The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This woman's hope isn't just about knowing the right answers, but about the Messiah telling them. She’s looking for someone who will bring ultimate clarity and settle all disputes, seeing Him not just as a teacher, but as the definitive revealer of divine truth.
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just revealed to this Samaritan woman that he knows about her past and that he has living water to offer her. She, in turn, shifts the conversation from her personal situation to the deep theological divide between Jews and Samaritans, wondering if the coming Messiah will finally settle questions about proper worship and location. She expresses her hope that this promised Messiah, whom she knows will come, will be the ultimate authority who will clarify all these matters.
This woman, a Samaritan, speaks with a certainty about the Messiah that echoes through the ages. Where did this expectation come from?
Though the Samaritans and Jews had significant theological differences, they shared a common anticipation of the Messiah. This hope wasn't a vague wish; it was rooted in the very Scriptures they both held dear.
Shared Scriptures, Shared Hope
When this woman thinks of the Messiah, what is her biggest expectation? It's not about political power or religious reform, but about clear, complete truth.
The woman's statement, 'When he comes, he will tell us all things,' reveals a profound understanding of the Messiah's role.
More Than Just a King
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This woman is looking for a future Messiah to explain everything. But Jesus doesn't point her to a distant hope; He points to Himself.
The conversation takes a dramatic turn as Jesus directly confronts the woman's expectation.
The Messiah is Here
Understand the original words
Mashiach · Hebrew Noun/Title
The 'Anointed One,' the long-awaited King and Savior of Israel who fulfills the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.
Christos · Greek Noun/Title
The Greek translation of the Hebrew 'Messiah,' confirming Jesus as the promised, divinely anointed King and deliverer sent by God.
The woman's statement reflects a shared Messianic hope stemming from ancient promises within the Pentateuch, a hope that transcended the deep religious and political divide between Jews and Samaritans.
c. 2000 BC - 1400 BC
Early Israelite Period and Exodus
The foundational narratives of Genesis and Exodus, including promises of a future deliverer (Genesis 3:15) and a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), are established. These texts would later be acknowledged by both Jews and Samaritans.
c. 950 BC
Temple Construction in Jerusalem
Solomon's Temple is built in Jerusalem, becoming the central place of worship for the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This event would later contribute to religious distinctions between Jews and Samaritans.
722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrians, and many of its inhabitants are exiled. Those left behind intermingled with foreign settlers, leading to the distinct Samaritan people and their religious practices.
c. 500 BC - 400 BC
Pentateuch Canonized
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Torah, are finalized and accepted as authoritative scripture by the Jews. The Samaritans also accept these books, forming the basis of their religious tradition.
c. 200 BC
Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim
The Samaritans build their own temple on Mount Gerizim, intensifying the religious and political division between them and the Jews, who viewed it as a illegitimate rival sanctuary.
1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Messianic Expectation Grows
Across Judea and Samaria, there is a heightened expectation for the coming of the Messiah, fueled by prophecies and a sense of national longing for deliverance and restoration.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Encounters the Samaritan Woman
Jesus, traveling through Samaria, speaks with a woman at Jacob's Well. He engages her in a theological discussion about worship, ultimately revealing Himself to her as the Messiah she awaits.
This verse from Jacob's blessing speaks of Shiloh, a term understood by Jewish tradition to refer to the Messiah, hinting at his coming and authority. The woman's expectation of the Messiah settling all things echoes this ancient promise.
Deuteronomy 18:15Moses foretold that God would raise up a prophet like him, to whom the people should listen. This expectation of a definitive prophetic voice aligns with the woman's hope that the Messiah 'will tell us all things.'
Isaiah 61:1-3This prophecy describes the Spirit of the Lord being upon the Anointed One to proclaim good news, bring healing, and comfort. The woman's anticipation of the Messiah revealing 'all things' reflects a longing for this divinely appointed messenger of truth and restoration.
John 1:41This passage shows Andrew recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. It highlights the immediate impact of encountering Jesus and the natural desire to identify Him as the long-awaited Christ, just as the Samaritan woman does.
John 16:13Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit guiding believers into all truth. This connects to the woman's expectation of the Messiah revealing all things, showing how the Spirit, sent by Christ, continues that revelatory work.
ellicottJohn 4:25: "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things."
(25) I know that Messias cometh. —She is puzzled by these new doctrines. “Father!” “Spirit!” what did all this mean? Was God in any real sense like the father who in childhood’s happy days had protected, and forgiven, and loved? Was the divine nature in any real sense approached by human nature in its highest and best moments, when it seemed lifted above earth,…
barnesJohn 4:25: "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things."
I know that Messias cometh - As the Samaritans acknowledged the five books of Moses, so they expected, also, the coming of the Messiah. Which is called Christ - These are probably the words of the evangelist, as it is not likely that the woman would explain the name on such an occasion. Will tell us all things - Jesus had decided the question proposed to him Jo…
This woman's hope isn't just about knowing the right answers, but about the Messiah telling them. She’s looking for someone who will bring ultimate clarity and settle all disputes, seeing Him not just as a teacher, but as the definitive revealer of divine truth.
Jesus has just revealed to this Samaritan woman that he knows about her past and that he has living water to offer her. She, in turn, shifts the conversation from her personal situation to the deep theological divide between Jews and Samaritans, wondering if the coming Messiah will finally settle questions about proper worship and location. She expresses her hope that this promised Messiah, whom she knows will come, will be the ultimate authority who will clarify all these matters.
Jesus has just revealed to this Samaritan woman that he knows about her past and that he has living water to offer her. She, in turn, shifts the conversation from her personal situation to the deep theological divide between Jews and Samaritans, wondering if the coming Messiah will finally settle questions about proper worship and location. She expresses her hope that this promised Messiah, whom she knows will come, will be the ultimate authority who will clarify all these matters.
"The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”" — This woman's hope isn't just about knowing the right answers, but about the Messiah telling them. She’s looking for someone who will bring ultimate clarity and settle all disputes, seeing Him not…
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Last reviewed October 2026