Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.
- KJV And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
- NKJV Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.
- NASB Now there were six stone waterpots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each.
- NLT Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Six large stone jars used for Jewish purification stood nearby, holding twenty to thirty gallons each. These vessels, tied to ritual cleansing, become the means of Jesus' sign.
Overview
John notes the jars' purpose (ceremonial purification) and great capacity, underscoring both the abundance of the coming miracle and its symbolism. That Jesus uses vessels meant for the old purification rites hints that He brings a greater cleansing and the fullness of the new covenant. The sheer volume foreshadows the lavish generosity of His provision.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- John 3:25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
- Heb 9:10They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.
- Eph 5:26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Mark 7:2–5and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.
- Heb 9:19For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,
- Heb 10:22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Heb 6:2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 2:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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