### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **Sychár**, represented by `{{G4965}}`, is a proper noun identifying a **place in Palestine**. It is of Hebrew origin and appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, marking a specific geographical location within the biblical narrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G4965}}` occurs in the Gospel of John. The text identifies it as a **city of Samaria** that was located near a significant piece of land [[John 4:5]]. This specific context ties the location directly to the patriarchal history of Israel, noting that the adjacent ground was a gift from **Jacob** to his son **Joseph**.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide essential context for Sychar's location and historical significance:
* `{{G4172}}` **pólis** (city): This word defines Sychar as a **city**, a walled town. It is the same term used to describe significant locations like the "city of David" [[Luke 2:11]] and the heavenly Jerusalem [[Hebrews 12:22]].
* `{{G4540}}` **Samáreia** (Samaria): This term identifies the region where Sychar was located. **Samaria** is mentioned as a key area for the church's mission [[Acts 1:8]] and a place where Philip preached [[Acts 8:5]].
* `{{G2384}}` **Iakṓb** (Jacob): This connects Sychar to the foundational history of Israel. The land near Sychar was given by **Jacob**, the progenitor of the Israelites, linking the site to the covenant promises ([[John 4:5]], [[Acts 7:46]]).
* `{{G2501}}` **Iōsḗph** (Joseph): This name specifies the recipient of the land near Sychar. By receiving the land from his father **Jacob**, **Joseph** ties the location to the patriarchal lineage of Israel ([[John 4:5]], [[Acts 7:9]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{G4965}}` is primarily geographical and historical, grounding the New Testament narrative in a tangible location with deep roots.
* **Connection to Patriarchal History:** Sychar is important because it is explicitly linked to a parcel of ground given by **Jacob** `{{G2384}}` to his son **Joseph** `{{G2501}}`, rooting the event in the ancestral inheritance of Israel [[John 4:5]].
* **A City of Samaria:** Its identification as a **city** `{{G4172}}` within **Samaria** `{{G4540}}` places it in a region that was central to the expansion of the early church, as foretold in the apostolic commission [[Acts 1:8]].
* **Precise Geographical Marker:** The single use of `{{G4965}}` provides a specific and historically-defined setting, connecting the events of the Gospel of John to a known heritage and location.
### Summary
In summary, **Sychar** `{{G4965}}` is a specific place name used once in Scripture to identify a **city of Samaria**. Its importance is derived entirely from its context, which connects the location to the patriarchal history of **Jacob** and **Joseph**. The name serves as a bridge, anchoring a New Testament event to a physical place defined by the heritage of Israel.