The Samaritan Woman as the Portrayal of the Bride of Jesus: A Case of Intertextuality of John 4:1-42 and Genesis 24: 1-6

Abstract

John 4:1-42 is the only story of its own kind in the whole New Testament. It is a betrothal narrative with various courtship motifs, and betrothal scenes. Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and asked for water to drink. The disciples were surprised at what Jesus wanted from the woman, who was a Samaritan for that matter. The woman rushed home announcing the good news the man who told her everything about her life. Subsequently, Jesus was invited by the whole village to stay with them and he does. The encounter between a man and his prospective wife is a common betrothal theme in the Old Testament. Gen.24:1-67 is a similar type of story. Intertextuality helps to highlight the striking similarities between the two stories, without looking at their differences, however minor they may be. When read together, the two stories mutually shed more light in understanding each other. The Samaritan woman read within the context of Old Testament prospective of wife, becomes the portrayal of the spouse of Jesus.

Keywords: Samaritan Woman, Bride of Jesus, Intertextuality

International Journal of Emotional Psychology and Sport Ethics Vol. 10 2008: pp. 104-109