And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
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.
- BSB Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.
- 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 there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
- Heb 9:10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
- Eph 5:26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
- Mark 7:2–5And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
- Heb 9:19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
- Heb 10:22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Heb 6:2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.