John 4:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 4:4-26

We have here an account of the good Christ did in Samaria, when he passed through that country in his way to Galilee. The Samaritans, both in blood and religion, were mongrel Jews, the posterity of those colonies which the king of Assyria planted there after the captivity of the ten tribes, with whom the poor of the land that were left behind, and many other Jews afterwards, incorporated themselves. They worshipped the God of Israel only, to whom they erected a temple on mount Gerizim, in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 4:1-9

4:1-9 So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although it was not Jesus himself who was in the habit of baptizing but his disciples), he quilted Judaea and went away again to Galilee. Now he had to pass through Samaria. He came to a town of Samaria, called Sychar, which is near the piece of ground which Jacob gave to Joseph, his son, and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, tired from the journey, was sitting by the well... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 4:4

And he must needs go through Samaria. Not the city, but the country of Samaria; for the way to Galilee from Judea, lay through the midst of Samaria; nor was there any other way, without going a great way about; see Luke 9:51 ; and which is also confirmed by Josephus F3 Antiqu. Jud. 50:20. c 5. & in vita sua, p. 1019. : and this accounts for his going through Samaria, consistently with his forbidding his apostles going in the way of the Gentiles, or into any of the cities of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:4

And he must needs go through Samaria - Or, It was necessary for him to pass through Samaria: for this plain reason, and no other, because it was the only proper road. Samaria lay northward of Judea, and between the great sea, Galilee, and Jordan; and there was therefore no going from Galilee to Jerusalem but through this province. See the note on Luke 17:11 . From Jerusalem to Galilee through Samaria, according to Josephus, was three days' journey. See his own life. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:4

Verse 4 44.For Jesus himself testified. The apparent contradiction which strikes us here at first sight, has given rise to various interpretations. There is an excess of subtlety in the explanation given by Augustine, that Christ was without honor among his own countrymen, because he had done more good among the Samaritans in two days only than he had done, in a long time, among the Galileans; and because, without miracles, he gained more disciples in Samaria than a great number of miracles had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-6

(1) The contrast between Jewish unsusceptibility and Samaritan pre-disposition to faith. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-6

The journey of our Lord through Sumatra. We are now to see the firstfruits of Gentile conversion. I. CONSIDER THE CAUSE OF CHRIST 'S DEPARTURE FROM JUDEA TO GALILEE . "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, he left Judaea and departed again into Galilee." 1 . The anger of the Pharisees was roused by the greater success of Jesus. "All men were coming to him" ( John 3:26 ), to be his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-42

7. The ministry and revelation of the Lord to those beyond the strict compass of the theocracy. This passage describes an incident of consummate interest, and records a specimen of our Lord's intercourse with individuals, and the reaction of that instruction upon the disciples. The event is a solitary chink through which the light of historical fact falls upon an otherwise darkened and unknown period of the Saviour's life. When we skirt a forest we see at intervals, where by some... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:4

And he must needs go through Samaria. There was no physical necessity about it. He might, as bigoted Jews were accustomed to do, have crossed the Jordan and passed through Peraea instead. There was no such animus in the heart of Jesus, and a Divine and providential monition was the occasion of his taking the direct road. Geikie has drawn a vivid picture of the difficulties to which Jewish travellers on the borders of Samaria were exposed (see Hosea 6:9 ; Josephus, 'Ant.,' 20:6. 1; 'Bell.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 4:4

And he must needs go through Samaria - Samaria was between Judea and Galilee. The direct and usual way was to pass through Samaria. Sometimes, however, the Jews took a circuitous route on the east side of the Jordan. See the notes at Matthew 2:22. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 4:4-26

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 4:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 4:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-42

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 4:4

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