Translation commentary on John 4:5

Although there are problems involved, Sychar is usually identified with the modern town of Askar, which is near the traditional site of Jacob’s well. This town is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but some ancient and modern scholars identify Sychar with Shechem. In fact, “Shechem” appears instead of Sychar in one Syriac manuscript, and this reading is followed by New American Bible. However, no Greek manuscripts have “Shechem.”

For the reference to the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph see Genesis 33.19; 48.22 and also Joshua 24.32.

The adverbial phrase not far from translates one word in Greek, which means “near.”

There is a considerable time gap between the two events mentioned in verse 5, namely, Jacob’s giving the field to Joseph and the arrival of Jesus at this place. It may be important to mark this difference in time more specifically than is implied by the pluperfect tense had given, for example, “which was not far from the field that Jacob many generations before gave to his son Joseph” or “… that Jacob gave to his son Joseph in ancient times.” In some languages it is also important to distinguish between various kinds of giving. For example, the giving of some object which may be handed from one person to another may require a different verb from the one used in the giving of land. For the latter type of giving, a more specific statement, such as “bequeath to,” or “hand the title over to,” or “name him as the new owner” may be required.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 4:5

4:5a

So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar: Jesus was traveling with his disciples. If a literal translation indicates that he was alone, you may need to explicitly include the disciples. For example:

In Samaria Jesus ⌊with his disciples⌋ came to the town called Sychar.
-or-
So they arrived at a town in Samaria called Sychar.

So: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So means “therefore.” In some languages it may be natural to leave this word implied. For example:

and on his way came to a Samaritan town called Sychar (Revised English Bible)

a town of Samaria called Sychar: The town of Sychar in Samaria is mentioned only here, so it was probably not large. It may have been only a village or small town. For example:

In Samaria he came to a town named Sychar. (Good News Translation)

4:5b

near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph: Jacob was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. He was the ancestor of both the Jews and the Samaritans. For more information on this plot of ground, or “field,” see Genesis 33:19 and Joshua 24:32.

Jacob and Joseph lived in the distant past, almost two thousand years before the events in this chapter. In some languages it is more natural to indicate this is some way. For example:

It was near the field that Jacob had long ago given to his son Joseph. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
It was near the field that ⌊our (excl.) ancestor⌋ Jacob ⌊once⌋ gave to his son Joseph.

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