04/30/2014 WATER
John 4:7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and JESUS asked her for a drink. HE was alone at the time as HIS disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised that a Jew would ask a "despised Samaritan" for anything---usually they wouldn't even speak to them!—and she remarked about this to Jesus. HE replied: "If you only knew what a wonderful gift GOD has for you, and who I am, you would ask ME for some living water. [Living Bible Translation]
Definition: "Jew" – (Heb. Yehudi) In its narrowest interpretation, a "Jew" means someone from the tribe of Judah (Heb. Yehudah). [From Rabbi Shlom Chein]
Samaritans and the Jews
To understand why the woman in John 4:7 had such a strong reaction to Jesus asking her for a drink of water, it helps to understand a little about the history of the hostility between the Jews to the Samaritans. This hostility probably existed at least 800 years before this woman met JESUS.