John 4:9 Commentary and Bible Study

There were dealings; trading was carried on, but it was not usually the case that an individual Jewish man would ask an individual woman of Samaria for a favour or for any help of this kind. In her reply we can see that she is rather belittling Christ. What does she want him to do? Leave? Acknowledge his dependence upon her, his need? Does she want to feel a bit superior as she lets down her pitcher, her bucket and gets water? What is the objective?John adds the note – ‘for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans’; the woman would hardly have said that. What is she doing? She is asserting herself. ‘Here you are, a Jewish man, who despises us, and now you are rather dependent upon me. Why are you asking me?’ She wants him to say, Because he needs her help. Something along those lines. She is being difficult, and she goes on being difficult. This is her moment. She is quite a talkative person. In everything she says, with an exception I will come to, she uses a lot of words with which to say it.