What is ‘living water’ (John 7:38)?

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

On the last day of the feast Jesus stood up and yelled that if anyone was thirsty, they should come to Him to drink and that whoever believed in Him would lead to what scripture said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” What He said was referring to the Holy Spirit which would be given to anyone who believed in him after his glorification.

Jesus has begun his public ministry, and He’s begun to stir up Jerusalem with his controversial teaching and popularity. On this occasion, Jesus has gone “privately” (vs 10) up to Judea for the Feast of Booths (vs 2), and it is the last “great” day.

Jesus makes a summary statement about what “Scripture has said”. It’s not a direct quote from any one passage, but a portion or concept well documented in Scripture, including His conversation with the woman at the well (John 4) and several other poignant statements in the prophets:

• “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:17)
• “O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.” (Jer 17:13)
• “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isa 12:3)
• “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.” (Ezk 47:1ff)

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Isn't a nation with lifeless gods still loyal to them? Yet My [God] people have traded their glory for nothing. Be witness to this, heavens, and be amazed, for the two transgressions of My people: forsaking Me who is the only fountain of living waters, and making instead cisterns that can't hold any water.

Jeremiah’s prophecy addresses Judah. Chapter 2 recalls the people’s early devotion and God’s care in bringing them from Egypt through the wilderness (vss 1-7), then charges them with turning to worthless gods and abandoning him (vss 8-13).

Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.

Jesus said to her that if she knew God's gift and who was asking her for a drink, she would have asked and He would have given her living water.

Jesus is speaking to the woman at the well in Samaria at the very beginning of His public ministry. The “living water” statement is prophetic language repeated by Jesus in 7:38, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” It’s also confirmed in the following verses by John to be referencing the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 55:1, Jeremiah 2:13, and 17:13 all talk about “living waters” as well as numerous other prophetic imagery regarding “streams”, “waters”, and “rivers” of life.

The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

You [High Priest and Jewish Council] killed Jesus by hanging Him on a cross, but the God of our ancestors raised Him and exalted him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, thereby bringing Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We [apostles], together with the Holy Spirit – who God, the Father, has given to all that obey Him – are witnesses to these things.

In the early days of the Christian movement and God’s establishment of His “new covenant,” the apostles are carrying the message of the gospel across Jerusalem and Judea. Being confronted by the Jewish leadership (vs 27), as often they were, Peter tells them, “We must obey God rather than men” (vs 29) and witnesses to them about the things he and the others have seen with their eyes.

Their testimony concerns Jesus’ death, resurrection and exaltation (vss 30-32).

And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.

Both sides of the river were lined with lush trees of every kind, never dying and continually bearing fruit because of the water flowing from the temple. Their fruit provides food, and their leaves provide healing.

Ezekiel spoke God’s words during the Babylonian captivity – after the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple. This is the last verse of a vision beginning back in chapter 40. Ezekiel, despite being in captivity, gets a tour of God’s temple structure. It concludes with this section (47:1-12) where water is filling it and flowing from it.

So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim.

Therefore, you will know that I'm your God who lives in My holy mountain, Zion. Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will no longer pass through it. In that day, the mountains will drip sweet wine, the hills will produce milk, and Judah's rivers will flow with water. Then a fountain will come from God's house and water the Valley of Shittim.

Not much is known about the prophet Joel. He was probably one of the earlier prophets (maybe around 8-900 BC). Some believe he was a priest because of his many statements to/about priests. Many believe he lived in Jerusalem and his primary audience was the southern nation of Judah (if he lived during the divided kingdom years).

The book of Joel is poignant given his vision of devastating locusts that completely devour the land. Throughout, he calls the people to repent before this “great and awesome day of the Lord” (2:31).

On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

There will be a day when David's descendants, the citizens of Jerusalem, will have access to a fountain that cleanses them of sin and makes them holy.

And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.

God knows a unique day, neither day nor night, with light at evening. On that day, living waters will come from Jerusalem half toward the eastern sea and half toward the western sea, in summer and winter. The Lord will be king over all the earth and will be one, and His name one.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

A righteous person's mouth is like a fountain of life, while a wicked person's mouth conceals violence.

A collection of wise sayings primarily collected from Solomon, the wisest to ever live.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

God's steadfast love is precious. Man finds refuge under His wings. They eat from His abundance and drink from a river of delights. He is the fountain of life and the only source of light.

A psalm of David about the love of God.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, I am the Lord's, another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, The Lord's, and name himself by the name of Israel.

I [God] will water the dry land; streams will quench the dry ground. The gift of My Spirit will be poured out on your descendants. As a result, they will have abundant life and call themselves by My name and as My chosen people.

God’s spokesman, the prophet Isaiah, preaching to Judah around 700BC before the Babylonian captivity some 100-120 yrs away.

And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her; for the Most High himself will establish her." The Lord records as he registers the peoples, "This one was born there." Singers and dancers alike say, "All my springs are in you."

About Zion, it will be said that her citizens are born there, for God establishes her. He registers her citizens as born there. People will sing that their life springs from there.

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah about Zion.

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

The Spirit and Bride (Christ's church) invite Jesus to return, and anyone who hears is also invited to ask Jesus to return. Anyone who is thirsty or desirous is invited to take the free water of life.

The closing verses of John’s apocalyptic vision providing several warnings and promises. Jesus speaks several times throughout (vss 7, 12, 16, 20).