John 4:6

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
John 4:6 serves as a pivotal scene-setter for Jesus' transformative encounter with the Samaritan woman, meticulously detailing the physical context of His journey. It reveals Jesus' profound humanity through His weariness and places Him at the historically significant Jacob's well at an unusual time of day, all of which underscore the divine intentionality behind this groundbreaking interaction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the narrative of Jesus leaving Judea for Galilee, a journey that "He must needs go through Samaria" ([John 4:4](/john/4-4 "John 4:4 - Jesus' Divine Itinerary")). This divine necessity, rather than mere geographical convenience, sets the stage for a deliberate encounter. The preceding verses establish the Pharisees' awareness of Jesus' growing number of disciples, prompting His departure. John 4:6 then transitions from the journey itself to the specific location and circumstances of Jesus' rest, directly leading into the dialogue with the Samaritan woman in [John 4:7](/john/4-7 "John 4:7 - Jesus Asks for a Drink"), where He initiates the conversation by asking for a drink. The verse thus acts as a crucial narrative bridge, grounding the subsequent theological discourse in a tangible, relatable human experience.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jacob's well, located near Sychar in Samaria, was a deeply revered site, traditionally believed to have been dug by the patriarch Jacob himself and bequeathed to his son Joseph ([Genesis 33:19](/genesis/33-19 "Genesis 33:19 - Jacob Buys Land at Shechem"), [Genesis 48:22](/genesis/48-22 "Genesis 48:22 - Jacob's Blessing to Joseph")). For Jesus, a Jew, to be in Samaria and to sit at this well was culturally significant, given the profound and long-standing animosity between Jews and Samaritans ([John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jewish-Samaritan Antagonism")). Jews typically avoided Samaria, often taking a longer route around the region. The mention of "the sixth hour" (noon) is also culturally vital. This was the hottest part of the day, an atypical time for women to draw water, as they usually came in the cooler morning or evening hours. This detail subtly hints at the Samaritan woman's social isolation or desire to avoid the community, making Jesus' presence at this specific time and place all the more striking as a divinely orchestrated appointment.
* **Key Themes:** John 4:6 contributes significantly to several major themes within the Gospel of John and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully highlights the **Humanity of Jesus**, emphasizing His true physical limitations and experiences, a core aspect of the Incarnation detailed in [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"). Secondly, it underscores **Divine Appointment and Initiative**, demonstrating God's intentionality in orchestrating circumstances—even Jesus' weariness—to bring about redemptive encounters. This aligns with the theme of God actively seeking out individuals, as seen in the broader narrative of salvation. Thirdly, the setting at Jacob's well in Samaria, a place of ethnic tension, foreshadows Jesus' mission to **Break Down Barriers** between people groups, a theme central to the New Covenant's inclusivity. Lastly, the context of the well introduces the theme of **Living Water**, which Jesus will immediately offer to the woman, contrasting physical thirst with spiritual satisfaction ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus Offers Living Water")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **wearied (Greek, _kopiáō'_):** This term (G2872) signifies more than simple tiredness; it denotes a deep, profound exhaustion resulting from strenuous effort or toil. It implies a weariness that compels one to stop and rest, highlighting the intensity of Jesus' journey and His full experience of human physical limitation. This word is often used in the New Testament to describe the arduous labor of ministry or evangelism.
* **well (Greek, _pēgḗ'_):** The Greek word (G4077) refers to a fountain or a source of water, not merely a dug hole. It carries the connotation of a natural spring or a gushing source, emphasizing the life-giving nature of water. In this context, it sets up a powerful contrast with the "living water" that Jesus will offer, which is a spiritual source of eternal life.
* **sixth hour (Greek, _héktos hōra'_):** Comprising G1623 and G5610, this phrase refers to the sixth hour of the day, which, in Jewish reckoning, corresponds to noon. This detail is crucial for understanding the cultural context of the encounter. Noon was the hottest part of the day, making it an unusual time for women to draw water, suggesting the Samaritan woman's social isolation and Jesus' deliberate timing for this private, yet public, encounter.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now Jacob's well was there."**: This clause immediately grounds the narrative in a specific, historically significant location. Jacob's well was not just any well; it was a deeply revered site, connecting the present moment with the patriarchal history of Israel, thereby adding layers of meaning to the subsequent encounter. Its presence indicates a place of established tradition and communal gathering, even if the woman came at an unusual time.
* **"Jesus therefore, being wearied with [his] journey, sat thus on the well:"**: This segment reveals Jesus' profound humanity. The "therefore" links His weariness directly to His action of sitting. His physical exhaustion from the journey is explicitly stated, demonstrating that He experienced the same physical limitations as any human. His posture, "sat thus on the well," suggests a posture of natural rest and accessibility, making Him approachable for the impending conversation.
* **"[and] it was about the sixth hour."**: This final clause provides a crucial temporal detail. The "sixth hour," or noon, signifies the hottest part of the day. This detail is not merely incidental; it subtly informs the reader about the likely social circumstances of the Samaritan woman, who would typically avoid the heat and the crowds by coming at a cooler time, thus highlighting the divine orchestration of this specific, private encounter.

#### Literary Devices
John 4:6 employs several literary devices that enrich its meaning. **Realism** is prominent, as the verse vividly portrays Jesus' physical weariness, making Him relatable and emphasizing His full humanity, a cornerstone of the Incarnation. This detail anchors the divine narrative in tangible human experience. **Symbolism** is also at play, particularly with "Jacob's well." The well, a traditional source of physical life-sustaining water, serves as a symbolic backdrop for Jesus' subsequent offer of "living water," which provides spiritual and eternal life. This sets up a profound contrast between the temporal and the eternal. Furthermore, the verse uses **Foreshadowing** by setting the scene for one of the most significant and barrier-breaking encounters in the Gospels. The specific time ("the sixth hour") and place (Jacob's well in Samaria) are not random; they subtly hint at the divine appointment and the unique nature of the woman Jesus is about to meet, preparing the reader for the profound theological dialogue that follows.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 4:6 powerfully underscores the theological truth of the Incarnation, presenting Jesus not as a distant deity but as God fully enfleshed, experiencing human limitations such as fatigue. This profound reality makes Him perfectly suited to be our sympathetic High Priest, one who can truly empathize with our weaknesses and struggles. His weariness at the well is not a sign of divine weakness, but rather a demonstration of His solidarity with humanity, a deliberate act of identification that bridges the gap between God and man. This divine condescension, combined with the strategic timing and location, reveals God's active pursuit of individuals, even those marginalized or overlooked by society, demonstrating His boundless grace and intentionality in drawing all people to Himself.

* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")
* [Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")
* [Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation and Incarnation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene at Jacob's well offers profound comfort and practical application for believers today. Jesus' weariness reminds us that our Lord intimately understands the human condition, including physical and emotional exhaustion. He is not a distant, unfeeling God, but one who has personally known our limitations, our hunger, our thirst, and our need for rest. This truth allows us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He sympathizes with our struggles and invites us to find rest in Him when we are weary. Furthermore, this passage teaches us that God often uses our ordinary circumstances, even moments of vulnerability or need, to orchestrate divine appointments and reveal His purposes. Just as Jesus, weary, sat at the well and initiated a life-changing conversation, God can meet us in our places of need, ready to offer spiritual refreshment and the "living water" that truly satisfies. It encourages us to be attentive to the seemingly mundane moments of our lives, recognizing that they may be precisely where God intends to do His most profound work, both in us and through us for others.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' physical weariness in this verse deepen your understanding of His humanity and His empathy for your own struggles?**
* **In what "weary" moments or ordinary circumstances of your life might God be orchestrating a divine appointment or seeking to reveal His purposes?**
* **How does the contrast between Jacob's well (physical water) and the "living water" Jesus offers challenge your understanding of true spiritual satisfaction?**

### FAQ

**Why is Jacob's well significant, and why was Jesus there?**

Answer: Jacob's well was profoundly significant due to its historical and cultural ties to the patriarch Jacob, who traditionally dug it and gifted the land to his son Joseph ([Genesis 33:19](/genesis/33-19 "Genesis 33:19 - Jacob Buys Land at Shechem")). It represented a deep connection to Israel's heritage. Jesus was there not by mere coincidence but by divine necessity, as [John 4:4](/john/4-4 "John 4:4 - Jesus' Divine Itinerary") states He "must needs go through Samaria." This journey, despite the prevailing animosity between Jews and Samaritans ([John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jewish-Samaritan Antagonism")), was part of God's sovereign plan to reach a marginalized people group and offer them salvation.

**What does Jesus' weariness tell us about Him?**

Answer: Jesus "being wearied with his journey" is a powerful testament to His full and authentic humanity. It demonstrates that while He was fully God, He also fully experienced the physical limitations, fatigue, and needs common to all human beings. This profound reality of the Incarnation, where "the Word was made flesh" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), makes Him relatable and approachable. His weariness was not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of His solidarity with humanity, enabling Him to truly sympathize with our infirmities ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")).

**Why is the mention of "the sixth hour" important in this passage?**

Answer: 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; they usually came in the cooler morning or evening hours to avoid the heat and often, the crowds. The Samaritan woman's presence at noon subtly suggests her social isolation or desire to avoid others. This detail highlights the divine orchestration of the encounter, as Jesus' weariness led Him to sit at the well precisely when and where He could meet this particular woman, underscoring God's intentionality in reaching individuals in their specific circumstances.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 4:6, with its depiction of a weary Jesus at Jacob's well, profoundly foreshadows and illuminates His Christ-centered fulfillment. His physical thirst and exhaustion at the well, a common human experience, point to His ultimate identification with humanity's deepest needs and His role as the true source of spiritual refreshment. While He sat by a historical well, offering physical rest, He was about to offer "living water" that would quench spiritual thirst forever ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus Offers Living Water")). This scene anticipates His greater weariness and thirst on the cross, where He would cry out, "I thirst" ([John 19:28](/john/19-28 "John 19:28 - Jesus Thirsts on the Cross")), not merely for water, but for the completion of His redemptive work. His physical suffering and ultimate sacrifice provide the spiritual "living water" that flows from His pierced side ([John 7:37-38](/john/7-37-38 "John 7:37-38 - Rivers of Living Water")), fulfilling the Old Testament types of water from the rock and manna from heaven. The weary Christ at the well is the same Christ who, through His ultimate weariness unto death, offers eternal rest and life to all who believe, transcending all social and religious barriers, just as He did with the Samaritan woman.

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

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.