John 4:11

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

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She said to him, “Sir, you don’t have a bucket, and the well is deep; so where do you get this ‘living water’?

“Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water?

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence then hast thou that living water?

In John 4:11, we find the Samaritan woman's response to Jesus's offer of "living water." Her words reveal a fundamental misunderstanding, rooted in her immediate physical perception of the situation.

Context

This verse is part of the pivotal encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Sychar. Jesus, weary from his journey, had just asked her for a drink, breaking social conventions. In the preceding verse (John 4:10), Jesus introduced the concept of "living water," implying a spiritual gift. The woman, however, interprets his words literally, focusing on the practical challenges: Jesus has no bucket or rope, and the well is deep, making it impossible for him to draw physical water.

Key Themes and Messages

Misunderstanding Spiritual Truth: The woman's literal interpretation highlights a common human tendency to struggle with spiritual concepts when they are presented in terms beyond the material. She can only conceive of water that can be physically drawn from a well.
Jesus's Supernatural Provision: Her question, "from whence then hast thou that living water?" implicitly challenges Jesus's claim, yet it also opens the door for him to further explain the divine source of what he offers. It subtly points to Jesus's ability to provide something not dependent on human means or physical resources.
The Nature of "Living Water": This phrase, hudōr zōn in Greek, can refer to flowing, fresh water (like a spring) but Jesus clearly uses it metaphorically for spiritual life, eternal satisfaction, and the Holy Spirit. Her question sets the stage for Jesus to clarify that he is offering a spiritual reality, not a physical one.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "living water" accurately translates the Greek hudōr zōn (ὕδωρ ζῶν). While in a literal sense it means "running" or "flowing water" (as opposed to stagnant water in a cistern), in a spiritual and prophetic context, it consistently signifies the life-giving presence of God and the Holy Spirit. The woman's confusion stems from her failure to grasp this deeper, spiritual meaning, assuming Jesus refers to the literal water of the well.

Related Scriptures

This dialogue sets the stage for Jesus to explain the transformative power of the true "living water." He later promises that whoever drinks of it will never thirst again. This concept echoes other passages where Jesus presents himself as the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance, such as when he declares, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." The promise of "rivers of living water" flowing from believers is also later given, referring to the Holy Spirit.

Practical Application

The woman's initial misunderstanding serves as a powerful reminder for us. Often, we too approach spiritual truths with a literal or worldly mindset, failing to perceive the deeper, divine reality. This verse encourages us to look beyond the physical means and human limitations, recognizing that God's provision and spiritual gifts operate on a different plane. It challenges us to ask not "how will you draw it?" but "what is this living water?" and to open our hearts to the spiritual sustenance that only Jesus can provide.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
John 3:4

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?