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John 4:9

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

John 4:9

Verse 9 of 54

Scripture focus

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

John 4:9 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on John 4:9

Theological / Devotional

How is it? Racial hatred kept Jew and Samaritan so far apart that both avoided social contact, if at all possible. For the origin of the Samaritans see on 2 Kings 17:23-29. For the origin of the antipathy between the Jews and the Samaritans see Vol. III, p. 69; see on Ezra 4:1-3, 17-23; Neh. 2:10 ; 4:1, 2. For a contemporary account of trouble between the Jews and the Samaritans see Josephus Antiquities xx. 6. 2.

Jews have no dealings. This appears to be an explanatory comment added by John for the benefit of his non-Jewish readers, not a statement made by the woman to Jesus. However, textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 146) for the omission of the clause. Jesus’ request startled the woman; what could be more strange than such a request coming from a Jew?

By SdaBc