Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

JOHN 4:21KJV
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John 4:21 (KJV)

What does John 4:21 mean?

John 4:21 records Jesus telling a Samaritan woman that a time is coming when worship of God the Father will not be tied to a specific physical location, such as the mountain in Samaria or the temple in Jerusalem. Instead, true worship will go beyond these traditional places.

In this scene, Jesus (G2424) is speaking to a Samaritan woman (G1135) at a well, responding to her question about the proper place to worship God. The verse signals a major shift: worship will no longer depend on being "in this mountain" (G3735) or "at Jerusalem" (G2414), but will become something not limited by geography or tradition. This sets the stage for Jesus’ later explanation about worshiping "in spirit and in truth."

The Greek behind John 4:21

  • The word "worship" (προσκυνέω, proskuneō, G4352) means to show reverence or to bow down. Here, it highlights that the act of honoring God is not confined to a particular site.
  • "Neither" (οὐδέ, oude, G3777) and "nor yet" (οὐδέ, oude, G3777) emphasize the exclusion of both traditional worship locations, underlining that both are being set aside.
  • "Hour" (ὥρα, hōra, G5610) is often used in John’s Gospel to mean a significant or appointed time, not just a literal hour. Here, it points to a coming era of change in how people relate to God.

Why John 4:21 matters

  • John 4:21 clears up the common misunderstanding that worship must happen in a certain holy place; Jesus says the location will no longer matter.
  • The verse shifts the focus from external rituals and places to the nature of worship itself, preparing for Jesus’ teaching about worshiping "in spirit and in truth."
  • This statement connects to the broader conversation in John 4, where Jesus breaks social and religious barriers, showing that access to God is being opened to all people, not just those in Jerusalem or Samaria.

Where else these words appear

“neither” Greek G3777 · used in 45 verses

  • Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
  • Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
  • Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

“shall” Greek G4352 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
  • Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
  • Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

“Jerusalem” Greek G2414 · used in 59 verses

  • Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
  • Mark 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
  • Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

“mountain” Greek G3735 · used in 65 verses

  • Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
  • Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
  • John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.