This passage is often misinterpreted as endorsing ethnic or racial superiority of Jews over others, suggesting inherent Jewish exclusivity or supremacy, whereas Jesus uses it to highlight the historical revelation of God through Judaism as the foundation for universal salvation through faith in him, the Messiah; another error is applying it to justify modern religious division or antisemitism, ignoring the context of Jesus' ministry extending salvation beyond Jews to Samaritans and Gentiles alike.
John 4:22
King James Version (1769)
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
In this verse, Jesus affirms to the Samaritan woman that authentic worship and salvation originate from the Jewish tradition, as the Jews possess true knowledge of God through His covenants and Scriptures, and the promised Messiah—who brings salvation to the world—comes from the Jewish lineage, underscoring that God's redemptive plan is revealed progressively through Israel to all nations.