Final answer:
A Jew, according to John 4:9, is someone who is part of the Judean people with a special covenant with God, Yahweh. This identity is tied to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh, adherence to Mosaic law, and a moral lifestyle.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to John 4:9, a Jew refers to a person of Judean identity, particularly in the context of the New Testament narrative where Samaritans and Jews had significant religious and social differences. Being a Jew denotes belonging to the people who have a covenantal relationship with Yahweh, which is a central theme in Judaism. Jews are characterized by their monotheistic worship of Yahweh, adherence to the laws of Moses, and a moral lifestyle aligned with the commands of Yahweh, as developed after the Exodus and during the time they were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. Jesus himself was a Jew, coming from this tradition, and was viewed as a messiah figure by early Christians, in contrast to Jewish expectation of the messiah as a political liberator from Roman rule. The messianic concept diverged, with Christians seeing Jesus as a spiritual savior rather than a political redeemer, which is reflected in the divergent paths of Christianity and Judaism from that point forward.