Jesus had a double object in view; he wished to arouse her conscience as to the sin of her manner of life, as well as to prove to her that a sight wiser than human eyes had read the secrets of her life. But the woman, although not fully realizing the guilt of her manner of living, was greatly astonished that this stranger should possess such knowledge. With profound reverence she said, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.” Her personal feelings were now lost in anxiety concerning religious matters. She proceeded, “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” {2SP 142.2}

Jesus havde en dobbelt hensigt med dette. Han ønskede at vække hendes samvittighed til syndserkendelse så vel som at overbevise hende om, at den, som læste hendes livs hemmelighed, var mere end et menneske. Selv om kvinden ikke til fulde indså, hvor syndigt hendes liv havde været, så blev hun dog meget forbavset over, at denne fremmede besad en sådan kundskab. Hun sagde derfor med dyb ærbødighed: "Herre, jeg ser, at du er en profet." Hendes personlige anliggender trådte nu i baggrunden, idet hun begyndte at overveje religiøse ting. Hun vedblev: "Vore fædre har tilbedt på dette bjerg, og I siger, at Jerusalem er stedet, hvor man bør tilbede." (20.vers)