Once again the narrator provides an explanation for Jesus’ itinerary. After two days at Sychar (cf v. 4:40), Jesus leaves Samaria and continues his journey to Galilee (v. 43; cf. vv. 3–4). The reason given is Jesus’ own remark (probably made on a different occasion), A prophet has no honor in his own country. A great deal of speculation has centered on whether Jesus’ own country (Gr: patris) refers to Galilee or Judea. If it refers to Galilee, the principle seems to be contradicted right away by the welcome Jesus receives there (v. 45), even though he is suspicious of the Galileans’ motives (v. 48). But if it refers to Judea or Jerusalem, why was the saying not quoted earlier, when Jesus “would not entrust himself” to people in Jerusalem (2:24) or when he decided to leave Judea (4:3)? Curi…