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 4:6KJV
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John 4:6 (KJV)

What does John 4:6 mean?

John 4:6 describes Jesus arriving at Jacob’s well, tired from his journey, and sitting down at the well around noon. This sets the scene for the conversation Jesus will soon have with a Samaritan woman, highlighting both his humanity and the ordinary circumstances of the encounter.

The verse is part of the story where Jesus, traveling through Samaria, stops at a historic well attributed to Jacob. The detail that Jesus is weary and sits by the well at about the sixth hour (commonly understood as noon) gives a sense of time and place, and prepares the reader for the significant dialogue that follows between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

The Greek behind John 4:6

  • "κεκοπιακὼς" (kekopiakōs, transliterated as "wearied"): This word means to be tired or exhausted from labor. Its use here emphasizes that Jesus experienced physical fatigue, underlining his full humanity.
  • "περὶ ἕκτη ὥρα" (peri hektē hōra, transliterated as "about the sixth hour"): This phrase is often understood as referring to noon by Jewish reckoning. The time of day matters because it was unusual for people to draw water at this hour, setting up the unique meeting with the Samaritan woman.

Why John 4:6 matters

  • John 4:6 highlights Jesus’ humanity by showing that he became tired from travel, which helps readers see him as relatable and approachable.
  • The mention of Jacob’s well connects the story to Israel’s history, giving the encounter deeper roots in the shared heritage of Jews and Samaritans.
  • The detail about the time of day (the sixth hour) sets up the unusual nature of the coming conversation, since most people would not visit the well at noon, making the Samaritan woman’s appearance more significant.

Where else these words appear

“journey” Greek G3597 · used in 2 verses

  • 2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

“sat” Greek G2516 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
  • Luke 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
  • John 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

“well” Greek G4077 · used in 11 verses

  • Mark 5:29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
  • James 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
  • Revelation 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

“sixth” Greek G1623 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
  • Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
  • Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;