Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
JOHN 4:20KJVWhat does John 4:20 mean?
John 4:20 records the Samaritan woman telling Jesus that her ancestors worshipped on a particular mountain, but that Jews claim Jerusalem is the proper place to worship. She is raising a long-standing religious disagreement between Samaritans and Jews about the correct location for worshiping God.
In this scene, the Samaritan woman is speaking to Jesus at a well near the Samaritan town of Sychar. The "mountain" she mentions refers to Mount Gerizim, which Samaritans considered sacred, while Jews believed worship should happen in Jerusalem. Her question sets up Jesus’ teaching about true worship that follows in the conversation.
The Greek behind John 4:20
- προσκυνέω (proskuneō, "worshipped"): This word often means to bow down or show reverence, not just participate in a religious ceremony. The Samaritan woman is talking about the physical act and location of worship, not just a general attitude.
- τόπος (topos, "place"): The Greek word for "place" here highlights the focus on a specific, physical location for worship, which was a major point of division between Samaritans and Jews.
Why John 4:20 matters
- John 4:20 makes clear that the disagreement between Samaritans and Jews was not just about theology, but about where God should be worshipped, showing how important physical places were in their religious life.
- This verse sets the stage for Jesus’ teaching that follows, where he shifts the focus from location to the nature of true worship.
- Understanding this background helps readers see why Jesus’ later statement that "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:23) was so significant and surprising.