John Gill Commentary John 4:11

"The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence then hast thou that living water?" — John 4:11 (ASV)

The woman says to him, Sir
Which was an usual, way in those countries, of addressing men, and especially strangers; and expresses no uncommon respect to Christ, of whose dignity and greatness she was, entirely ignorant; and at whom she was now scoffing; for so the following words are to be understood:

you have nothing to draw with ;
no pail, or bucket, or rope, to let it down with, as Nonnus adds; for it seems, there was no bucket, or vessel, fastened at the well for the common use, but everyone brought one with them, when they came to draw: though it is strange there was not one; since, according to common usage, and even of the Jews ^F21 ,``a public well had, (lwq) , "a bucket", or pitcher; but a private well had no bucket:''

and the well is deep ;
that which is now called Jacob's well, is by some said to be forty cubits deep, and by others thirty five yards:

from where then do you have that living water ?
this she said in a sneering, scoffing manner: she reasoned with him, either that he must have it out of this well; but that could not be, since he had no vessel to draw with, and the well was so deep, that he could not come at the water without one; or he must have it from some neighbouring spring; upon which she scoffs at him in the following manner.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F21: T. Hieros. Erubin, fol. 20. 2.