not bound by cultural barriers! Jesus decides to travel through Samaria to get home. He sends his disciples into town to buy food and waits by a well. This sets the stage for the story. John 4:7 says, When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus speaks to her, breaking social custom, and asks, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ Women rarely drew water alone in those days; they usually came in groups to socialize. The fact that this woman is alone signals to ancient readers that she was an outsider or ostracized—other women likely avoided her. Yet again, Jesus decides not to be bound by the traditions of men. Jesus speaks to her, breaking social conventions. Through this encounter, she becomes a bold evangelist for Jesus, and many believe because of her testimony.