John 4:6

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with [his] journey, sat thus on the well: [and] it was about the sixth hour.

Now {G1161} Jacob's {G2384} well {G4077} was {G2258} there {G1563}. Jesus {G2424} therefore {G3767}, being wearied {G2872} with {G1537} his journey {G3597}, sat {G2516} thus {G3779} on {G1909} the well {G4077}: and it was {G2258} about {G5616} the sixth {G1623} hour {G5610}.

Ya‘akov’s Well was there; so Yeshua, exhausted from his travel, sat down by the well; it was about noon.

Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

and Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Commentary

John 4:6 (KJV) provides a foundational detail for one of the most significant encounters in the Gospels, highlighting Jesus' very real humanity and the precise setting for His interaction with the Samaritan woman. The verse states, "Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with [his] journey, sat thus on the well: [and] it was about the sixth hour."

Context and Setting

The scene is set at Jacob's well, a historically significant landmark near the Samaritan city of Sychar. This well was deeply revered, traditionally believed to have been dug by the patriarch Jacob himself and given to his son Joseph (Genesis 33:19, Genesis 48:22). Jesus' presence in Samaria was unusual for a Jew, as there was deep-seated animosity between Jews and Samaritans (see John 4:9). However, John 4:4 notes that "He must needs go through Samaria," indicating a divine necessity and purpose for this journey, not merely a geographical convenience.

Key Themes and Insights

  • The Humanity of Jesus: The phrase "being wearied with his journey" is a powerful testament to Jesus' full humanity. Despite His divine nature, He experienced the physical limitations and exhaustion common to all people. This profound reality of the Incarnation – God becoming flesh (John 1:14) – makes Him relatable and approachable. His weariness was not a sign of weakness, but a demonstration of His solidarity with humanity.
  • Divine Appointment: Jesus' physical weariness led Him to sit at this specific well, at this particular time, creating the perfect opportunity for the encounter with the Samaritan woman. This was not a random stop, but a divinely orchestrated moment, revealing God's intentionality in reaching out to individuals.
  • The "Sixth Hour": The mention of "the sixth hour" refers to noon, the hottest part of the day. This detail is crucial because it was an atypical time for women to come to the well to draw water, as they usually went in the cooler morning or evening. This subtle detail hints at the Samaritan woman's social isolation or desire to avoid others, underscoring Jesus' deliberate choice to meet her precisely when and where she was most vulnerable.

Linguistic Nuance

The Greek word translated as "wearied" is kekopiakota (κεκοπιακότα), which implies a deep, profound exhaustion resulting from strenuous effort. It suggests more than just being tired; it points to a weariness that compels one to stop and rest immediately, underscoring the intensity of Jesus' journey.

Practical Application

This verse offers significant comfort and encouragement. It reminds us that Jesus intimately understands our human experiences, including physical and emotional fatigue. He is not a distant, unfeeling God, but one who has personally known our limitations and struggles. Furthermore, it teaches us that God can use our ordinary circumstances, even moments of weariness or vulnerability, to orchestrate divine appointments and reveal His purposes. Just as Jesus, weary, sat at the well, God often meets us in our places of need, ready to offer spiritual refreshment and the "living water" that satisfies (John 4:10).

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 4:15

    For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

  • Hebrews 2:17

    Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

  • Matthew 8:24

    And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

  • Matthew 4:2

    And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

  • Matthew 27:45

    Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

  • Luke 2:7

    And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

  • John 11:9

    Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
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