John 4:20

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Our {G2257} fathers {G3962} worshipped {G4352} in {G1722} this {G5129} mountain {G3735}; and {G2532} ye {G5210} say {G3004}, that {G3754} in {G1722} Jerusalem {G2414} is {G2076} the place {G5117} where {G3699} men ought {G1163} to worship {G4352}.

“Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that the place where one has to worship is in Yerushalayim.”

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.”

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Context

This verse is spoken by the Samaritan woman to Jesus during their encounter at Jacob's well in Sychar, as recorded in John chapter 4. After Jesus reveals knowledge about her past, she shifts the conversation from her personal life to a theological dispute that characterized the long-standing animosity between Jews and Samaritans. The Samaritans, descendants of Israelites who remained in the land after the Assyrian exile and intermarried with foreign settlers, held Mount Gerizim as their sacred place of worship, believing it was the mountain where Abraham offered Isaac and where Moses commanded blessings. In contrast, the Jews maintained that Jerusalem, specifically the Temple there, was the only legitimate place ordained by God for worship and sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:5).

Key Themes

  • The Geographical Dispute over Worship: The verse highlights the central point of contention between Jews and Samaritans: the rightful location for true worship. This was not a minor disagreement but a foundational aspect of their religious identities.
  • Human Tendency to Localize God: It reveals a common human inclination to confine God's presence and worship to specific physical places or structures, rather than understanding His omnipresence.
  • Preparation for a Deeper Truth: The woman's question, though rooted in a sectarian dispute, serves as a crucial setup for Jesus' revolutionary teaching on the true nature of worship, which transcends physical locations.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "worshipped" is proskyneō (προσκυνέω), which literally means "to prostrate oneself" or "to bow down before." It implies an act of profound reverence, homage, and adoration, often involving a physical gesture of submission. The repetition of this word throughout John 4:20-24 emphasizes that the core issue is not just ritual, but the very act of revering and honoring God.

Significance and Application

John 4:20 sets the stage for one of Jesus' most profound teachings on worship. Instead of taking sides in the geographical debate, Jesus elevates the discussion beyond physical location. His response in the following verses (John 4:21-24) reveals that true worship is not tied to a mountain or a temple but to the spirit and truth. This means:

  • Worship is Internal, Not External: God is Spirit, and therefore, authentic worship must originate from the heart and spirit, not merely from outward rituals or specific buildings.
  • Accessibility of God: This teaching breaks down geographical and ethnic barriers, signifying that God can be worshipped anywhere by anyone who approaches Him in spirit and truth. This universalizes the opportunity for a relationship with God.
  • Focus on Relationship: The emphasis shifts from the 'where' to the 'how' and 'who.' True worship is about a genuine, heart-felt connection with God through Jesus Christ, rather than adherence to a particular holy site. This remains deeply relevant today, reminding believers that the church is not a building but the body of Christ, and worship is a lifestyle, not just a Sunday service.
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.

  • Deuteronomy 12:5

    ¶ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

  • Deuteronomy 12:11

    Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

  • Deuteronomy 27:12

    These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:

  • Deuteronomy 11:29

    And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.

  • Genesis 33:18

    And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

  • Genesis 33:20

    And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.

  • Genesis 12:6

    ¶ And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite [was] then in the land.
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