Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus subtly shifts the focus from the places of worship to the object of worship – "the Father." By emphasizing God as Father, He signals a new, intimate relationship that transcends geographical boundaries and nationalistic rivalries, inviting everyone to experience a universal connection.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just revealed a profound truth about true worship, responding to the Samaritan woman's question about the proper place to worship God. He's moved beyond the immediate dispute between Samaritan and Jewish traditions, indicating that a new era of worship is dawning. This statement marks a turning point where He begins to explain that worship will soon transcend geographical boundaries, shifting from specific locations to a deeper, spiritual connection.
For centuries, worship was tied to specific locations. Jesus radically shifts this focus, pointing to a future where God's presence transcends all physical boundaries.
Jesus is directly addressing the long-standing dispute between Jews and Samaritans over the proper place of worship. The woman points to Mount Gerizim, where the Samaritans had their temple, and references the Jewish claim on Jerusalem.
Jesus doesn't invalidate their historical practices but declares that a new era is dawning. The 'hour' he speaks of is the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of a spiritual kingdom. In this new reality, the physical location of worship—whether Gerizim or Jerusalem—will become secondary. The emphasis shifts from a geographical 'where' to a spiritual 'who' and 'how'.
This doesn't mean places of worship are wrong, but that God's presence is not confined to them. True worship, as Jesus will later reveal, is done 'in spirit and truth,' meaning it originates from a transformed heart and is offered with sincerity, wherever one may be.
Jesus introduces a powerful title for God that transforms the understanding of worship. What does it mean to worship 'the Father'?
The woman and Jesus both refer to God, but Jesus uses the specific term 'the Father.' This isn't just a casual nickname; it's a profound revelation of God's nature and His relationship with humanity.
In the context of Jesus' teaching, 'the Father' emphasizes God's intimate, loving, and personal relationship with believers. It signifies that through Him, people can approach God not as a distant, awe-inspiring deity bound by specific rituals, but as a child approaches a loving parent. This understanding is foundational to the new covenant Jesus is establishing.
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This revelation is a 'new beginning' for worship. It means God desires a relationship characterized by trust, love, and genuine connection, rather than one based solely on adherence to external laws or the sanctity of a particular place. It’s an invitation to experience God's nearness.
Understand the original words
gynai · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, this is a respectful but direct address used to signify a serious conversation, often used by Jesus when delivering significant theological or revelatory truths.
hōra · Greek Noun
A pivotal theological term referring to the divinely appointed time for the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, particularly centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
proskyneō · Greek Verb
The act of showing reverence, adoration, and submission to God; it involves the total posture of the heart and life toward the Creator.
patēr · Greek Noun
The fundamental relationship between the Creator and the believer, emphasizing God's role as the provider of life and the recipient of filial reverence and obedience.
This conversation happens against the backdrop of centuries of religious division and conflict between Jews and Samaritans, highlighting the deeply entrenched identities tied to specific holy sites.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. Foreigners are resettled in the land, leading to a mixed population and religious practices.
c. 5th century BC
Temple Built on Mount Gerizim
Manasseh, a Jewish priest exiled from Jerusalem, builds a rival temple on Mount Gerizim with the support of Sanballat, the Persian governor of Samaria. This solidifies the religious schism between Jews and Samaritans.
c. 129 BC
Destruction of Gerizim Temple
John Hyrcanus, the Jewish high priest, destroys the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim. Despite its destruction, the mountain remains a holy site for Samaritans.
Early 1st century AD
Samaritan Passover Celebration
Samaritans continue to observe their religious traditions, including a Passover celebration on Mount Gerizim, emphasizing their distinct identity and continuity with the patriarchs.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Encounters Samaritan Woman
Jesus, traveling through Samaria, stops at Jacob's Well near Sychar and engages in a theological discussion with a Samaritan woman about true worship.
This passage outlines God's command to worship Him only in the place He chooses, establishing a central sanctuary that foreshadows the future shift away from specific worship locations.
Malachi 1:11This prophecy speaks of a future when pure worship will be offered to God in every place, directly contrasting with the idea of a single, exclusive worship site.
Luke 24:44-45After His resurrection, Jesus explains how the Scriptures point to Him, indicating that the Old Testament Law, including its worship regulations, finds its fulfillment and therefore its end in Him.
Acts 17:24-25Paul's sermon in Athens declares that God is not limited to temples made with hands and does not need to be served by human hands, echoing Jesus' message of worship free from geographical constraints.
Hebrews 9:11-14This passage explains that Christ's sacrifice is superior to the Old Covenant sacrifices and purifies the conscience, highlighting the transition from physical rituals and locations to a spiritual reality in Christ.
calvinJohn 4:16-21: "Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither."
- Jesus saith to her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17. The woman answered, and said to him, I have not a husband. Jesus said to her, Thou hast well said, I have not a husband; 18. For thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband; in this thou hast told the truth. 19. The woman saith to him, Sir, I see that thou art a Prophet. 20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and you…
cambridgeJohn 4:21: "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father."
21 . believe me ] This formula occurs here only; the usual one is ‘I say unto you.’ the hour cometh ] No article in the Greek; there cometh an hour . Christ decides neither for nor against either place. The utter ruin on Gerizim and the glorious building at Jerusalem will soon be on an equality. Those who would worship the Father must rise abov…
Jesus subtly shifts the focus from the places of worship to the object of worship – "the Father." By emphasizing God as Father, He signals a new, intimate relationship that transcends geographical boundaries and nationalistic rivalries, inviting everyone to experience a universal connection.
Jesus has just revealed a profound truth about true worship, responding to the Samaritan woman's question about the proper place to worship God. He's moved beyond the immediate dispute between Samaritan and Jewish traditions, indicating that a new era of worship is dawning. This statement marks a turning point where He begins to explain that worship will soon transcend geographical boundaries, shifting from specific locations to a deeper, spiritual connection.
Jesus has just revealed a profound truth about true worship, responding to the Samaritan woman's question about the proper place to worship God. He's moved beyond the immediate dispute between Samaritan and Jewish traditions, indicating that a new era of worship is dawning. This statement marks a turning point where He begins to explain that worship will soon transcend geographical boundaries, shifting from specific locations to a deeper, spiritual connection.
"Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father." — Jesus subtly shifts the focus from the places of worship to the object of worship – "the Father." By emphasizing God as Father, He signals a new, intimate relationship that transcends geographica…
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Last reviewed October 2026