Now He had to passThe phrase "had to" suggests a divine necessity rather than a geographical one. While Jews often avoided Samaria due to deep-seated animosity, Jesus' journey through Samaria was intentional, highlighting His mission to reach all people, including those marginalized or despised by society. This reflects the divine plan and purpose in Jesus' ministry, emphasizing His role as the Savior for all humanity, transcending ethnic and cultural barriers.
through Samaria.
Samaria was a region between Judea and Galilee, inhabited by the Samaritans, who were of mixed descent and practiced a form of Judaism that was considered heretical by mainstream Jews. The historical hostility between Jews and Samaritans stemmed from events such as the Assyrian conquest and the establishment of a rival temple on Mount Gerizim. By choosing to travel through Samaria, Jesus broke social norms and demonstrated His message of reconciliation and inclusion. This journey foreshadows the spread of the Gospel beyond Jewish boundaries, as seen inActs 1:8, where Jesus commands His disciples to be witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JesusThe central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is traveling from Judea to Galilee.
2.
SamariaA region between Judea and Galilee, often avoided by Jews due to historical enmity and religious differences.
3.
SamaritansThe inhabitants of Samaria, who were of mixed ethnicity and religion, often despised by the Jews.
4.
JudeaThe southern region of ancient Israel, where Jesus was coming from.
5.
GalileeThe northern region of ancient Israel, where Jesus was heading.
Teaching Points
Divine NecessityJesus "had to pass through Samaria" not just geographically but as part of His divine mission to break down barriers and reach the lost.
Breaking Cultural BarriersJesus' journey through Samaria demonstrates His willingness to transcend cultural and ethnic divisions, setting an example for His followers to do the same.
Intentional MinistryJesus' deliberate choice to go through Samaria shows the importance of intentionality in ministry, seeking out those who are marginalized or overlooked.
God's Sovereignty in MissionThe necessity of passing through Samaria highlights God's sovereign plan in reaching all people, regardless of their background or societal status.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of John 4:4?
2.Why was it necessary for Jesus to pass through Samaria in John 4:4?
3.How does John 4:4 demonstrate Jesus' intentionality in His ministry?
4.What Old Testament connections can be made with Jesus' journey through Samaria?
5.How can we apply Jesus' example of purposeful travel in our daily lives?
6.What does John 4:4 teach about breaking cultural barriers for the Gospel?
7.Why did Jesus need to pass through Samaria in John 4:4?
8.What is the significance of Samaria in biblical history?
9.How does John 4:4 challenge cultural boundaries of the time?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 4?
11.Why is the Samaritan woman unnamed, leaving no external historical record to corroborate the event in John 4?
12.Who were the Samaritans in the Bible?
13.What is the Samaritan Pentateuch?
14.What does contextualization mean?What Does John 4:4 Mean
Now• “Now” situates the moment in real time, tying it to the preceding verses where “Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John” (John 4:1-3).
• Scripture often uses “now” to mark a Spirit-directed transition (cf.Acts 8:26-27). Here it signals that Jesus is moving at exactly the right divine moment.
He had• The subject is Jesus—fully God, fully man—who lives in perfect obedience to the Father’s will (John 6:38).
• “Had” conveys divine compulsion, echoing statements like “the Son of Man must suffer many things” (Luke 9:22) and “I must preach the good news … for that is why I was sent” (Luke 4:43).
• This sense of necessity underscores that every step in Jesus’ ministry, even travel routes, fulfills God’s redemptive plan (John 5:19-20).
to pass• “To pass” indicates purposeful movement, not aimless wandering. Jesus’ journeys always serve kingdom objectives (Luke 19:10).
• Passing through rather than around Samaria shows intentional engagement. It anticipates reaching “other sheep that are not of this fold” (John 10:16).
• It models active pursuit of the lost, reflecting the shepherd who “goes after the one that is lost” (Luke 15:4).
through Samaria• Most Jews avoided Samaria due to centuries-old hostility (2 Kings 17:24-41;John 4:9). Jesus overturns that barrier.
• By choosing Samaria, He embodies the reconciling work later described: “He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one” (Ephesians 2:14-16).
• The route sets up His conversation with the Samaritan woman, leading many in Sychar to confess, “This is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
• His action foreshadows the gospel’s advance into Samaria inActs 8:4-8 and demonstrates that no region or people are outside His saving reach.
summaryJohn 4:4 reveals deliberate, God-ordained movement: at the divinely chosen moment, Jesus, compelled by the Father’s will, intentionally travels through a territory shunned by His contemporaries. This single verse showcases His sovereign timing, obedient heart, purposeful mission, and boundary-breaking grace, all pointing to the wider truth that the gospel is for every person, everywhere.
(4)
He must needs go through Samaria--i.e., following the shortest and most usual road, and the one we find Him taking from Galilee to Jerusalem (
Luke 9:52; see Note there). Josephus spoke of this as the customary way of the Galileans going up during the feasts at Jerusalem (
Ant. xx. 6, ? 1). The Pharisees, indeed, took the longer road through Peraea, to avoid contact with the country and people of Samaria, but it is within the purpose of His life and work ("needs go,"
i.e., was necessary that He should go) to teach in Samaria, as in Judaea, the principles of true religion and worship, which would cut away the foundations of all local jealousies and feuds, and establish for all nations the spiritual service of the universal Father (
John 4:21-24).
Verse 4. -
And he must needs go through Samaria. There was no physical necessity about it. He might, as bigoted Jews were accustomed to do, have crossed the Jordan and passed through Peraea instead. There was no such animus in the heart of Jesus, and a Divine and providential monition was the occasion of his taking the direct road. Geikie has drawn a vivid picture of the difficulties to which Jewish travellers on the borders of Samaria were exposed (see
Hosea 6:9; Josephus, 'Ant.,' 20:06. 1; 'Bell. Jud.,' 2:12. 4; 'Vit.,' 52), and also of the physical features of the land. Samaria, as a name of the small district of central Palestine, arose from the name of the city "Samaria," built by Omri, and made the site of the kingdom of Israel (
1 Kings 16:24), and that of the Baal- and of the calf-worship. Samaria suffered from the siege, and the city was depopulated by Shalmanezer (Sargon), and colonized with Assyrians under Esarhaddon. It was destroyed by Hyrcanus, and rebuilt in splendour by Herod the Great, and by him dedicated to Augustus, and called
Sebaste after him. Though Shechem (equivalent to Sichem) was the more famous site, and overshadowed Herod's city by its historical interest, yet "Samaria" was the name which has survived all others, and covered a larger space. Jesus was probably on the borders of Samaria, in the Judaean country, before he commenced his journey. Samaria was included in the tetrarchy of Archelaus, and formed part of the province under the pro-curatorship of Pontius Pilate; while Herod Antipas reigned over Galilee and Persia. The Lord was fulfilling the Divine will, in commencing his Galilaean ministry, in leaving Judaea proper for the present, and passing through Samaria. It is worthy of notice that John here attributes to "the Pharisees," rather than "the Jews," the opposition which indicated the wisdom or necessity of this course.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Nowδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.Heαὐτὸν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.hadἜδει(Edei)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1163:Third person singular active present of deo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is Necessary.to passδιέρχεσθαι(dierchesthai)Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 1330:To pass through, spread (as a report). From dia and erchomai; to traverse.throughδιὰ(dia)Preposition
Strong's 1223:A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.Samaria.Σαμαρείας(Samareias)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4540:Of Hebrew origin; Samaria, a city and region of Palestine.
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NT Gospels: John 4:4 He needed to pass through Samaria (Jhn Jo Jn) 
