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.