diff --git a/src/NJsonSchema.Tests/Schema/JsonSchemaTests.cs b/src/NJsonSchema.Tests/Schema/JsonSchemaTests.cs
index 9a1eec633..1222cd70d 100644
--- a/src/NJsonSchema.Tests/Schema/JsonSchemaTests.cs
+++ b/src/NJsonSchema.Tests/Schema/JsonSchemaTests.cs
@@ -427,6 +427,114 @@ public async Task When_azure_schema_is_loaded_then_no_exception()
             Assert.Contains("The identity type.", json);
         }
 
+        [Fact]
+        public void When_FromJson_is_called_with_simple_schema_then_it_is_deserialized()
+        {
+            //// Arrange
+            var data =
+@"{
+    ""title"": ""Test Schema"",
+    ""type"": ""object"",
+    ""properties"": {
+        ""name"": {
+            ""type"": ""string""
+        },
+        ""age"": {
+            ""type"": ""integer""
+        }
+    },
+    ""required"": [""name""]
+}";
+
+            //// Act
+            var schema = JsonSchema.FromJson(data);
+
+            //// Assert
+            Assert.Equal("Test Schema", schema.Title);
+            Assert.Equal(JsonObjectType.Object, schema.Type);
+            Assert.Equal(2, schema.Properties.Count);
+            Assert.True(schema.Properties.ContainsKey("name"));
+            Assert.True(schema.Properties.ContainsKey("age"));
+            Assert.Contains("name", schema.RequiredProperties);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void When_FromJson_is_called_with_internal_refs_then_they_are_resolved()
+        {
+            //// Arrange
+            var data =
+@"{
+    ""$schema"": ""http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#"",
+    ""type"": ""object"",
+    ""properties"": {
+        ""address"": {
+            ""$ref"": ""#/definitions/Address""
+        }
+    },
+    ""definitions"": {
+        ""Address"": {
+            ""type"": ""object"",
+            ""properties"": {
+                ""street"": { ""type"": ""string"" },
+                ""city"": { ""type"": ""string"" }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}";
+
+            //// Act
+            var schema = JsonSchema.FromJson(data);
+
+            //// Assert
+            Assert.NotNull(schema.Definitions["Address"]);
+            Assert.NotNull(schema.Properties["address"].Reference);
+            Assert.Equal(schema.Definitions["Address"], schema.Properties["address"].Reference);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public async Task When_FromJson_is_called_then_result_matches_FromJsonAsync()
+        {
+            //// Arrange
+            var data =
+@"{
+    ""$schema"": ""http://json-schema.org/draft-04/schema#"",
+    ""type"": ""object"",
+    ""properties"": {
+        ""storage"": {
+            ""type"": ""object"",
+            ""oneOf"": [
+                { ""$ref"": ""#/definitions/diskDevice"" },
+                { ""$ref"": ""#/definitions/diskUUID"" }
+            ]
+        },
+        ""fstype"": {
+            ""enum"": [ ""ext3"", ""ext4"", ""btrfs"" ]
+        }
+    },
+    ""definitions"": {
+        ""diskDevice"": {
+            ""type"": ""object"",
+            ""properties"": {
+                ""device"": { ""type"": ""string"" }
+            }
+        },
+        ""diskUUID"": {
+            ""type"": ""object"",
+            ""properties"": {
+                ""uuid"": { ""type"": ""string"" }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}";
+
+            //// Act
+            var syncSchema = JsonSchema.FromJson(data);
+            var asyncSchema = await JsonSchema.FromJsonAsync(data);
+
+            //// Assert
+            Assert.Equal(asyncSchema.ToJson(), syncSchema.ToJson());
+        }
+
         [Fact]
         public void When_there_are_multiple_empty_objects_in_json_sample_data_generate_different_type_definitions_foreach()
         {
diff --git a/src/NJsonSchema/Infrastructure/JsonSchemaSerialization.cs b/src/NJsonSchema/Infrastructure/JsonSchemaSerialization.cs
index 7423ad69b..26f460bf1 100644
--- a/src/NJsonSchema/Infrastructure/JsonSchemaSerialization.cs
+++ b/src/NJsonSchema/Infrastructure/JsonSchemaSerialization.cs
@@ -124,6 +124,49 @@ public static Task<T> FromJsonAsync<T>(Stream stream, SchemaType schemaType, str
             return FromJsonWithLoaderAsync(loader, schemaType, documentPath, referenceResolverFactory, contractResolver, cancellationToken);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>Deserializes JSON data to a schema with reference handling (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="json">The JSON data.</param>
+        /// <param name="schemaType">The schema type.</param>
+        /// <param name="documentPath">The document path.</param>
+        /// <param name="referenceResolverFactory">The reference resolver factory.</param>
+        /// <param name="contractResolver">The contract resolver.</param>
+        /// <returns>The deserialized schema.</returns>
+        public static T FromJson<T>(string json, SchemaType schemaType, string? documentPath,
+            Func<T, JsonReferenceResolver> referenceResolverFactory, IContractResolver contractResolver)
+            where T : notnull
+        {
+            CurrentSchemaType = schemaType;
+
+            T schema;
+            try
+            {
+                schema = FromJson<T>(json, contractResolver)!;
+                if (schema is IDocumentPathProvider documentPathProvider)
+                {
+                    documentPathProvider.DocumentPath = documentPath;
+                }
+
+                var referenceResolver = referenceResolverFactory.Invoke(schema);
+                if (schema is IJsonReference referenceSchema)
+                {
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(documentPath))
+                    {
+                        referenceResolver.AddDocumentReference(documentPath!, referenceSchema);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                JsonSchemaReferenceUtilities.UpdateSchemaReferences(schema, referenceResolver, contractResolver);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                CurrentSchemaType = SchemaType.JsonSchema;
+            }
+
+            return schema;
+        }
+
         private static async Task<T> FromJsonWithLoaderAsync<T>(
             Func<T> loader,
             SchemaType schemaType,
diff --git a/src/NJsonSchema/JsonReferenceResolver.cs b/src/NJsonSchema/JsonReferenceResolver.cs
index ea2c17934..468af6620 100644
--- a/src/NJsonSchema/JsonReferenceResolver.cs
+++ b/src/NJsonSchema/JsonReferenceResolver.cs
@@ -103,6 +103,59 @@ public virtual IJsonReference ResolveDocumentReference(object rootObject, string
             return schema;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>Gets the object from the given JSON path (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="rootObject">The root object.</param>
+        /// <param name="jsonPath">The JSON path.</param>
+        /// <param name="targetType">The target type to resolve.</param>
+        /// <param name="contractResolver">The contract resolver.</param>
+        /// <returns>The JSON Schema.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">Could not resolve the JSON path.</exception>
+        /// <exception cref="NotSupportedException">External file or URL references are not supported in synchronous mode.</exception>
+        public IJsonReference ResolveReference(object rootObject, string jsonPath, Type targetType, IContractResolver contractResolver)
+        {
+            return ResolveReference(rootObject, jsonPath, targetType, contractResolver, true);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Gets the object from the given JSON path without appending (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="rootObject">The root object.</param>
+        /// <param name="jsonPath">The JSON path.</param>
+        /// <param name="targetType">The target type to resolve.</param>
+        /// <param name="contractResolver">The contract resolver.</param>
+        /// <returns>The JSON Schema.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">Could not resolve the JSON path.</exception>
+        /// <exception cref="NotSupportedException">External file or URL references are not supported in synchronous mode.</exception>
+        public IJsonReference ResolveReferenceWithoutAppend(object rootObject, string jsonPath, Type targetType, IContractResolver contractResolver)
+        {
+            return ResolveReference(rootObject, jsonPath, targetType, contractResolver, false);
+        }
+
+        private IJsonReference ResolveReference(object rootObject, string jsonPath, Type targetType, IContractResolver contractResolver, bool append)
+        {
+            if (jsonPath == "#")
+            {
+                if (rootObject is IJsonReference)
+                {
+                    return (IJsonReference)rootObject;
+                }
+
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("Could not resolve the JSON path '#' because the root object is not a JsonSchema4.");
+            }
+            else if (jsonPath.StartsWith("#/"))
+            {
+                return ResolveDocumentReference(rootObject, jsonPath, targetType, contractResolver);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                throw new NotSupportedException(
+                    "Could not resolve the JSON path '" + jsonPath + "' synchronously. " +
+                    "External file and URL references require the async FromJsonAsync method.");
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>Resolves a file reference.</summary>
         /// <param name="filePath">The file path.</param>
         /// <param name="cancellationToken">The cancellation token</param>
diff --git a/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchema.cs b/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchema.cs
index 99d493d48..63de11c67 100644
--- a/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchema.cs
+++ b/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchema.cs
@@ -189,6 +189,41 @@ public static Task<JsonSchema> FromJsonAsync(Stream stream, string? documentPath
             return JsonSchemaSerialization.FromJsonAsync(stream, SerializationSchemaType, documentPath, referenceResolverFactory, ContractResolver.Value, cancellationToken);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>Deserializes a JSON string to a <see cref="JsonSchema"/> (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="data">The JSON string.</param>
+        /// <returns>The JSON Schema.</returns>
+        public static JsonSchema FromJson(string data)
+        {
+            return FromJson(data, null);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Deserializes a JSON string to a <see cref="JsonSchema"/> (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="data">The JSON string.</param>
+        /// <param name="documentPath">The document path (URL or file path) for resolving relative document references.</param>
+        /// <returns>The JSON Schema.</returns>
+        public static JsonSchema FromJson(string data, string? documentPath)
+        {
+            var factory = JsonReferenceResolver.CreateJsonReferenceResolverFactory(new DefaultTypeNameGenerator());
+            return FromJson(data, documentPath, factory);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Deserializes a JSON string to a <see cref="JsonSchema" /> (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="data">The JSON string.</param>
+        /// <param name="documentPath">The document path (URL or file path) for resolving relative document references.</param>
+        /// <param name="referenceResolverFactory">The JSON reference resolver factory.</param>
+        /// <returns>The JSON Schema.</returns>
+        public static JsonSchema FromJson(string data, string? documentPath, Func<JsonSchema,
+            JsonReferenceResolver> referenceResolverFactory)
+        {
+            return JsonSchemaSerialization.FromJson(data, SerializationSchemaType, documentPath, referenceResolverFactory, ContractResolver.Value);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>Creates a <see cref="JsonSchema" /> from a given type (using System.Text.Json rules).</summary>
         /// <typeparam name="TType">The type to create the schema for.</typeparam>
         /// <returns>The <see cref="JsonSchema" />.</returns>
diff --git a/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchemaReferenceUtilities.cs b/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchemaReferenceUtilities.cs
index c29941498..3aee04393 100644
--- a/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchemaReferenceUtilities.cs
+++ b/src/NJsonSchema/JsonSchemaReferenceUtilities.cs
@@ -41,6 +41,29 @@ public static async Task UpdateSchemaReferencesAsync(object rootObject, JsonRefe
             await updater.VisitAsync(rootObject, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>Updates all <see cref="IJsonReferenceBase.Reference"/> properties from the
+        /// available <see cref="IJsonReferenceBase.Reference"/> properties (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="rootObject">The root object.</param>
+        /// <param name="referenceResolver">The JSON document resolver.</param>
+        public static void UpdateSchemaReferences(object rootObject, JsonReferenceResolver referenceResolver) =>
+            UpdateSchemaReferences(rootObject, referenceResolver, new DefaultContractResolver());
+
+        /// <summary>Updates all <see cref="IJsonReferenceBase.Reference"/> properties from the
+        /// available <see cref="IJsonReferenceBase.Reference"/> properties (synchronous version).
+        /// Only supports document-internal references (# and #/...). External file or URL
+        /// references will throw <see cref="NotSupportedException"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="rootObject">The root object.</param>
+        /// <param name="referenceResolver">The JSON document resolver.</param>
+        /// <param name="contractResolver">The contract resolver.</param>
+        public static void UpdateSchemaReferences(object rootObject, JsonReferenceResolver referenceResolver,
+                IContractResolver contractResolver)
+        {
+            var updater = new JsonReferenceUpdaterSync(rootObject, referenceResolver, contractResolver);
+            updater.Visit(rootObject);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>Updates the <see cref="IJsonReferenceBase.Reference" /> properties
         /// from the available <see cref="IJsonReferenceBase.Reference" /> properties with inlining external references.</summary>
         /// <param name="rootObject">The root object.</param>
@@ -121,6 +144,54 @@ protected override async Task<IJsonReference> VisitJsonReferenceAsync(IJsonRefer
             }
         }
 
+        private sealed class JsonReferenceUpdaterSync : JsonReferenceVisitorBase
+        {
+            private readonly object _rootObject;
+            private readonly JsonReferenceResolver _referenceResolver;
+            private readonly IContractResolver _contractResolver;
+            private bool _replaceRefsRound;
+
+            public JsonReferenceUpdaterSync(object rootObject, JsonReferenceResolver referenceResolver, IContractResolver contractResolver)
+                : base(contractResolver)
+            {
+                _rootObject = rootObject;
+                _referenceResolver = referenceResolver;
+                _contractResolver = contractResolver;
+            }
+
+            public override void Visit(object obj)
+            {
+                _replaceRefsRound = true;
+                base.Visit(obj);
+                _replaceRefsRound = false;
+                base.Visit(obj);
+            }
+
+            protected override IJsonReference VisitJsonReference(IJsonReference reference, string path, string? typeNameHint)
+            {
+                if (reference.ReferencePath != null && reference.Reference == null)
+                {
+                    if (_replaceRefsRound)
+                    {
+                        if (path.EndsWith("/definitions/" + typeNameHint) || path.EndsWith("/schemas/" + typeNameHint))
+                        {
+                            // inline $refs in "definitions"
+                            return _referenceResolver
+                                .ResolveReferenceWithoutAppend(_rootObject, reference.ReferencePath, reference.GetType(), _contractResolver);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        // load $refs and add them to "definitions"
+                        reference.Reference = _referenceResolver
+                            .ResolveReference(_rootObject, reference.ReferencePath, reference.GetType(), _contractResolver);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                return reference;
+            }
+        }
+
         private sealed class JsonReferencePathUpdater : JsonReferenceVisitorBase
         {
             private readonly object _rootObject;