Sychar
Sychar ( Hebrew שֵׁכָר Shechar ) is a village in Samaria that is mentioned in the New Testament (John 4 : 5), but the location of which is not clearly clarified. The name Sychar may be derived from the Hebrew word Shechar ( Hebrew שֵׁכָר 'Beer, intoxicating drink' ). The word means intoxicating drink .
Geographical location of the place
The place Sychar is probably to be found on the mound of Tell Balata (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). This mound of earth is located east of Shechem near Jacob's well at the foot of the Garizim . According to another view, Sychar is identical with Shechem.
Some associate Sychar with the Arab village of Askar south of Mount Ebal . This place is likely to be ruled out for two reasons. First, the place Askar has its own water source ( 'Ain' Askar ) and secondly, this place was probably only founded in Arab times.
Biblical meaning
The place Sychar belonged to Samaria at the time of Jesus and was therefore populated by the so-called Samaritans. At Sychar there was both a field that Jacob had given his son Joseph and Jacob's well; both places were spiritually important for the Samaritans.
For the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman according to John 4 see under Jacob's well .