The woman at the well, Jesus, and prejudice in Samaria (John 4:3–43)

Many assume that John’s Gospel is portraying the Samaritan woman at the well as a sinner. Or at the very least a woman compromised by a relationship with a man Jesus describes as “not your husband” (John 4:18). This assumption has its roots in ancient prejudices. Both Romans and Jews characterised women who did not fit neatly into the traditional family scheme as sexually promiscuous. This paper will investigate the possibilities in regard to the multiple marriages of the woman in the context of Roman Palestine. It will also consider the various impediments to marriage for this woman. It will be argued that two impediments are the most likely options in the case of a Samaritan woman. As this investigation progresses, it will become apparent that this is a story about poverty and prejudice in regards to gender, race, and social dislocation.