The woman at the well.
The story, every interpretation of the story told about the conversation about Jesus confronting the woman at the well . . .
5 husbands.
What a whore.
Except this implies women had rights to divorce.
Which, according to every other thing you say about women in this era, they didn’t. And in many middle-eastern countries they don’t now.
Reminds me of the time a woman stood up in a room full of people and said, “I’ve been married three times, so I want to give you advice about marriage.”
Everyone immediately stopped hearing her – divorced three times. Whore. Loser.
“Two died. Still married to the last. Happy during every one,” she said.
Everyone’s perception of her shifted immediately.
I once asked a preacher what the other alternatives and theories were about this woman who Jesus spoke to.
“There are none.”
That’s what he said.
“There are none.”
That just proves your utter lack of imagination about the power of women.
How bout this one . . .
She was a trusted mystic.
People died a lot in her day. Animals, the sun, wars, disease and little knowledge about medicine. . .
Maybe she was a highly sought after woman – highly desirable.
So when her husbands died – she remarried. Four times.
She was courting the last. Or independent enough not to want to get married again.
And people listened to her tell of the prophet who knew everything about her – not because it was a profound act of God for any group of humans to listen to a woman as I’ve heard in several sermons, for God’s sake – maybe it was because she had a reputation around town for being. . .
RIGHT!
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9 comments ↓
It’s a lovely idea, but it takes away the power of the story and the Grace Jesus shows if the woman is empowered. (and the time of day that she was at the well indicates that she was purposely avoiding the other women) One of the amazing things about Jesus is that he broke cultural norms by treating women as worthy, as equals. By appearing to women after his death and thus making them witnesses before the men. The point of the story, the real power of the story, is that Jesus loved her and accepted her anyway, despite differences, despite sins. He also made HER a witness.
If the woman is already strong, already has power in the community, there is no story.
I don’t agree that the only reason a woman would be alone at a well is to avoid or be scorned by the other women.
I do agree that Jesus treated women well.
I am sad that his disciples did not follow his path and that his Church has chosen to do the opposite.
If women have power – there is still a story. It’s just not the one we’ve been told about ourselves for thousands of years.
explain, then, with historical evidence, why the gospel writer included the time of day and what it adds to the story as it would be understood by the original hearers of the story
Look… I’m all for digging deeper beyond the traditional readings of biblical stories (and i’m all for empowering girls), I just don’t agree with your interpretation on this one. it makes no sense with what i know of the way society woked then. the story with your interpretation doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the stories in the gospels. convince me.
The standard interpretation is what is weak, in my opinion.
The story is told that she would only be at the well at this time of day if she were an outcast from other women, if she were a shamed and scorned woman. She’s been married 4 times after all. All the other women must hate her.
This is the equivalent of saying your presence at WalMart on Wed. mornings – instead of Saturday afternoons when traditionally ALL the other women do their grocery shopping – makes you an outcast whore.
It simply doesn’t add up.
You go on Wed mornings to avoid chaos, crowds and get some peace.
It’s possible that’s why the woman at the well was there when no one else was too. To avoid chaos, crowds and get some peace.
OK, possible. But I think not likely. i think you have to keep in mind WHY the author decides to put in that detail, and what the original hearers would glean from it.
The fact of the matter is that women WERE disempowered by society. Sure, there were powerful women, and they learned to wield their power in different ways within the strict confines they lived in. I think that if the woman WAS a strong and powerful woman respected by her community, and that was the point of the story, that would have been clearer in the telling. In your interpretation of the story, what is the “good news”? What is Jesus doing or saying in the story, and what does it teach us about God?
by the way, even though I don’t agree with your interpretation on this, I’m loving the discussion.
The most recent interpretation of this story that I’ve heard makes much more sense. Because “the woman lacking power” isn’t really the point.
Remember women were more likely to be stoned to death or left to starve than be granted one amicable divorce, let alone four divorces. By their own account of women’s disempowerment of the time.
This interpretation is from an iTunes podcast from Mars Hill Bible Church – Rob Bell Fame – by Shane Hipps their new teaching pastor.
In his interpretation Jesus only brings up her previous marriages to point out her perpetual thirst, her attempts to “fill up her well” with men. With marriage. Outside of herself, outside of the divine. The point of the passage, in his interpretation, is that people are to “stay thirsty” which is also the title of the sermon. The thirst could apply more to her/our need to fill up our cup with things other than God/Goddess. Could be food, could be men, could be sex, could be money, could be heroin or smoking or education or mothering or any other thing we try to fill our holes and quench our thirst with.
I wish I knew how to drop an iTunes link. But, you should be able to search the iTunes store and find it. It’s free to listen to.
Well, yes. I agree with the interpretation regarding thirst, and that Jesus was saying there is a better way to fill that thirst (better than water, better than 5 husbands, better than any of the things we use today, as you point out) But if she’s empowered, and known for being right, then she’s not seen as “thirsty” and in need of the refreshment Christ brings. I’ll try to find the podcast.
But yes, I agree that this is the most important good news in this story.
Even people with a reputation for being right are thirsty. It’s part of the human condition. Unavoidable.
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