• John 4:6
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 6 ἦν was δὲ but ἐκεῖ there πηγὴ fountain τοῦ of the Ἰακώβ. Jacob. ὁ The οὖν therefore Ἰησοῦς Jesus κεκοπιακὼς having labored ἐκ out of τῆς the ὁδοιπορίας journey ἐκαθέζετο was sitting οὕτως thus ἐπὶ upon τῇ the πηγῇ· fountain; ὥρα hour ἦν was ὡς as ἕκτη. sixth.

  • John 4:6
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 6 Now Jacob’s fountain was there. Jesus therefore having become toil-worn with the journey was sitting thus upon the fountain. It was about the sixth hour.

  • John 4:6
    King James Version

    • 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

  • John Study Notes—Chapter 4
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 4:6

      Jacob’s well: The traditional site of this well is Bir Yaʽqub (Beʼer Yaʽaqov), situated about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) SE of modern-day Nablus, not far from Tell Balata, the site of Shechem. This well is deep; its water level never rises to the top. Measurements made in the 19th century indicate that the depth of the well was about 23 m (75 ft) at that time. There is debris at the bottom, so the well might have been even deeper in ancient times. (Joh 4:11) Because the well is usually dry from about the end of May until the autumn rains, some reason that its water is derived from rain and percolation. Others believe that the well is also spring fed. (See study note on well in this verse.) The Bible does not directly state that Jacob dug the well, but it does indicate that Jacob had property in this vicinity. (Ge 33:18-20; Jos 24:32) Jacob likely dug this well or had it dug, perhaps to provide water for his large household and flocks. He could thereby prevent trouble with his neighbors, who doubtless already owned the other water sources in the region. Or he may have needed another water supply when other wells in the area dried up.

      tired out as he was: This is the only place in the Scriptures where Jesus is said to be “tired out.” It was about 12:00 noon, and that morning Jesus had likely made the journey from the Jordan Valley in Judea to Sychar in Samaria, a steep ascent of almost 900 m (3,000 ft).​—Joh 4:3-5; see App. A7.

      well: Or “spring; fountain.” In this context, two different Greek words are used to refer to Jacob’s well at Sychar. The Greek word pe·geʹ, twice rendered “well” in this verse, often denotes a spring, or fountain, which may have been the source of Jacob’s well. At Jas 3:11, the term is used to refer to a literal “spring,” and it is used in a figurative sense at Joh 4:14, where it is also rendered “spring.” At Joh 4:12, Jacob’s well is referred to by the Greek word phreʹar, which can mean a well, a cistern, or a vertical shaft. (1Sa 19:22, Septuagint; Lu 14:5; Re 9:1) Springs were often a source for wells, sometimes being cleared and deepened, which may explain why “spring” and “well” are here used interchangeably for the same water source.​—See study note on Jacob’s well in this verse.

      about the sixth hour: That is, about 12:00 noon.​—See study note on Mt 20:3.