Stories & culture

Who were the Samaritans?

Two of Jesus’ best-known stories turn on Samaritans. Knowing who they were, and why Jews avoided them, changes how both stories land.

General view, Samaria, Holy Land, (i.e., Sabastiyah, Palestine-LCCN2002725052 — Public domain. Image credits

Key verse

The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

John 4:9

World English Bible (public domain)

The background

People of the old northern region, with their own temple on Mount Gerizim and their own version of the Torah.

After Assyria conquered the north in 722 BC, new peoples settled there (2 Kings 17:24-41).
Samaritans accepted only the five books of Moses and worshiped at Gerizim (John 4:20).
Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility; John Hyrcanus destroyed the Gerizim temple in the 2nd century BC.
Jesus made a Samaritan the hero of a parable and offered living water to a Samaritan woman.

Debated: Samaritan origins are debated; Samaritans see themselves as descendants of northern Israelites.

The culture behind the text

Jews and SamaritansSamaritans were descendants of northern Israelites and settlers, with their own temple on Mount Gerizim. Jews and Samaritans avoided each other, and many Jews traveled around Samaria.John 4:4-9, 4:20

A woman at noonWomen usually drew water in the cooler morning or evening and socialized at the well. Coming at noon may suggest she avoided others because of her reputation, though some scholars note it could just be when she needed water. A rabbi speaking to a woman alone was unusual, which is why the disciples were surprised.John 4:6-7, 4:16-18, 4:27

Study notes

Jews and Samaritans · John 4:9Samaritans worshiped at Mount Gerizim and accepted only the Torah.Jews have no dealings with Samaritans · John 4:9Centuries of hostility since the northern kingdom's fall. Jews avoided sharing vessels with Samaritans.

How the Bible connects it

Every cross-reference in Lampstead says why it’s linked. A few from this page:

John 4:9 → Acts 10:28Why: Peter explains that Jews were not to associate with GentilesHe said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.”John 4:9 → 2 Kings 17:24-41Why: Kings explains the mixed origins and worship of the Samaritans, the root of the hostility the woman mentionsThe king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, from Cuthah, from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities …John 4:9 → John 8:48Why: Jesus' opponents used Samaritan as an insult, showing how deep the divide wasThen the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”John 4:9 → Matthew 10:5Why: Jesus once told the Twelve not to enter Samaritan townsJesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.”

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Sources behind these notes: Flavius Josephus, trans. H. St. J. Thackeray et al., Jewish Antiquities and Jewish War (Loeb Classical Library) (1926-1965); Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (2nd ed.) (2014); Society of Biblical Literature, Bible Odyssey; International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), "Samaritans"; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible (1834–85); Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), "Samaritans". Bible text: World English Bible (public domain).