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" This story has been butchered and reimagined for centuries. Many have assumed she was a prostitute, or notorious tart – when nothing in Scripture even suggests this. Life was just hard for women in the 1st century. Men died, divorced, and abandoned their wives for a host of reasons. She was a woman who had a very poor self image – no surprise after what she had endured. She could have watered with the other women, but instead preferred to go alone – feeding her depression even more."

...when nothing in Scripture even suggests this.

While being a prostitute is not a warrant conclusion, that she is a notorious sinner is. When seeking this living water, "Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither." (John 4:16) Rather than this not being "a condemnation of her past" - and present - but a recognition that "she needed true love in her life" which you read into the text, that the Lord is revealing His omniscience and pointing out her need for repentance in order to receive this living water is the conclusion that is most warranted, consistent with "go and sin no more| i"n another encounter with a women.

And what follows, that "The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him" (John 4:28-30) is consistent with this women of five husbands and cohabiting with another being notorious, since it is a an expected response to a well known sinner giving such a testimony. Any man who told her all that she ever I did - which the men knew was substantial, warranted investigation!

But your liberal eisegesis is not new.

But your liberal eisegesis is not new.

I never thought I would be accused of producing a "liberal eisegesis" on this forum. Oh my!

Everyone is born with a sin nature. Were her sins more egregious or numerous than anyone else in Sychar? Or the Middle East at the time? If she had such a bad reputation, I used notorious, the village would not have so readily responded to her call. They likely would have grabbed rocks to scare her away if she came near - if she truly was seen as notorious. And if you were a respectable gentleman from Sychar, would you trust that the village tart would know who the Messiah was, much less meet him and talk to him? And would you follow her to meet this mystery man?

Would such a horrible woman have an exchange like this with Jesus:

24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). 25 The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming, He Who is called the Christ (the Anointed One); and when He arrives, He will tell us everything we need to know and make it clear to us. 26 Jesus said to her, I Who now speak with you am He. John 4:24–26 AMP

That type of Revelation was reserved for a select few folks. Why was she different? Why did Jesus HAVE to go to Samaria, if not to meet this woman and through her, all of Sychar? This woman was loaded for bear. She debated religion, where and how to worship, and expressed faith in a coming Messiah. And Jesus revealed himself to her! Hardly sounds like a "notorious" woman to me. Lost - as we all are before Christ, but notorious? Jesus came to save the world - we all understand that. But He deals with individuals, and everyone is different. Their banter in John 4 is very different from many others. In fact, its more similar to the discussion in John 3 with Nicodemus than most other interactions. And yet she seems more knowledgeable on spiritual matters than even Nicodemus! And I wonder why so many overlook, or simply dismiss this fact?

Nothing in the text suggests why there were five marriages - are we simply to assume they were all the woman's fault, especially in a society where men dominated women. This seems to be religion's default position. The entire chapter just does not support that. At best, we simply do not know.

Forget all the commentaries you have read, the religious nonsense, and read John 4 like its a newspaper account. Its amazing how much has been added over the centuries. And how much is simply overlooked. Heck, I was reading Henry's commentary on John 4 the other day. He goes on about how so very poor Jesus was. The next paragraph he is sending the Disciples into Sychar to BUY food for everyone! Even distinguished theologians can miss it.

4 It was necessary for Him to go through Samaria. 5 And in doing so, He arrived at a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the tract of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 And Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, sat down [to rest] by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (about noon). 7 Presently, when a woman of Samaria came along to draw water, Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink— 8 For His disciples had gone off into the town to buy food— John 4:4-8 AMP

Nothing in the text suggests that she was there at that time to avoid other women. Nothing suggests that she came there that same time every day. It does suggest that Jesus altered his journey to be at the well just when this woman arrived. Nothing suggests that she had a bad relationship with anyone in Sychar, except "maybe" her previous husbands. All that has been reimagined into the story through the years. They are possibilities, nothing more. Just like it is possible she preferred to be alone. Shame or guilt can drive you away from folks into depression and solitude, just as easily as the self-righteous can chase you there.

And note the banter after Jesus supposedly "called her out".

15 The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may never get thirsty nor have to come [continually all the way] here to draw. 16 At this, Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband and come back here. 17 The woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have spoken truly in saying, I have no husband. 18 For you have had five husbands, and the man you are now living with is not your husband. In this you have spoken truly. 19 The woman said to Him, Sir, I see and understand that You are a prophet. 20 Our forefathers worshiped on this mountain, but you [Jews] say that Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary and proper to worship. 21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither [merely] in this mountain nor [merely] in Jerusalem. John 4:15-21

Was this woman offended, or have a clear change of heart from this? She continues the discussion on religion without missing a beat. There was no emotional response to Jesus recognizing and confirming her marriage history. In fact Jesus commends her answer. Her response is that she notes she is contending with a prophet, and wants answers to her religious questions. And Jesus provides answers to everything she asks, including confirming that the Messiah is here, right now in her presence. I propose of everything said, THAT REVELATION just might be what motivated her most to evangelize Sychar. Maybe she was known around town as the woman always talking about religion, or the coming Messiah?

Dismiss this encounter and you miss out on Jesus at his best. There is a lot of Revelation here for Believers who are hungry for the Truth.