John 4:4

He must needs pass through Samaria (Edei de auton diercesqai dia th Samaria). Imperfect indicative of the impersonal verb dei with subject infinitive (diercesqai) and accusative of general reference (auton). Note repetition of dia. It was only necessary to pass through Samaria in going directly north from Judea to Galilee. In coming south from Galilee travellers usually crossed over the Jordan and came down through Perea to avoid the hostility of the Samaritans towards people who passed through their land to go to Jerusalem. Jesus once met this bitterness on going to the feast of tabernacles ( Luke 9:51-56 ).