The story of Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 is a powerful testament to faith transcending societal boundaries. One detail in the narrative often sparks curiosity: the woman’s past, specifically her statement about having “had five husbands.” While some interpretations focus on the literal number, a deeper exploration reveals a treasure trove of symbolism, enriching our understanding of the narrative.

Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

John 4:17-18

The Five Husbands

The story takes place in a time and culture where female autonomy was severely curtailed and restricted. The five husbands could represent societal expectations and pressures that the woman defied. Living with someone outside of marriage becomes an act of rebellion, a statement of her right to choose her own path. Jesus, by engaging with her openly, dismantles these social barriers and affirms her inherent worth, in spite of the painful experiences that she may have been through.

The five husbands could represent a series of failed relationships and yet a relentless pursuit of fulfilment which remains elusive. This interpretation resonates with the universal human experience of searching for love and connection, only to encounter disappointment. Jesus, then, becomes the embodiment of something more profound: a lasting spiritual connection that transcends the bondage and the limitations of earthly relationships.

The five husbands were, most likely, relationships that promised love, security or social standing. Each union might have offered initial hope, but ultimately failed to deliver lasting satisfaction. This resonates with the universal human experience of seeking fulfilment in external things, only to encounter emptiness.

Jesus’ arrival disrupts the cycle once and for all. He recognises the woman’s deep thirst for something more than fleeting worldly connections. His offer of “living water” becomes a metaphor for a spiritual connection that offers true and lasting sustenance.

Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.

John 4:13-14

Jesus’ act of engaging with the woman, a social outcast, is a radical act of acceptance. He doesn’t judge her past choices, but recognises her inherent worth and dignity.

Imagine the societal pressures the Samaritan woman faced. She belonged to a group ostracised by the Jews and her marital history violated social norms. She might have been viewed with suspicion, scorn or pity. This constant judgment could have created a burden of shame and isolation.

The woman’s thirst for water becomes a metaphor for a deeper human yearning. We all crave connection, meaning and a sense of belonging. Jesus’ message suggests that these needs can be met through a relationship with God, a source that fulfils us in ways worldly things cannot.

Living Water

The well represents external solutions. We chase relationships, achievements, possessions – all attempts to fill an internal void. Jesus, however, offers a wellspring from within. The “living water” is not something external to be grasped, but a source of love, purpose, and peace that already resides within us. Jesus awakens this inner wellspring, allowing the woman (and us) to access a strength and resilience that transcends our ever-shifting circumstances.

Think of stagnant water, breeding disease. The “living water” is the opposite – a dynamic force for change. It washes away negativity, cleanses our hearts and fosters spiritual growth. Just as water shapes landscapes over time, Jesus’ message has the power to transform us from within, moulding us into compassionate and loving individuals.

Unlike the well’s finite water, the “living water” is a never-ending flow. It’s a connection with the divine, a source of love and grace that replenishes itself endlessly. This resonates with the human desire for something permanent, a love that endures life’s challenges and offers a sense of security beyond the fleeting nature of the world.

Jesus’ offer is both captivating and unsettling. It beckons us away from familiar cisterns, the temporary comforts of the world, towards an unknown wellspring within. It’s a call to a deeper spiritual journey, a quest for the source of true fulfilment. The story becomes an invitation for us to explore this “living water” within ourselves, to tap into a love that transcends the limitations of the physical world and to know, without a shred of a doubt, that it exists within every single one of us.

The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

John 4:14