John 4:21

KJV

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

KJV (with Strong's)

Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} unto her {G846}, Woman {G1135}, believe {G4100} me {G3427}, the hour {G5610} cometh {G3754}{G2064}, when {G3753} ye shall {G4352} neither {G3777} in {G1722} this {G5129} mountain {G3735}, nor yet {G3777} at {G1722} Jerusalem {G2414}, worship {G4352} the Father {G3962}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua said, “Lady, believe me, the time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Yerushalayim.

Berean Standard Bible

“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

American Standard Version

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In this pivotal declaration to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well, Jesus radically redefines the nature and location of true worship. He announces the imminent arrival of a new era in salvation history, signaling a profound shift from geographically confined acts of devotion, such as those practiced on Mount Gerizim by Samaritans or in the Jerusalem Temple by Jews, to a universal, spiritual communion with God the Father that transcends physical boundaries and ritualistic limitations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial turning point in Jesus' extended dialogue with the Samaritan woman, which begins with a simple request for water and quickly escalates into a profound theological discussion. Initiated in [John 4:7](/john/4-7 "John 4:7 - Jesus Asks for Water"), the conversation moves through themes of living water ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - The Living Water")), Jesus' supernatural knowledge of her past ([John 4:17-19](/john/4-17-19 "John 4:17-19 - Jesus Reveals Her Past")), and culminates in her theological question about the proper place of worship ([John 4:20](/john/4-20 "John 4:20 - The Samaritan Woman's Question")). Jesus' response in [John 4:21](/john/4-21 "John 4:21 - The New Era of Worship") directly addresses her query, but rather than siding with one location over another, He transcends the debate entirely, setting the stage for His further revelation about worship in spirit and truth in [John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the deep-seated animosity and theological dispute between Jews and Samaritans, particularly concerning the legitimate place of worship. Samaritans, descendants of Israelites who intermarried with foreign settlers after the Assyrian conquest, built their own temple on Mount Gerizim, believing it to be the divinely appointed place for worship, citing passages from the Pentateuch. Jews, on the other hand, held that Jerusalem and its Temple were the sole legitimate sites for worship, as ordained by God through King David and Solomon. This schism had persisted for centuries, marked by mutual disdain and rejection, as evidenced by the woman's surprise that Jesus, a Jew, would even speak to her ([John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jews and Samaritans")). Jesus' statement directly confronts this deeply entrenched geographical and sectarian divide, challenging the very foundations of their respective religious identities.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within the Gospel of John and broader biblical theology. It highlights the theme of **Jesus as the fulfillment and transformation of old covenant practices**, moving beyond external rituals and physical locations to an internal, spiritual reality. It underscores the **universality of God's redemptive plan**, demonstrating that salvation and access to the Father are not limited to one ethnic group or geographical site, but are open to all who believe. Furthermore, it foreshadows the **establishment of the New Covenant**, where God's presence would no longer be confined to a temple made with hands, but would indwell believers through the Holy Spirit, making every place a potential sanctuary for worship, as articulated later in the New Testament (e.g., [1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body, a Temple of the Holy Spirit")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woman (Greek, _gynḗ'_):** Jesus' address, "Woman," is a common and respectful form of address in the New Testament, not derogatory. Here, it underscores a direct, personal, and authoritative engagement with the Samaritan woman, signaling the profound importance of the revelation He is about to impart, transcending her social status or ethnic background.
* **hour (Greek, _hṓra'_):** This term signifies a specific, decisive, and divinely appointed moment in time. In John's Gospel, "the hour" often refers to a critical juncture in Jesus' ministry, particularly His passion, death, and resurrection, which mark the climax of God's redemptive plan. Here, "the hour cometh" emphasizes the imminence and certainty of a radical shift in the nature of worship, indicating that this new paradigm is not a distant future event but is already breaking into the present through Jesus Himself.
* **worship (Greek, _proskynéō'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to fawn or crouch to," this term denotes an act of profound reverence, homage, or adoration, often involving prostration. Jesus' statement redefines the *locus* of this worship, asserting that the physical act of prostration or adoration will no longer be tied to specific sacred sites like Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem, but will be liberated to occur anywhere, provided it is directed to the Father in spirit and truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman, believe me'":** Jesus directly addresses the woman, using a term of respectful familiarity. The imperative "believe me" highlights the authoritative and truthful nature of His declaration, urging her to accept His words as divine revelation, rather than mere human opinion or a continuation of the sectarian debate.
* **"'the hour cometh'":** This phrase signals a prophetic declaration of an impending, decisive moment in salvation history. It conveys a sense of divine intentionality and an inevitable shift in God's dealings with humanity, specifically concerning the practice of worship.
* **"'when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.'":** This is the core of Jesus' revolutionary statement. He explicitly negates the exclusive claims of both Samaritan (Mount Gerizim, "this mountain") and Jewish (Jerusalem) worship sites. By stating that worship will occur "neither...nor yet" in these places, Jesus declares the obsolescence of geographical limitations for approaching God, paving the way for a more universal and spiritual form of worship directed to "the Father."

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant **literary devices**. **Antithesis** is prominent, contrasting "this mountain" (Mount Gerizim) with "Jerusalem," which represents the two opposing poles of the Samaritan-Jewish worship dispute. Jesus' statement transcends this binary, introducing a new paradigm that negates both traditional locations. The phrase "the hour cometh" functions as a **prophecy** or **foreshadowing**, signaling an imminent and transformative shift in God's redemptive plan, specifically regarding the nature of worship. This declaration also contains an element of **paradox**, as Jesus seemingly negates the very act of worship in its traditional sense, only to elevate it to a higher, more profound, and accessible spiritual plane in the subsequent verses. This rhetorical move challenges deeply ingrained religious assumptions to reveal a deeper truth.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse marks a profound theological shift, moving from a localized, temple-centric understanding of worship to a universal, Spirit-enabled communion with God. It signifies the end of the Old Covenant's emphasis on physical pilgrimage and ritual sacrifices tied to a specific location, anticipating the New Covenant where God's presence is accessible everywhere through Christ. This liberation of worship from geographical constraints underscores God's desire for all peoples to know and worship Him, breaking down the barriers of ethnicity and tradition. It reveals that the true essence of worship lies not in *where* one worships, but in *how* and *whom* one worships.

* [John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "True Worship in Spirit and Truth")
* [Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Living Sacrifices")
* [Malachi 1:11](/malachi/1-11 "Universal Worship Prophecy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' declaration in John 4:21 is a liberating truth for believers today, reminding us that our access to God is not contingent on physical location or elaborate structures. While corporate worship in a designated building is valuable for fellowship, instruction, and communal praise, the essence of worship is an ongoing, heartfelt relationship with the Father, made possible through Jesus Christ. This means that every moment and every place can become an altar of worship—whether in our homes, workplaces, or during daily routines. It calls us to cultivate an internal disposition of reverence, gratitude, and obedience, recognizing that our entire lives can be an act of worship. This understanding challenges us to move beyond mere attendance at religious services to a lifestyle of continuous communion with God, honoring Him in spirit and truth, wherever we are.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding that true worship is not bound by location change your perspective on your daily life and activities?**
* **In what ways might you be inadvertently limiting your worship of God to specific times or places, rather than embracing it as a continuous lifestyle?**
* **What does it mean for you personally to "worship the Father" in a way that transcends traditional religious boundaries?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean that gathering in churches or specific places for worship is no longer important?**

Answer: Not at all. While [John 4:21](/john/4-21 "John 4:21 - The New Era of Worship") emphasizes that true worship is no longer *confined* to specific geographical locations, it does not negate the importance of corporate gathering for believers. The New Testament consistently portrays early Christians meeting together for teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer (e.g., [Acts 2:42](/acts/2-42 "Acts 2:42 - The Fellowship of Believers")). Gathering as the body of Christ is vital for mutual encouragement, spiritual growth, and collective praise. Jesus' statement liberates worship from geographical *exclusivity* and *necessity*, but it does not diminish the value of communal worship. Instead, it broadens the scope, affirming that while we gather, we can also worship God authentically anywhere and at any time.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jesus' declaration in [John 4:21](/john/4-21 "John 4:21 - The New Era of Worship") finds its ultimate fulfillment in His own person and work. He is the new Temple, the true dwelling place of God, replacing the physical structures of Mount Gerizim and Jerusalem. As He proclaimed, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to "the temple of his body" ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus and the Temple")). Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant, making direct access to the Father possible for all who believe, regardless of their physical location or ethnic background. The Holy Spirit, poured out at Pentecost ([Acts 2:1-4](/acts/2-1-4 "Acts 2:1-4 - The Day of Pentecost")), then indwells believers, transforming them into living temples ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body, a Temple of the Holy Spirit")), enabling them to worship God "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "Worship in Spirit and Truth")). Thus, Christ Himself is the means by which the geographical barriers to worship are dismantled, establishing a universal priesthood of believers who can now approach God the Father directly through Him ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Access to God Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Timothy 2:8

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Malachi 1:11

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

John 4:23

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Ephesians 2:18

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

John 16:2

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Ephesians 3:14

¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,