John 4:6
New International Version
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

New Living Translation
Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

English Standard Version
Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

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.

Berean Literal Bible
And Jacob's well was there. Therefore Jesus, being wearied from the journey, thus was sitting at the well. The hour was about the sixth.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

New American Standard Bible
and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired from His journey, was just sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

NASB 1995
and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

NASB 1977
and Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Legacy Standard Bible
and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Amplified Bible
and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, sat down by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (noon).

Christian Standard Bible
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening.

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.

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jacob's Well was there. Jesus sat down by the well because he was tired from traveling. The time was about six o'clock in the evening.

Good News Translation
Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by the trip, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

International Standard Version
Jacob's Well was also there, and Jesus, tired out by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

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

NET Bible
Jacob's well was there, so Jesus, since he was tired from the journey, sat right down beside the well. It was about noon.

New Heart English Bible
Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
Jacob's Well was there: and accordingly Jesus, tired out with His journey, sat down by the well to rest. It was about six o'clock in the evening.

World English Bible
Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and there was there a well of Jacob. Jesus therefore having been weary from the journeying, was thus sitting on the well; it was as it were the sixth hour;

Berean Literal Bible
And Jacob's well was there. Therefore Jesus, being wearied from the journey, thus was sitting at the well. The hour was about the sixth.

Young's Literal Translation
and there was there a well of Jacob. Jesus therefore having been weary from the journeying, was sitting thus on the well; it was as it were the sixth hour;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob's spring was there. Then Jesus, wearied with the journey, sat thus by the spring: it was about the sixth hour.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Jacob’s well was there. And so Jesus, being tired from the journey, was sitting in a certain way on the well. It was about the sixth hour.

New American Bible
Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.

New Revised Standard Version
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus was tired by the fatigue of the journey, and sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Jaqob's spring of water was there, and Yeshua, weary from walking, sat down by himself at the spring at the sixth hour.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Godbey New Testament
And the well of Jacob was there. Then Jesus having become weary from the journey, was sitting thus by the well: it was about the sixth hour.

Haweis New Testament
And Jacob’s well was there. Therefore Jesus, weary with his journey, e’en sat himself down on the well: it was about the sixth hour.

Mace New Testament
now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sat him down by the well: it being about the sixth hour.

Weymouth New Testament
Jacob's Well was there: and accordingly Jesus, tired out with His journey, sat down by the well to rest. It was about six o'clock in the evening.

Worrell New Testament
and Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied with His journey, was sitting thus at the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Worsley New Testament
And Jacob's well was there. Now Jesus was tired with his journey, and sat down at the well: and it was about the sixth hour of the day,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
5So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”…

Cross References
Genesis 24:11
As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.

Genesis 28:10-11
Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. / On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

Genesis 33:18-20
After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city. / And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. / There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

Genesis 29:1-3
Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. / He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well. / When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

Exodus 2:15-17
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well. / Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. / And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock.

1 Kings 19:4-8
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” / Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” / And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. ...

Numbers 20:1-11
In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. / Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. / The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! ...

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

Jeremiah 2:13
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Psalm 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

Psalm 42:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. / My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?

Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 4:2
After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

Mark 6:31
And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

Luke 9:58
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Jacob's well.

being.

Matthew 4:2
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

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.

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.

sat.

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.

Luke 9:58
And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

the sixth.

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.

Matthew 27:45
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

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John 4
1. Jesus talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals his identity to her.
27. His disciples marvel.
31. He declares to them his zeal for God's glory.
39. Many Samaritans believe on him.
43. He departs into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son that lay sick at Capernaum.














Since Jacob’s well was there
The mention of "Jacob’s well" connects this narrative to the patriarch Jacob, a significant figure in Jewish history. The well symbolizes a place of sustenance and life, as water is essential for survival. Archaeologically, Jacob's well is located near the ancient city of Sychar, in Samaria, and is a tangible link to the Old Testament patriarchs. This connection emphasizes the continuity of God's work from the time of the patriarchs to the ministry of Jesus. The well serves as a meeting point between the old covenant and the new, highlighting Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises.

Jesus, being wearied from His journey
The phrase "being wearied" underscores the humanity of Jesus. In Greek, the word used here is "κεκοπιακὼς" (kekopiakōs), which means to be tired or exhausted. This detail reminds us that Jesus, though fully divine, experienced human limitations and emotions. His weariness from the journey reflects His willingness to fully enter into the human experience, identifying with our struggles and weaknesses. This aspect of His nature is crucial for understanding His role as our compassionate High Priest, who empathizes with our frailties.

sat down by the well
The act of sitting down by the well is significant both practically and symbolically. Practically, it indicates Jesus' need for rest and refreshment. Symbolically, wells in Scripture often represent places of divine encounter and revelation. By sitting at the well, Jesus positions Himself for a significant interaction with the Samaritan woman, which will unfold in the subsequent verses. This setting foreshadows the living water that Jesus will offer, contrasting the physical water of Jacob's well with the spiritual sustenance He provides.

It was about the sixth hour
The "sixth hour" refers to noon, the hottest part of the day. This detail is important because it sets the stage for the encounter with the Samaritan woman, who comes to draw water at an unusual time, likely to avoid the other women of the town. The timing of this meeting is providential, as it allows for a private and transformative conversation. The sixth hour also carries symbolic weight, as it is a time of light and revelation, aligning with Jesus' role as the Light of the World who brings truth and salvation to those in darkness.

(6) Jacob's well is one of the few spots about the position of which all travellers are agreed. Jesus, passing from south to west would pass up the valley of Mochna until the road turns sharp to the west, to enter the valley of Sichem between Ebal and Gerizim. Here is Jacob's field, and in the field is Jacob's well. It is dug in the rock, and is about 9 feet in diameter. The older travellers described it as more than 100 feet deep, and with several feet of water. Modern travellers have generally found it dry. Wilson describes it, in 1843, as only 75 feet deep.

Sat thus on the well.--Better, was sitting thus at the well. The words are one of the instances of exact knowledge which meet us in this Gospel. The tense is the descriptive imperfect. He was thus sitting when the woman came. He thus recalls the picture as it was impressed and remained fixed in the writer's mind. He saw Him, wearied by the noontide journey, sitting thus by the well, while they went on to the city to procure food. The reality of this fatigue, as one of the instances witnessing to the reality of His human nature, is important.

About the sixth hour--i.e., as elsewhere in St. John, following the ordinary mode of counting, about 12 o'clock. (Comp. Note on John 1:39.) It is contended, on the other hand, that this was not the usual time for women to resort to the wells to draw water, but the narrative perhaps implies an unusual hour, as it speaks of only one woman there.

Verse 6. - Now Jacob's well was there; more literally, now there was a spring there, Jacob's. The word generally translated "well" is φρέαρ, the representative of בְּאֵר, puteus; but πηγή, the word here used, corresponds with עַיִן, fons. In vers. 11, 12 the word φρέαρ is used of the same place. To the present day this indubitable site goes by both names. This district abounds in springs (Deuteronomy 8:7), and the digging of this deep well was a work of supererogation, such as might be performed by a stranger in the land. The well is indeed fed by fountains of water in the neighbourhood. It has been known as Jacob's well by a continuous tradition, and is situated in the plain of Mukhhan, under the rough sides of Gerizim, just beyond the spot where the plain is entered almost at right angles by the eastern end of the vale of Shechem. The latter vale is constituted by the two mountain ridges of Gerizim on the south and Ebal on the north. Nablous, or Shechem, is not visible from the well of Sychar, being hidden by the spur of Gerizim from view, and higher up the valley of Shechem are the present ruins of Sebastich or Samaria proper. Dean Stanley said it was one of the most beautiful spots in Palestine. Sychar lies half a mile to the north of the traditional well. The well, two hundred years ago, was declared by Maundrell to be a hundred and five feet deep, and built of solid masonry. In 1866 Lieutenant Anderson found it seventy-five feet deep, and quite dry. It is nine or ten feet in diameter; and it is one of the most indubitable spots where we may feel certain that the feet of the blessed Lord have trod. Efforts are now being made by the Palestine Exploration Society to protect and restore the well. Jesus therefore, being wearied (κοπιάω is "to labour unto weariness," from κόπος, exhausting toil) with his journey. A long, exhausting march told upon him, and he felt the weakness of our humanity. Thoma suggests that, because the woman that Jacob found at the well was Rachel, the mother of Joseph, the Samaritans' special patriarch, and because Leah was the mother of Levi and Judah, and her name means "wearied," so Jesus is represented as weary with his journey unto the home of Rachel! It is far more important to notice that the author of this Gospel, whose main idea was that Jesus is "the only begotten Son of the Father," "the Word made flesh," yet impresses upon us continually his realization of the full humanity, the definite, concrete human existence of Jesus. His life was no phantasm of the imagination, no mere docetic manifestation, as the Tubingen school attribute to the Johannine Christ, but veritable man. This Gospel alone records his presence and miracle at Cana, his travel-worn sympathy with our weakness, his making clay with spittle, his weeping over the grave of a friend, his thirst upon the cross, the blood that issued from his wounded side, and the obvious physical reality of his risen body, and thus furnishes the Church with the grounds on which the apostle maintained his Divine humanity. Jesus was seated thus - or, sat thus; i.e. wearied, exhausted - on the well; or on the low parapet of the well, which protected its mouth, he sat there comparatively, if not quite, alone. The position of the word "thus" after "sat" would, in classic Greek, make the οὕτως mean "simply, without other preoccupation;" but there is no logical reason to deprive the οὕτως of its full meaning (Hengstenberg). The Lord, taking his seat by this memorable spot, rich in varied associations, becomes at once a type of the richer and diviner supply of life which he is able and ready to dispense to mankind. The weariness and waiting of the Lord at the well was a sublime hint of the exhaustless supply of grace which was ever flowing from the broken heart of the Son of God. It was about the sixth hour. The author is remarkable for his repeated mention of the hours at which some of the most memorable crises of his life took place, and thus gives a vivid impression of reality and of the presence of the eyewitness. He must himself have waited by the side of the Lord, and overheard the conversation which followed, just as he did the conversation with Nicodemus. Great difference of opinion prevails as to his method of computing time; i.e. whether he adopted the Jewish computation, from sunrise to sunset into twelve variable hours, or the Roman method of computation, from midnight to midday, from noon to midnight, into twelve hours of equal length. Some difficulties are reduced by the latter hypothesis (see M'Clellan and Westcott, 'Additional Notes to John 19;' Edersheim, l.c., 1:405; Moulton, in loco; Townson, 'Discourses of the Four Gospels,' p. 215). The hour referred to would then be about six o'clock in the evening, the very time when purchases would be made, and when women are in the habit of drawing water. The difficulty that presents itself is the brevity of the time remaining for all that happens as described in vers. 27-38, broad daylight being almost presupposed in ver. 35. Still, if "about the sixth hour" was five o'clock, even in January there would be possible time for the conversation, for the return of the disciples, and also for the approach of the Samaritans; though it must be remembered that twilight in Palestine is very brief, and that the whole narrative suggests the idea of leisure rather than hurried converse. If the Roman method of interpretation were adopted, the sixth hour might mean six o'clock in the morning, which was the hour intended, if the Roman computation must be supposed in John 19:14. This suggestion has further difficulties. The weariness of the Lord at that early hour would imply a long journey before daybreak, which is extremely improbable (see John 11:9). Besides, though Townson and M'Clellan lay emphasis on this Roman computation of time in Asia Minor, and advance some proof of it, yet some of their authorities are far from proving it. Luthardt says we have no right to suppose that John would deviate from the current Jewish computation. "About the sixth hour" would therefore mean "about noon," the very time when it is so common to rest after a morning journey. Lucke, Meyer, Hengstenberg, Godet, Lange, Schaff, Geikie, Watkins, all press the same interpretation of the words. Lucke justly says that there is no hint of the Lord and his disciples intending to remain by the well, but to pursue their journey after rest and food. This is inconsistent with the idea of an evening halt.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Since
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Jacob’s
Ἰακώβ (Iakōb)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2384: Of Hebrew origin; Jacob, the progenitor of the Israelites.

well
πηγὴ (pēgē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4077: A fountain, spring, well, issue, flow. Probably from pegnumi; a fount, i.e. Source or supply.

was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

there,
ἐκεῖ (ekei)
Adverb
Strong's 1563: (a) there, yonder, in that place, (b) thither, there. Of uncertain affinity; there; by extension, thither.

Jesus,
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

weary
κεκοπιακὼς (kekopiakōs)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2872: From a derivative of kopos; to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[His]
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

journey,
ὁδοιπορίας (hodoiporias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3597: A journey, journeying, travel. From the same as hodoiporeo; travel.

sat down
ἐκαθέζετο (ekathezeto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2516: To be sitting, sit down, be seated. From kata and the base of hedraios; to sit down.

by
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

well.
πηγῇ (pēgē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4077: A fountain, spring, well, issue, flow. Probably from pegnumi; a fount, i.e. Source or supply.

It was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

about
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

[the] sixth
ἕκτη (hektē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1623: Sixth. Ordinal from hex; sixth.

hour.
ὥρα (hōra)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610: Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.


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NT Gospels: John 4:6 Jacob's well was there (Jhn Jo Jn)
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