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Samaria

Illustration of Samaria

Samaria was the central region of ancient Israel situated between Judea to the south and Galilee to the north, serving as the homeland of the Samaritans, a people of mixed Israelite and Assyrian descent who worshiped at their own temple on Mount Gerizim rather than in Jerusalem. Longstanding ethnic and religious tensions led Jews to avoid travel through Samaria and to view its inhabitants with hostility and suspicion. In the Gospel of John, Jesus intentionally passed through the area and spoke with a Samaritan woman at Jacobโ€™s well near Sychar, offering her living water, disclosing his identity as the Messiah, and prompting her testimony that resulted in many villagers believing in him. This account illustrates Scriptureโ€™s emphasis on the extension of salvation beyond Jewish boundaries and Jesusโ€™ willingness to cross social barriers to reveal truth.

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Details

Region
Canaan
Modern Location
Sebastia, Palestinian Territories (West Bank)
Strongest connections in Scripture

Journey Paths

Amos's Journey

Samaria โ†’ Bethel

Key Passages

Woman at the Well

John 4:1-26

Jesus ministers in Samaria despite Jewish-Samaritan hostility - breaking ethnic barriers and revealing that true worship transcends geographic location.

W1hen therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacobโ€™s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

Acts 8:4-8

Philip brings the gospel to Samaria - fulfilling Jesus' command to be witnesses 'in Samaria' and breaking the church beyond its Jewish boundaries.

T4herefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.