Event New Testament
The Samaritan woman at the well
Also known as Jacob's well, Living water
At Jacob's well near Sychar Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink and offered her living water. He told her about her life, spoke of worship in spirit and truth, and told her plainly that He is the Messiah. She brought her town to Him, and after two days many Samaritans confessed Him as the Savior of the world.
Why it matters. The first person to whom Jesus openly identified Himself as Messiah in John's Gospel was a Samaritan woman, and her town became the first community outside Israel to believe.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
Recorded only by John, on the journey from Judea to Galilee through Samaria.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night precedes The Samaritan woman at the well
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceAfter the Jerusalem visit Jesus leaves Judea for Galilee through Samaria.
Evidence:The Samaritan woman at the well precedes The rejection at Nazareth
Explicit in ScriptureLow confidenceJohn's return to Galilee and Luke's return in the power of the Spirit are commonly read as the same journey, after which Luke records Nazareth.
Evidence:Other responsible views
- Two visits to Nazareth: Matthew and Mark place a rejection at Nazareth after the parables, so the Nazareth scene may belong later or may have happened twice.
Jesus participates in The Samaritan woman at the well
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well and identifies Himself as the Messiah.
Evidence:The Samaritan woman at the well develops the theme Faith
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMany Samaritans believe, first through the woman's testimony and then through Jesus's own words.
Evidence: