John 4:28

KJV

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

KJV (with Strong's)

The woman {G1135} then {G3767} left {G863} her {G846} waterpot {G5201}, and {G2532} went her way {G565} into {G1519} the city {G4172}, and {G2532} saith {G3004} to the men {G444},

Complete Jewish Bible

So the woman left her water-jar, went back to the town and said to the people there,

Berean Standard Bible

Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people,

American Standard Version

So the woman left her waterpot, and went away into the city, and saith to the people,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 4:28 describes the Samaritan woman's immediate and decisive action following her transformative encounter with Jesus at Jacob's well. Having just been revealed as the Messiah, her priorities dramatically shift from her daily task of drawing water to an urgent compulsion to share the good news. Her abandonment of the waterpot and swift return to the city to tell its inhabitants about Jesus underscores the profound impact of her spiritual awakening and sets the stage for a remarkable community-wide testimony.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the climax of Jesus's conversation with the Samaritan woman, where He reveals His omniscience by exposing her past and then explicitly declares, "I who speak to you am He" ([John 4:26](/john/4-26 "John 4:26 - Jesus Reveals Himself to the Samaritan Woman")). The disciples have just returned, finding Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman, which was culturally unusual ([John 4:27](/john/4-27 "John 4:27 - Disciples Return")). Her response in [John 4:28](/john/4-28 "John 4:28 - The Woman Leaves Her Waterpot") is a direct, spontaneous outflow of this revelation, demonstrating the immediate and powerful effect of encountering the Messiah. It propels the narrative from a private dialogue to a public witness, leading directly into her testimony to the city's inhabitants in [John 4:29](/john/4-29 "John 4:29 - The Woman's Testimony") and the subsequent belief of many Samaritans in [John 4:39-42](/john/4-39-42 "John 4:39-42 - Many Samaritans Believe").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The interaction between Jesus, a Jewish man, and a Samaritan woman was highly unconventional. Jews and Samaritans harbored deep-seated animosity and avoided interaction ([John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jews and Samaritans Do Not Associate")). Furthermore, a woman, especially one with a questionable reputation, speaking to a man in public, let alone engaging in theological discussion or public testimony, was socially scandalous. Women typically did not engage men in public discourse, and her past made her an outcast even among women. The act of leaving her waterpot, an essential daily tool, highlights her radical departure from routine and social norms. Her immediate return to the city to speak to "the men" (likely the male leaders or prominent figures) demonstrates an extraordinary boldness, empowered by her encounter with Christ, transcending the societal barriers of her time.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully illustrates several key themes within [John's Gospel](/john/1 "The Gospel of John - The Word Became Flesh"). Firstly, it showcases **Immediate Transformation** as the woman's life is instantly reordered by her encounter with Jesus, moving from seeking physical water to proclaiming spiritual truth. Secondly, it highlights the **Urgency of Witness**, as her haste to share the news demonstrates the compelling nature of the Gospel and the natural outflow of a heart touched by divine revelation. This echoes the call to be witnesses for Christ, as seen throughout the New Testament. Thirdly, the **Symbolism of the Waterpot** represents the abandonment of worldly concerns and past priorities for the sake of following Christ and His mission, aligning with Jesus's teaching about seeking first the kingdom of God ([Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom")). Finally, her actions exemplify **Breaking Social Barriers**, demonstrating how the power of Christ's revelation can empower individuals to transcend cultural and personal limitations to spread the good news, foreshadowing the universal reach of the Gospel beyond traditional boundaries ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Be Witnesses")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **left (Greek, _aphíēmi'_):** This verb means "to send forth, to lay aside, to leave, to omit, to put away." In this context, it signifies an immediate and complete abandonment of the waterpot. It's not merely setting it down temporarily, but rather an act of letting go, indicative of a sudden and profound shift in priorities. The waterpot, a symbol of her daily mundane existence and physical needs, is forsaken for an urgent spiritual mission.
* **waterpot (Greek, _hydría'_):** Derived from _hýdōr_ (water), this refers to a large vessel specifically used for carrying and storing water. It was an essential item for daily life, particularly for women who performed the laborious task of drawing water. Its abandonment underscores the woman's radical and immediate reorientation away from her physical necessities and routine towards the spiritual urgency of sharing her encounter with the Messiah.
* **saith (Greek, _légō'_):** This primary verb means "to lay forth, to relate in words, to speak, to tell, to utter." It implies a systematic or set discourse, suggesting that her communication was not a casual remark but a deliberate and purposeful declaration. Her immediate action upon entering the city was to speak, indicating the compelling nature of the message she had received and her urgent desire to proclaim it.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The woman then left her waterpot":** This clause highlights the immediate and decisive nature of the woman's response to Jesus's revelation. Her waterpot, an essential tool for her daily routine and a symbol of her previous life focused on physical needs, is abandoned. This act signifies a profound shift in her priorities and a radical transformation of her purpose, demonstrating that her encounter with Jesus was so compelling that it superseded all other concerns.
* **"and went her way into the city":** This describes her swift and purposeful movement. Instead of returning home or continuing her daily chores, she immediately heads back to Sychar. This action underscores the urgency of her newfound mission and her overwhelming desire to share the incredible truth she had just discovered. Her path is no longer dictated by the need for water but by the compulsion to bear witness.
* **"and saith to the men":** This final clause reveals the specific target of her message and the boldness of her action. Despite her social standing and the cultural norms that would typically prevent a Samaritan woman from addressing men publicly, especially about religious matters, she immediately seeks them out. Her direct address to "the men" (likely the prominent figures or leaders of the city) indicates the gravity and public nature of her testimony, demonstrating the empowering effect of her encounter with Christ.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Symbolism**, primarily through the **waterpot**. This mundane object, essential for daily life, becomes a powerful symbol of the woman's past life, her physical needs, and her former priorities. By leaving it behind, she symbolically abandons her old way of life and embraces a new, spiritually driven existence. This act also exemplifies **Dramatic Shift**, as her entire purpose and direction change instantaneously from drawing physical water to proclaiming spiritual truth. Her immediate and bold action, defying social norms, also highlights **Empowerment**, showcasing how an encounter with Christ can transform an individual into a courageous witness, transcending personal inhibitions and societal expectations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 4:28 offers a profound illustration of the transformative power of a genuine encounter with Jesus Christ. The woman's immediate abandonment of her waterpot and her urgent return to the city to testify are not merely impulsive acts but represent a fundamental reordering of her life and priorities. This narrative serves as a powerful paradigm for conversion and evangelism, demonstrating that true spiritual awakening inevitably leads to a desire to share the good news. Her willingness to disregard social conventions for the sake of proclaiming the Messiah underscores the liberating and empowering nature of the Gospel, which breaks down barriers and compels believers to witness boldly.

* [Matthew 10:37](/matthew/10-37 "Matthew 10:37 - Prioritizing Christ")
* [Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost")
* [Acts 4:20](/acts/4-20 "Acts 4:20 - We Cannot But Speak")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Samaritan woman's response in John 4:28 offers a timeless and challenging model for every believer. Her immediate, unhesitating action, driven by the profound truth she received, beckons us to examine the depth of our own encounters with Christ. Are we willing to "leave our waterpots"—our daily routines, comforts, perceived necessities, or even our past identities—when the call of Christ demands a radical reorientation of our lives? Her urgent desire to share the good news, even in the face of social stigma, compels us to consider the urgency with which we bear witness to the transformative power of Jesus in our own spheres of influence. Her story reminds us that authentic faith is not passive but active, compelling us to share the living water we have received with a thirsty world, overcoming any obstacle that stands in the way of proclaiming His name.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "waterpots" (priorities, comforts, routines) might I be clinging to that hinder my immediate and urgent response to Christ's call?**
* **How does the Samaritan woman's urgency to share the Gospel challenge my own willingness and readiness to speak about Jesus?**
* **In what ways might societal norms or personal inhibitions prevent me from boldly sharing my faith, and how can I overcome them?**

### FAQ
**Why did the woman leave her waterpot behind? Was it a symbolic act?**

Answer: Yes, leaving her waterpot was a highly symbolic act, indicating a profound and immediate shift in her priorities. The waterpot was an essential daily item, representing her mundane routine, her physical needs, and perhaps even the burdens of her past life. By abandoning it, she demonstrated that her encounter with Jesus, the source of "living water" ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus Offers Living Water")), had so overwhelmed her that her physical necessities became secondary. Her urgent desire to share the news of the Messiah far outweighed her need for water, signifying a radical reorientation from the temporal to the eternal, from personal need to public proclamation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Samaritan woman's actions in [John 4:28](/john/4-28 "John 4:28 - The Woman Leaves Her Waterpot") are a powerful illustration of the transformative power unleashed by an encounter with Christ, foreshadowing the very nature of the Gospel's spread. Her immediate abandonment of her waterpot and urgent witness to her city prefigures the radical call of discipleship that Jesus would issue, where followers are called to "leave everything" and follow Him ([Luke 5:11](/luke/5-11 "Luke 5:11 - Disciples Leave Everything to Follow Jesus")). Her transformation from an outcast seeking physical water to a bold evangelist proclaiming the Messiah demonstrates Christ's mission to seek and save the lost, regardless of their past or social standing ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost")). This event beautifully illustrates the New Covenant reality where the Spirit of God empowers believers to be witnesses to the ends of the earth ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Be Witnesses")), breaking down barriers of ethnicity and gender, and compelling them to share the "living water" that flows from Christ Himself ([John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water")). Her story, ignited by Jesus's self-revelation as the Messiah ([John 4:26](/john/4-26 "John 4:26 - Jesus Reveals Himself to the Samaritan Woman")), becomes a foundational narrative of how the Lamb of God draws all people to Himself ([John 12:32](/john/12-32 "John 12:32 - Jesus Will Draw All People to Himself")) and empowers them to be active participants in His redemptive mission.

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

John 4:7

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

Luke 24:33

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Mark 16:8

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any [man]; for they were afraid.

Mark 16:10

[And] she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Luke 24:9

And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

Matthew 28:8

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.