John 7:37-39
What is written? (ESV)
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.
What does it say?
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.
What is its immediate context?
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)
How John 7:37-39 is applied across Bible answers
Did Jude quote from the book of Enoch?
John confirms the meaning of Jesus' statement about "living water", applying it to the Holy Spirit that would be given to all who believe in Him.
Top 10: Passages that must be reconciled before concluding that the Holy Spirit indwells representatively through the Word?
The "living water" (eg the Holy Spirit) is a believers output - behavior demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. Someone only becomes a believer by hearing the word - effectively the input for a believer.
What is ‘living water’ (John 7:38)?
John confirms that the "living water" Jesus spoke about was the Holy Spirit.
What is the promise of the Holy Spirit?
Where is the Holy Spirit dwelling today?
Jesus speaks about "rivers of living water" coming from the believer's heart. John confirms for us that he was speaking about the Holy Spirit that all believers would receive when Jesus was to be "glorified" (eg His ascension into heaven).
