So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse subtly highlights that Jesus is traveling through Samaria not by accident, but by divine necessity, because his divine purpose requires him to pass through this often-overlooked region on his way to Galilee. This detail underscores that even the detours and seemingly inconvenient routes in our lives are part of God's strategic plan.
So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, needing to travel from Judea to Galilee, passes through the province of Samaria, a region with a complex history and strained relationship with the Jews. He arrives at a town near a significant ancestral site, the field Jacob had given to his son Joseph, indicating the deep historical roots of this place. This journey is a strategic move by Jesus, both to avoid the hostile Pharisees and to fulfill his mission, which unexpectedly leads him to engage with a Samaritan woman at a well.
Jesus is heading to Galilee, and the most direct route takes Him through Samaria. But the specific town mentioned, Sychar, raises some questions. Was it the same as the ancient city of Shechem?
The text tells us Jesus came to "a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar." This name is a bit of a puzzle. Many scholars believe Sychar was either a different town near the ancient and famous city of Shechem, or perhaps a local, less formal name for Shechem itself.
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The mention of "the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph" isn't just a geographical marker; it's a piece of family history and a theological statement.
This phrase points to a significant inheritance. Jacob, on his deathbed, specifically gave Joseph a unique portion of land in the Promised Land.
Jesus could have easily skirted Samaria. Why did He choose to go directly through it, setting the stage for His encounter with the Samaritan woman?
Jesus' journey through Samaria wasn't accidental; it was purposeful, even though it wasn't His primary mission field at that moment.
Jesus' path through Sychar wasn't just about getting from Judea to Galilee; it was about reaching out to those on the margins, demonstrating that His message of salvation knew no ethnic or religious boundaries.
Understand the original words
Iakōb · Greek Proper Noun
A patriarch of the Old Testament, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, to whom God reaffirmed the covenantal promises. He is a central figure in Israel’s heritage and history.
Iōsēph · Greek Proper Noun
A central figure in the Old Testament, son of Jacob. His life story, involving his sale into slavery and eventual rise to power in Egypt, resulted in the survival of the covenant people during a famine.
c. 1700 BC
Jacob Acquires Land at Shechem
Jacob purchases a parcel of land near Shechem from Hamor, the father of Shechem, and later receives a portion from the Amorites with his own strength. He builds an altar there, dedicating it to the God of Israel. This land becomes a significant ancestral site.
c. 1400 BC
Joseph's Bones Buried at Shechem
Following the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, Joseph's bones are brought back and buried in the plot of land Jacob had given to Joseph at Shechem, fulfilling a promise.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After King Solomon's death, the united Israelite kingdom splits. The northern tribes form the Kingdom of Israel with its capital at Samaria (later rebuilt), while the southern tribes form the Kingdom of Judah. This division exacerbates tensions.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and repopulating the area with foreigners. This event leads to the creation of the distinct Samaritan population and deepens animosity with Judah.
c. 6th-1st Century BC
Development of Samaritan Identity
The Samaritans, with their own version of the Torah and distinct worship practices centered on Mount Gerizim, solidify their identity apart from the Jews of Judah, who reject their religious practices.
c. 20 BC - AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Judea. To avoid the growing hostility of the Pharisees and to pursue his mission, he travels toward Galilee, necessitating a passage through Samaria.
This passage directly describes Jacob purchasing land near Shechem and setting up an altar, establishing the historical significance of the land Jacob later gave to Joseph.
Genesis 48:21-22Here, Jacob blesses Joseph and explicitly states he is giving him an 'extra share' of land, which is later understood to be this very parcel near Shechem, solidifying the patriarchal connection.
Joshua 24:32This verse confirms that Joseph's bones were brought up from Egypt and buried in Shechem, further linking the location to the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
1 Kings 12:25This shows that Shechem (Sychar) later became a significant city and even a capital in the northern kingdom of Israel, highlighting its historical importance beyond the patriarchal era.
2 Kings 17:24This passage details how the Assyrians resettled the region of Samaria with people from Babylon, explaining the mixed religious and ethnic background of the Samaritans Jesus would encounter.
barnesJohn 4:5: "Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph."
Sychar - This city stood about eight miles southeast of the city called Samaria, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. It was one of the oldest cities of Palestine, and was formerly known by the name of "Shechem," or Sichem, Genesis 33:18 ; Genesis 12:6 . The city was in the tribe of Ephraim, Joshua 21:21 . It was at this place that Joshua assembled the people…
calvinJohn 4:1-9: "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,"
- When, therefore, the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (2. Though Jesus himself did not baptize, but his disciples,) 3. He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. 4. And it was necessary that he should pass through Samaria. 5. He came, therefore, into the city of Samaria, which is called Sichar, near a f…
The verse subtly highlights that Jesus is traveling through Samaria not by accident, but by divine necessity, because his divine purpose requires him to pass through this often-overlooked region on his way to Galilee. This detail underscores that even the detours and seemingly inconvenient routes in our lives are part of God's strategic plan.
Jesus, needing to travel from Judea to Galilee, passes through the province of Samaria, a region with a complex history and strained relationship with the Jews. He arrives at a town near a significant ancestral site, the field Jacob had given to his son Joseph, indicating the deep historical roots of this place. This journey is a strategic move by Jesus, both to avoid the hostile Pharisees and to fulfill his mission, which unexpectedly leads him to engage with a Samaritan woman at a well.
Jesus, needing to travel from Judea to Galilee, passes through the province of Samaria, a region with a complex history and strained relationship with the Jews. He arrives at a town near a significant ancestral site, the field Jacob had given to his son Joseph, indicating the deep historical roots of this place. This journey is a strategic move by Jesus, both to avoid the hostile Pharisees and to fulfill his mission, which unexpectedly leads him to engage with a Samaritan woman at a well.
"So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph." — The verse subtly highlights that Jesus is traveling through Samaria not by accident, but by divine necessity, because his divine purpose requires him to pass through this often-overlooked region on h…
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Last reviewed October 2026