Jacob's Well

Jacob's Well is a site in the ancient city of Sychar (Shechem) in Samaria where Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman took place (John 4:5–6). The well was dug by Jacob in the "parcel of ground" he purchased from Hamor's sons near Shechem (Gen. 33:19; Josh. 24:32) — ground he later gave to his son Joseph (Gen. 48:22). At approximately 100 feet deep, cut through limestone and fed by both springs and percolation, it is one of the few Gospel sites whose identification is virtually certain; it has been visited by pilgrims since at least the 4th century. Jesus' conversation here with the Samaritan woman, in which he offered "living water" welling up to eternal life (John 4:10–14), is one of the richest dialogues in the Gospels.