37On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. [7:38] The one who believes in me — just as the Scripture says — rivers of living water will flow from his belly." [7:39] He said this concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
JHN 7:37-39
Living Water
In the world it was spoken into
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was a major Jewish pilgrimage festival marked by water-drawing rituals, symbolizing both agricultural dependence on rain and eschatological hopes for divine provision. On the 'last day' , the climax of the feast, Jesus’ declaration about 'living water' would have resonated deeply with Jewish listeners. Water imagery in Scripture often pointed to God’s life-giving presence, as in Isaiah 12:3 and Ezekiel 47:1-12, where rivers flow from the Temple, symbolizing divine blessing. Jesus’ claim that rivers of living water would flow from the 'belly' of believers reframed this hope around Himself and the Spirit. The mention of the Spirit not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified hinted at the post-resurrection outpouring of the Spirit, a promise familiar to Jewish eschatological expectations. For Jesus’ audience, this would have been a provocative claim of messianic authority and divine fulfillment.
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How other translations render this
JHN 7:37
- KJV
- In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
- BSB
- On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
- Koinōnos
- On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
JHN 7:38
- KJV
- He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
- BSB
- Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
- Koinōnos
- The one who believes in me — just as the Scripture says — rivers of living water will flow from his belly.
JHN 7:39
- KJV
- (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
- BSB
- He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
- Koinōnos
- He said this concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 7:37
- last:The word translated 'last' here emphasizes the finality and ultimate nature of the day, marking it as the culminating point of the festival.
JHN 7:38
- Scripture::The term used here for 'Scripture' refers to the sacred writings of the Old Testament, understood as divinely inspired and authoritative.
- belly:The word translated 'belly' refers to the innermost part of a person, often understood as the seat of emotions, thoughts, and one's deepest being.
- living.:The word translated 'living' implies not just biological existence, but a vibrant, active, and life-giving quality, often associated with divine power.