Topical Bible: Jacob: The Well of

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Jacob's Well is a significant biblical landmark located near the city of Sychar in Samaria. It is traditionally associated with the patriarch Jacob, who is said to have dug the well. This site holds considerable historical and theological importance, particularly in the context of the New Testament.

Biblical References:

The most notable mention of Jacob's Well is found in the Gospel of John. In John 4:5-6 , it is written: "So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour."

This passage sets the stage for the profound encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, a narrative rich with theological significance. The well serves as the backdrop for a discussion on living water, spiritual worship, and the breaking of social barriers.

Historical Context:

Jacob's Well is believed to be located at the foot of Mount Gerizim, near the ancient city of Shechem. This area was part of the land given to Joseph, Jacob's son, as mentioned in Genesis 48:22. The well itself is not explicitly mentioned in the Old Testament, but its association with Jacob is a long-standing tradition.

The well's location in Samaria is significant, as it was a region often at odds with Judea. The Samaritans, who inhabited the area, were descendants of Israelites who had intermarried with foreign settlers. This historical tension adds depth to the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, highlighting themes of reconciliation and the universality of the Gospel.

Theological Significance:

Jacob's Well is more than a physical location; it is a symbol of the living water that Jesus offers. In John 4:13-14 , Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life."

This declaration emphasizes the transformative power of Christ's message, contrasting the temporary satisfaction of physical water with the eternal fulfillment found in Him. The well, therefore, becomes a metaphor for the spiritual nourishment and eternal life that Jesus provides.

Cultural and Social Implications:

The interaction at Jacob's Well also addresses social and cultural barriers. Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, speaks openly with a Samaritan woman, defying the norms of His time. This act demonstrates the inclusivity of Jesus' ministry and His willingness to reach across cultural divides to offer salvation.

The conversation at the well also touches on issues of worship and religious identity. In John 4:21-24 , Jesus explains that true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, transcending traditional locations and practices. This teaching underscores the shift from a localized, ritualistic worship to a more personal and spiritual relationship with God.

Archaeological and Modern Relevance:

Today, Jacob's Well is a site of pilgrimage and religious significance. It is traditionally identified with a deep well located within the complex of the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Photini. The well continues to be a place of reflection and spiritual insight for many believers, serving as a tangible connection to the biblical narrative.

In summary, Jacob's Well is a multifaceted symbol within the biblical tradition, representing both the historical legacy of the patriarchs and the transformative message of Jesus Christ. Its enduring significance is reflected in its role as a site of divine encounter and spiritual revelation.

Nave's Topical Index

John 4:5-30
Then comes he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

At Jacob's Well
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 19 At Jacob's Well. This chapter is based on John
4:1-42.] ... At the opening of this valley was Jacob's well. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 19 at jacobs well.htm

August the Second by Jacob's Well
... AUGUST The Second BY JACOB'S WELL. JOHN iv.1-15. A weary woman and a weary Lord!
But the Lord was only weary in body; the woman was dry and exhausted in soul. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/august the second by jacobs.htm

At Jacob's Well.
... PREPARATORY PREACHING AT JACOB'S WELL. ... Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who
gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/at jacobs well.htm

Jesus at the Well.
... her neighbors her great discovery of the prophet who had touched her conscience,
excited her thirst for the water of life, and led her from Jacob's well to the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus at the well.htm

Jacob and Doubting Souls --A Parallel
... I THINK THAT THE PATRIARCH JACOB may well serve as the type and emblem of a doubting
soul, one who has been told the good news of salvation, the gospel of ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/jacob and doubting soulsa parallel.htm

The Deceiver Deceived
... When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep,
he went up and rolled the stone from the well and watered the flock of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the deceiver deceived.htm

The Twofold Wrestle --God's with Jacob and Jacob's with God
... So this failure of natural power is the turning-point in the twofold wrestle, and
marks as well as symbolises the transition in Jacob's life and character from ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the twofold wrestlegods with jacob.htm

Jesus at the Well of Sychar
... ??non. But, from the spot which we have indicated, it is about twenty miles,
across a somewhat difficult country to Jacob's Well. It ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii jesus at the.htm

That the Happiness of Dying in Heavenly Charity is a Special Gift ...
... to vocation after vocation itself, vocation after Our Saviour's redemption, on which
rests all this mystical ladder of the great Jacob, as well at its heavenly ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v that the happiness.htm

Jacob, a Prince of God.
... So Jacob rolled the stone from the well, and watered the flocks of Laban,
his mother's brother. Then he kissed Rachel, and told ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter v jacob a prince.htm