John 7:38
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'"
Whoever believes in Me
This phrase emphasizes the universality of the invitation Jesus extends. The Greek word for "believes" is "pisteuō," which implies a deep trust and reliance, not merely intellectual assent. In the historical context of Jesus' ministry, this call to belief was radical, as it invited all—Jew and Gentile alike—to place their faith in Him. The phrase "in Me" underscores the centrality of Christ in the Christian faith, affirming that salvation and spiritual life are found exclusively through Him.

as the Scripture has said
This phrase indicates that Jesus' promise is rooted in the Old Testament, though no specific verse is directly quoted. It likely alludes to passages such as Isaiah 44:3 and Ezekiel 47:1-12, which speak of water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and divine blessing. The use of "Scripture" here highlights the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, affirming that Jesus fulfills the prophetic promises of God. Historically, this would resonate with Jesus' Jewish audience, who revered the Scriptures as authoritative.

streams of living water
The imagery of "streams of living water" is rich with meaning. In the Greek, "living water" (hudatos zōntos) suggests water that is fresh, flowing, and life-giving, as opposed to stagnant or dead. This metaphor is deeply rooted in the ancient Near Eastern understanding of water as a precious and life-sustaining resource. In a spiritual sense, it represents the Holy Spirit, who brings renewal, sustenance, and eternal life to believers. This promise of "living water" echoes Jesus' earlier conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4, where He offers her "living water" that leads to eternal life.

will flow from within him
The phrase "from within him" (Greek: ek tēs koilias autou) suggests an internal, transformative work of the Holy Spirit within the believer. The imagery of flowing water indicates abundance and overflow, signifying that the believer not only receives life but also becomes a source of life to others. This reflects the transformative power of the Gospel, which changes individuals from the inside out and empowers them to impact the world around them. Historically, this would have been a powerful message to Jesus' audience, who lived in a dry and arid land where water was a symbol of life and prosperity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing the crowd during the Feast of Tabernacles, a significant Jewish festival.

2. The Feast of Tabernacles
A Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, during which water was a crucial element for survival.

3. The Believers
Those who place their faith in Jesus, as referenced in this verse, are promised the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

4. The Holy Spirit
Although not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the "streams of living water" symbolize the Holy Spirit, as clarified in the following verse (John 7:39).

5. The Scriptures
Refers to the Old Testament prophecies and writings that foreshadow the coming of the Messiah and the outpouring of the Spirit.
Teaching Points
Faith as the Foundation
Belief in Jesus is the prerequisite for receiving the living water, emphasizing the importance of faith.

The Indwelling Spirit
The living water represents the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, providing spiritual nourishment and guidance.

Continuous Flow
The imagery of streams suggests an ongoing, abundant supply of spiritual life and vitality available to believers.

Scriptural Fulfillment
Jesus' promise of living water fulfills Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating the continuity and reliability of God's Word.

Witness and Overflow
As believers are filled with the Spirit, they are called to overflow with love, grace, and truth to those around them.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the context of the Feast of Tabernacles enhance our understanding of Jesus' promise of living water?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our faith in Jesus remains the foundation of our spiritual life?

3. How does the indwelling of the Holy Spirit manifest in the life of a believer today?

4. What Old Testament scriptures can you find that foreshadow the coming of the Holy Spirit as living water?

5. How can we, as believers, allow the streams of living water to overflow into our communities and relationships?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 44:3
This verse speaks of God pouring out His Spirit like water on the thirsty land, paralleling the imagery of living water.

Ezekiel 47:1-12
Describes a vision of water flowing from the temple, symbolizing life and healing, similar to the living water Jesus promises.

John 4:14
Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman about the living water that will become a spring of eternal life within believers.

Revelation 22:1-2
Describes the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God, symbolizing eternal life and sustenance.
Believers are Springs of Living WaterSunday School ChronicleJohn 7:37-52
Believers have a Perennial Spring Within ThemH. G. Salter., Bp. Westcott.John 7:37-52
Boldness BestMusculus.John 7:37-52
Christ a Divine FountainH. W. Beecher.John 7:37-52
Christ a PreacherE. N. Kirk, D. D.John 7:37-52
Christ Our Fountain HeadH. Dosker.John 7:37-52
Christ the Cause of DivisionC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
Christ the Incomparable TeacherR. Nesselmann.John 7:37-52
Christ the ProphetJohn 7:37-52
Christ the Standard of PreachingN. Emmons, D. D.John 7:37-52
Christians are not Ponds, But Spring-HeadsC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
Christ's Call to Thirsty SoulsA. Raleigh, D. D.John 7:37-52
Christ's Matchless TeachingJ. Trapp.John 7:37-52
Christ's Satisfactions Full and RealT. Guthrie, D. D.John 7:37-52
Come and DrinkH. Bonar, D. D.John 7:37-52
Diversity of the Holy Spirit's OperationsW. H. Van Doren, D. D.John 7:37-52
Division of Feeling and Opinion About ChristBp. Ryle.John 7:37-52
Faith is EasyC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
Grace Cannot Remain HiddenJ. Trapp.John 7:37-52
He that Believeth on MeC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
Incomparableness of Christ's TeachingA. Roberts, M. A.John 7:37-52
Jesus the ChristS. S. TimesJohn 7:37-52
Jesus the ChristA. H. Moment, D. D.John 7:37-52
Man's Thirst Quenched by ChristH. J. W. Buxton.John 7:37-52
Never Man Spake Like This ManLyman Abbott, D. D.John 7:37-52
NicodemusJ. P. Lange.John 7:37-52
Nicodemus and the SanhedrimF. I. Dunwell, B. A.John 7:37-52
Opposition to the TruthJ. W. L. M.John 7:37-52
Our Lord as a TeacherJ. Baldwin Brown, B. A.John 7:37-52
Rivers of Living WaterJ. Riddell, M. A.John 7:37-52
Similar But Contrasted IncidentsG. Burder., J. B. Figgis, M. A.John 7:37-52
The Abundance and Vitality of the Spirit's OperationsJohn 7:37-52
The Affinity Between God and Man in Regard of Man's Wants and God's FulnessDean Goulburn.John 7:37-52
The Benefit of Hearing the TruthJ. Trapp.John 7:37-52
The CircumstanceE. N. Kirk, D. D.John 7:37-52
The Fulness of the Spirit the Gift of the Glorified ChrisBp. Ryle.John 7:37-52
The Glorification of ChristBp. Westcott.John 7:37-52
The Gospel a General Offer of GraceD. L. Moody.John 7:37-52
The Great InvitationT. Boston, D. D.John 7:37-52
The Holy Ghost was not Yet GivenBp. Westcott., Bp. Westcott.John 7:37-52
The Holy Spirit Must be Received by UsDrelincourt.John 7:37-52
The Holy Spirit Sustains the Inward Life of BelieversH. G. Salter.John 7:37-52
The IncidentA. Edersheim, D. D.John 7:37-52
The Incomparable MinistryDean Vaughan.John 7:37-52
The Opponents of the TruthJ. W. Burn.John 7:37-52
The Patience of ChristC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
The Power of Divine TruthC. H. Spurgeon., C. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
The Preacher's Last Sermon for the SeasonC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
The Return of the BailiffsBp. Ryle.John 7:37-52
The Significance of the Incident and Christ's Use of ItW. Arnot, D. D.John 7:37-52
The Soul's Thirst Satisfied in JesusS. Martin.John 7:37-52
The Spirit Dwelling In, and Flowing From, the Christian ManM. Brock, M. A.John 7:37-52
The Teaching of Jesus ChristE. De Pressense, D. D.John 7:37-52
The Testimony of ScepticsJ. J. Rosseau.John 7:37-52
The Thirst of Humanity Anticipated and MetT. Binney.John 7:37-52
The Thirsty Should DrinkJohn 7:37-52
The Unrivalled Eloquence of JesusC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
The Wonderful Nature of Christ's TeachingP. Doddridge, D. D.John 7:37-52
The Words of JesusJ. B. Figgis, M. A.John 7:37-52
Thirst RelievedG. Clayton.John 7:37-52
Various OpinionsH. Melvill, B. D.John 7:37-52
Water an Emblem of the SpiritJohn 7:37-52
We Must Drink in the GospelC. H. Spurgeon.John 7:37-52
We Must Feel Our Need of Christ Before We Come to HimH. W. Beecher.John 7:37-52
People
David, Jerusalemites, Jesus, Nicodemus
Places
Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea
Topics
Believes, Believeth, Believing, Belly, Body, Faith, Flow, Heart, Innermost, Rivers, Scripture, Streams, Within, Writing, Writings
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 7:38

     1611   Scripture, inspiration and authority
     2333   Christ, attitude to OT
     6755   union with Christ, nature of

John 7:25-43

     7712   convincing

John 7:32-49

     7552   Pharisees, attitudes to Christ

John 7:37-38

     7358   Feast of Tabernacles
     9150   Messianic banquet

John 7:37-39

     2424   gospel, promises
     4293   water
     4817   drought, spiritual
     5015   heart, and Holy Spirit
     5580   thirst
     6670   grace, and Holy Spirit
     8145   renewal, people of God

John 7:37-40

     2318   Christ, as prophet

John 7:38-39

     3130   Holy Spirit, Counsellor
     3278   Holy Spirit, indwelling
     8022   faith, basis of salvation
     9411   heaven

Library
September 13 Morning
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.--JOHN 7:37. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.--O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat;
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 9 Morning
Never man spake like this man.--JOHN 7:46. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.--The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.--His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend. All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.--He taught them as one having
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 30 Evening
Nicodemus . . . he that came to Jesus by night.--JOHN 7:50. Peter followed him afar off.--Among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.--The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.--A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

One Saying with Two Meanings
'Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto Him that sent Me. 34. Ye shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.'--JOHN vii. 33, 34. 'Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me; and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.'--JOHN xiii. 33. No greater contrast can be conceived than that between these two groups to whom such singularly similar words were addressed. The
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Rock and the Water
'In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. 38. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'--JOHN vii. 37,38. The occasion and date of this great saying are carefully given by the Evangelist, because they throw much light on its significance and importance. It was 'on the last day, that great day of the Feast,' that 'Jesus stood and cried.' The Feast
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Fifteenth Day. The Holy Spirit.
But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believed on Him were to receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet: because Jesus was not yet glorified.'--John vii. 39. 'The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things.'--John xiv. 26. 'God chose you to salvation in sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.'--2 Thess. ii. 13. (See 1 Pet. i. 2.) It has sometimes been said, that while the Holiness of God stands out more prominently
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

The Transfiguration: an Emergency Measure. Matthew 16:28-17:1-8. Mark 9:1-8. Luke 9:27-36.
God in Sore Straits: the darkest hour save one, fugitive, John 7:1. ban, John 9:22, 34. pushing, Matthew 15:1. Mark 7:1.--the danger zone, "withdrew," Matthew 4:12. 12:15. 14:13. 15:21. Tabernacles, John 7:32. 8:59.--Galileans desert, John 6:60-66.--the inner circle infected, John 6:67-71.--God needs men. Fire and anvil for Leaders: mental strength--seasoned leadership--Simon and Peter. An Irresistible Plan: alone with the twelve--the changed plan, Matthew 16:18-21.--Peter's stupid boldness,
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

On the Words of the Gospel of John vii. 6, Etc. , Where Jesus Said that He was not Going up unto the Feast, and Notwithstanding Went
1. I Purpose by the Lord's assistance to treat of this section [3961] of the Gospel which has just been read; nor is there a little difficulty here, lest the truth be endangered, and falsehood glory. Not that either the truth can perish, nor falsehood triumph. Now hearken for a while what difficulty this lesson has; and being made attentive by the propounding of the difficulty, pray that I may be sufficient for its solution. "The Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand;" [3962] these it seems are
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 10 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then thou shalt see clearly to
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

"Let any Man Come. "
[7] "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."--John 7:37-38. THE text which heads this paper contains one of those mighty sayings of Christ which deserve to be printed in letters of gold. All the stars in heaven are bright and beautiful; yet even a child can see that "one star differeth from another in glory"
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Author's Preface.
I did not write this little work with the thought of its being given to the public. It was prepared for the help of a few Christians who were desirous of loving God with the whole heart. But so many have requested copies of it, because of the benefit they have derived from its perusal, that I have been asked to publish it. I have left it in its natural simplicity. I do not condemn the opinions of any: on the contrary, I esteem those which are held by others, and submit all that I have written to
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

Answer to Mr. W's Sixth Objection.
6. and lastly, Let us consider the intrinsick absurdities, and incredibilities of the several stories of these three miracles, p. 36.--As to Jairus's daughter, and her resurrection from the dead, St. Hilary [13] hints, that there was no such person as Jairus;--and he gives this reason, and a good reason it is, why he thought so, because it is elsewhere intimated in the gospel that none of the rulers of the synagogues confessedly believ'd on Jesus, John vii. 48. and xii. 42. St. John's words in the
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

Want of Universality in the Knowledge and Reception of Christianity, and of Greater Clearness in the Evidence.
Or, a Revelation which really came from God, the proof, it has been said, would in all ages be so public and manifest, that no part of the human species would remain ignorant of it, no understanding could fail of being convinced by it. The advocates of Christianity do not pretend that the evidence of their religion possesses these qualities. They do not deny that we can conceive it to be within the compass of divine power to have communicated to the World a higher degree of assurance, and to have
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Our Historical Scriptures were Attacked by the Early Adversaries of Christianity...
Our historical Scriptures were attacked by the early adversaries of Christianity, as containing the accounts upon which the Religion was founded. Near the middle of the second century, Celsus, a heathen philosopher, wrote a professed treatise against Christianity. To this treatise Origen, who came about fifty years after him, published an answer, in which he frequently recites his adversary's words and arguments. The work of Celsus is lost; but that of Origen remains. Origen appears to have given
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Rejection of Christianity.
We acknowledge that the Christian religion, although it converted great numbers, did not produce an universal, or even a general conviction in the minds of men of the age and countries in which it appeared. And this want of a more complete and extensive success is called the rejection of the Christian history and miracles; and has been thought by some to form a strong objection to the reality of the facts which the history contains. The matter of the objection divides itself into two parts; as it
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

In the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles.
(October, a.d. 29.) ^D John VII. 11-52. ^d 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [It was now eighteen months since Jesus had visited Jerusalem, at which time he had healed the impotent man at Bethesda. His fame and prolonged obscurity made his enemies anxious for him to again expose himself in their midst. John here used the word "Jews" as a designation for the Jerusalemites, who, as enemies of Christ, were to be distinguished from the multitudes who were in doubt
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Brothers Advise Him to Go to Jerusalem.
(Galilee, Probably Capernaum.) ^D John VII. 2-9. ^d 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the feast of tabernacles, was at hand. [The first verse of this chapter tells us that Jesus kept away from Judæa because the Jews sought for his life. See page 393. This keeping away or seclusion began at the Passover season, and led Jesus not only to keep away from Judæa, but even to hover upon the outskirts of Galilee itself. This seclusion is described in Sections LXV.-LXXI. We now turn back to take up
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Story of the Adulteress.
(Jerusalem.) ^D John VII. 53-VIII. 11. [This section is wanting in nearly all older manuscripts, but Jerome (a.d. 346-420) says that in his time it was contained in "many Greek and Latin manuscripts," and these must have been as good or better than the best manuscripts we now possess. But whether we regard it as part of John's narrative or not, scholars very generally accept it as a genuine piece of history.] ^d 53 And they went every man unto his own house [confused by the question of Nicodemus,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

How to Know the Will of God
"If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God."--JOHN vii. 17. THERE is an experience which becomes more and more familiar to every one who is trying to follow Christ--a feeling of the growing loneliness of his Christian life. It comes from a sense of the peculiarly personal interest which Christ takes in him, which sometimes seems so strong as almost to make him feel that his life is being detached from all the other lives around him, that it is being drawn out
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Journey to Jerusalem - Chronological Arrangement of the Last Part of the Gospel-Narratives - First Incidents by the Way.
THE part in the Evangelic History which we have now reached has this peculiarity and difficulty, that the events are now recorded by only one of the Evangelists. The section in St. Luke's Gospel from chapter ix. 51 to chapter xviii. 14 stands absolutely alone. From the circumstance that St. Luke omits throughout his narrative all notation of time or place, the difficulty of arranging here the chronological succession of events is so great, that we can only suggest what seems most probable, without
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
IT was Chol ha Moed - as the non-sacred part of the festive week, the half-holy days were called. [3949] Jerusalem, the City of Solemnities, the City of Palaces, the City of beauty and glory, wore quite another than its usual aspect; other, even, than when its streets were thronged by festive pilgrims during the Passover-week, or at Pentecost. For this was pre-eminently the Feast for foreign pilgrims, coming from the farthest distance, whose Temple-contributions were then received and counted. [3950]
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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