
JACOB’s WELL (πηγὴ̀ τοῦ ̓Ιακώβ). A well near Sychar in Samaria where Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman.

There is just one reference naming Jacob’s Well in the Bible (John 4:6). Jesus had to pass through Samaria and in so doing “came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there” (4:5, 6).

There is a problem with the town named Sychar. The modern Askar, which sounds most like it, though in the vicinity, is not near enough to the well. Furthermore, Askar has its own spring. Perhaps it is that Sychar is an evolution of the name Shechem. Genesis 33:18 states that Jacob came to Shechem (Heb. for “parcel,” “portion” or “lot”) and bought the land on which he was camped. There is no OT record of him digging a well there, but that he should do so is certainly reasonable and expected (cf. Gen 48:22).

Shechem (Sychar of John 4) is now generall agreed to be Tell Balatah. Bir Ya’aqub as the Well of Jacob is presently called, is