John Calvin Commentary John 4:9

"The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)" — John 4:9 (ASV)

How do you, who are a Jew? This is a reproach, by which she throws back at him the contempt generally held by his nation. The Samaritans are known to have been the scum of a people gathered from foreigners. Having corrupted the worship of God and introduced many spurious and wicked ceremonies, they were justly detested by the Jews.

Yet it cannot be doubted that the Jews, for the most part, used their zeal for the law as a cloak for their carnal hatred. Many were motivated more by ambition and envy, and by displeasure that the country allotted to them was occupied by the Samaritans, than by grief and unease that the worship of God had been corrupted.

There was just cause for the separation, if their feelings had been pure and well-regulated. For this reason Christ, when he first sent the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel, forbade them to turn aside to the Samaritans (Matthew 10:5).

But this woman does what is natural to almost all of us. Desiring to be held in esteem, we deeply resent being despised. This disease of human nature is so widespread that everyone wishes their vices would please others. If anyone disapproves of us, or of anything that we do or say, we are immediately offended without any good reason.

Let anyone examine themselves, and they will find this seed of pride in their mind until it has been eradicated by the Spirit of God. This woman, therefore, knowing that the superstitions of her nation were condemned by the Jews, now offers an insult to them in the person of Christ.

For the Jews hold no intercourse with the Samaritans. I consider these words to have been uttered by the woman. Others suppose that the Evangelist added them for the sake of explanation, and indeed, it is of little consequence which meaning you prefer. But I think it more natural to believe that the woman jeers at Christ in this manner: “What? Is it lawful for you to ask for a drink from me, when you consider us so profane?” If anyone prefers the other interpretation, I do not dispute the point.

Besides, it is possible that the Jews carried their abhorrence of the Samaritans beyond proper bounds. For, as we have said, they used a false pretense of zeal for an improper purpose, so it was natural for them to go to excess, as almost always happens with those who give way to wicked passions.