What does John 4:16 mean?

In Matthew 13:20–21, Jesus refers to soil which is too hard to allow seeds to grow roots. In the context of the gospel, and the woman with whom He speaks, her heart is still hardened and not open to spiritual truth. How does a person make hard soil better suited to seeds? By breaking it: digging past the surface to expose what's underneath. In a compassionate, but very forceful way, Jesus is about to break the hard soil of this woman's heart, by pointing out her sin and cultural shame.

He begins by asking a more "typical" question for that time and culture. Unrelated men and women rarely spoke in public, so if Jesus were going to have more interaction with the woman, it would make sense for Him to demand her husband be present.

As seen in the prior verses, the Samaritan woman seems mentally sharp. She responds to Jesus with a certain amount of insight (John 4:11–12), and at least a hint of sarcasm (John 4:15). Her next remark (John 4:17) is her most curt response in the entire conversation. Banter or not, she seems to sense that it is better not to lie, not to this man.