Samaritan Woman at the Well, Part 3 (John 4:16–26 Meaning & Commentary)
Quick Summary
In John 4:16–26, Jesus shifts the conversation from water to the woman’s life story and then to worship. By revealing her past and teaching about worship “in spirit and truth,” he shows that God seeks authentic worshipers, not those bound by location or tradition. This passage reveals Jesus as the Messiah who brings true access to God.
Introduction
The dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman takes a dramatic turn in this section. What begins with talk of water moves into the woman’s personal history and then into a profound discussion about worship. Jesus addresses her deepest need not by condemning her but by offering truth and grace.
The heart of this passage is the question of how and where God is to be worshiped. The woman raises the centuries-old dispute between Jews and Samaritans. Jesus’ answer reorients the conversation: true worship is not about geography but about the heart, empowered by the Spirit. These verses prepare the way for the woman’s recognition that Jesus is the Messiah.
John 4:16–18
“Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!’” (John 4:16–18)
Jesus abruptly shifts the subject. His request for her to bring her husband surfaces the hidden reality of her life. His knowledge of her past—five husbands and her current situation—exposes her vulnerability. Yet notice his gentleness: he affirms, “What you have said is true.”
This shows us something important about how God deals with us. Jesus brings truth to light without humiliation. He reveals what is broken so that healing may come. Just as he turned water into wine in John 2, here he begins turning shame into testimony.
John 4:19–20
“The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’” (John 4:19–20)
Confronted with her life’s exposure, the woman changes the subject. She acknowledges Jesus as a prophet, then raises the old religious dispute: Mount Gerizim for the Samaritans or Jerusalem for the Jews? For centuries, this had divided their worship communities.
Mount Gerizim was central to Samaritan identity. They believed it was the true, God-ordained site of worship, citing passages like Deuteronomy 11:29. A temple was built there in the fifth century BC, only to be destroyed by the Jewish leader John Hyrcanus in 128 BC.
The loss of their temple did not erase Samaritan devotion to the mountain, which they still considered holy. By contrast, Jews insisted Jerusalem was the rightful place of worship. When the woman asks her question, she touches the heart of a centuries-old theological conflict.
Her move is not simply deflection; it is a genuine question. If Jesus is a prophet, maybe he can answer the greatest point of contention. The moment reveals her longing for clarity. Much like Nicodemus in John 3, she stands on the edge of revelation, asking the right questions without yet understanding the full answer.
John 4:21–22
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.’” (John 4:21–22)
Jesus responds with both correction and promise. He acknowledges that salvation comes from the Jews, affirming God’s covenantal plan. Yet he declares that a new reality is dawning: worship will no longer be tied to sacred places but will transcend them.
This marks a turning point in biblical worship. No longer limited to temple or mountain, worship will be centered in Christ himself. His words anticipate the cross and resurrection, when he becomes the true temple, the meeting place between God and humanity (John 2:19–21).
John 4:23–24
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”(John 4:23–24)
These verses are the heart of the passage. Worship is not confined to location but is defined by spirit and truth. Spirit points to the Holy Spirit, who enables genuine communion with God. Truth points to the revelation of God in Christ, the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
The Father actively seeks such worshipers. This is remarkable: God is not passive, waiting for us to stumble into worship, but desires authentic hearts aligned with his Spirit and truth. In this, the Samaritan woman learns that worship is less about where and more about whom and how.
John 4:25–26
“The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’” (John 4:25–26)
The dialogue reaches its climax. The woman expresses hope in the coming Messiah, the one who will resolve religious disputes. Jesus’ response is direct and unmistakable: “I am he.” In Greek, his words echo the divine “I Am,” linking back to God’s self-revelation in Exodus 3:14 and forward to the I Am sayings throughout John.
This is one of the few times in the Gospels where Jesus explicitly declares himself the Messiah. And he does so not in Jerusalem or among religious leaders, but to a Samaritan woman at a well. The disclosure underscores the radical reach of God’s grace.
John 4:16–26 Meaning for Today
This passage reminds us that God meets us in truth. Jesus did not shy away from the woman’s past but brought it to light with compassion. In our lives, honesty before God is the starting point of healing. Confession becomes the doorway to grace.
It also challenges us to think about worship. True worship is not about place, style, or tradition, but about alignment with God’s Spirit and truth. Whether in a sanctuary, living room, or prison cell, worship that is Spirit-filled and Christ-centered honors the Father.
Finally, this story is a picture of God’s surprising grace. Jesus reveals his identity not to the powerful but to someone marginalized. That same grace reaches us in unexpected places, turning our shame into testimony and our questions into confession of faith.
FAQ: John 4:16–26
Why does Jesus bring up the woman’s husbands?
He reveals the truth of her life, not to condemn but to lead her toward honesty and transformation.
What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?
It means worship that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and centered on the truth revealed in Jesus Christ.
Why is it important that Jesus reveals himself here?
It shows that God’s grace extends beyond expected boundaries. Jesus reveals his Messiahship first to someone marginalized.
Is this the first “I Am” statement?
Yes, in a sense. Jesus’ words “I am he” anticipate the fuller “I Am” sayings later in John’s Gospel.
Sources / Further Reading
Raymond E. Brown, John (AYB), John 4
D. A. Carson, John (PNTC), John 4
Gail R. O’Day, John (NIB), John 4
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of John, John 4
Andreas J. Köstenberger, John (BECNT), John 4
Related Content
John 2:13-22 – Jesus Clears the Temple (Jesus as the new temple of worship)
John 3:1-21 – Jesus Teaches Nicodemus (parallel misunderstanding that leads to deeper revelation)
The 7 I Am Sayings of Jesus (expanding on Jesus’ “I am he” declaration here)
Revelation 21:22-27 – The Light and Glory of the New Jerusalem (final vision of worship without temple)
