Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold 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.
- 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.
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 3:25There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
- Heb 9:10being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
- Eph 5:26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
- Mark 7:2–5Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault.
- Heb 9:19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
- Heb 10:22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
- Heb 6:2of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of 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.
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Original language
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