John 2:7 kjv

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

John 2:7 nkjv

Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim.

John 2:7 niv

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

John 2:7 esv

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.

John 2:7 nlt

Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled,

John 2 verses

John 2 7 Meaning

John 2:7 details Jesus' simple yet authoritative command to the wedding servants at Cana to fill the purification jars with water, and their immediate, complete obedience to this instruction. This act of obedience is foundational, preparing the way for Jesus' first public sign, where the ordinary water would be miraculously transformed into extraordinary wine, signifying His divine power and initiating the revelation of His glory.

John 2 7 Context

John 2:7 occurs during the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee. The central context is a social dilemma: the unexpected depletion of wine, which would bring great shame upon the bridal couple and their families. Jesus' mother, Mary, notices the lack and informs Jesus, hinting at a solution, despite Jesus' initial seeming reluctance ("My hour has not yet come," Jn 2:4). This verse sets the stage for Jesus' direct intervention. The stone jars mentioned are significant as they were typically used for Jewish ceremonial washings, indicating a context of religious purification rites (Jn 2:6). Historically and culturally, water was vital for daily life, but specifically these large stone jars held water for ritual purity, demonstrating an environment rich in religious traditions that Jesus would subtly yet profoundly transform through His actions. The command to fill these particular jars suggests a movement from the Old Covenant's external rituals to the New Covenant's inward, transformative reality.

John 2 7 Word analysis

• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): From Hebrew Yeshua, meaning "Yahweh saves." Here, it highlights the speaker's divine authority. It underscores that the command comes from the one who is truly Lord.
• said (λέγει - legei): Present tense, indicating an immediate, authoritative utterance. It’s a direct command, not a suggestion or question, demonstrating the Speaker's inherent power and right to command.
• to the servants (τοῖς διακόνοις - tois diakonois): "Servants," "waiters." These are not merely onlookers but individuals designated to perform specific tasks, indicating they are positioned for action and obedience. They are humble workers, reflecting that divine instructions often come to those in practical service.
• Fill (Γεμίσατε - Gemisate): An imperative verb, "to fill completely," leaving no room. This is a call for an active, full, and dedicated response. It implies an act of diligence.
• the jars (τὰς ὑδρίας - tas hydrias): These are specifically "water pots" or "water jars," not just any container. John specifies earlier (2:6) that there were six, and they were "of stone, after the Jewish manner of purification." This detail is crucial; these jars held water for ritual washing, symbolizing the old ways and purification laws, soon to be superseded by Christ's New Covenant.
• with water (ὕδατος - hydatos): Plain, ordinary water. This common element highlights the stark contrast to the miracle that would ensue. The mundane becomes the canvas for the divine. It emphasizes that the miracle would come from God's power acting upon the basic and natural, not from external or magical additives.
• And they filled them (καὶ ἐγέμισαν αὐτάς - kai egemisan autas): Conjunction "and" implies immediate consequence, highlighting the servants' swift and decisive response. Their action directly follows the command. The imperfect tense for "filled" emphasizes the continuous act until the task was complete. This collective act of obedience is critical; it demonstrates a genuine response of faith without question.
• to the brim (ἕως ἄνω - heōs anō): Literally, "up to the top" or "even to the top." This signifies completeness and thoroughness. No partial measures were taken; every jar was completely full. This detail ensures the integrity of the miracle, demonstrating that no wine could have been added from an outside source beforehand, and it symbolizes the overflowing abundance of the New Covenant in Christ.

Words-Group analysis:

• "Jesus said to the servants...": This establishes Jesus' authoritative position and identifies the recipients of the command. It implies that genuine service is tied to direct obedience to Christ.
• "Fill the jars with water.": A concise, clear, and seemingly mundane command. Its simplicity tests the servants' obedience and readiness to follow instructions that may appear illogical or irrelevant to the immediate problem (lack of wine). The "water" is symbolic, representing purification or life.
• "And they filled them to the brim.": This phrase signifies complete and immediate obedience. It highlights the servants' faith, as they act without questioning the reason or logic behind the command. Their thoroughness ensures the unmistakable nature of the impending miracle and prefigures the abundant life in Christ. This active, full obedience is essential for the miracle to occur, underlining the principle that God often acts through human compliance.

John 2 7 Bonus section

The six stone jars of purification (mentioned in John 2:6, which directly precedes this verse) are highly symbolic. In Jewish tradition, purification rituals were numerous and central to religious life, with specific water usages. The six jars may hint at imperfection or incompleteness (seven being the number of perfection in biblical numerology), symbolizing the inadequacy of the Old Covenant's ceremonial law to truly purify or bring ultimate joy. By commanding these specific jars to be filled with ordinary water and then transforming that water into abundant, excellent wine, Jesus performs not just a miracle but a profound theological statement. He is declaring His supremacy over the old rituals, fulfilling them and ushering in a New Covenant where true cleansing and abundant life (symbolized by the best wine) are found not through external rites, but through Him. The turning of water (associated with judgment and ritual cleansing) into wine (associated with joy, celebration, and the covenant in the Old Testament, and later with Christ's blood in the New) highlights a theological progression from rigid ceremonialism to the boundless grace and joy found in Jesus Christ. This miracle serves as a proleptic (anticipatory) sign of His redemptive work and the superior, overflowing nature of the new covenant.

John 2 7 Commentary

John 2:7 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the first sign performed by Jesus, showcasing the critical interplay between divine command and human obedience. Jesus, recognizing the need through His mother's prompting, issues a clear, direct, and seemingly ordinary instruction to the servants. This command to fill common purification jars with simple water sets up the entire miraculous transformation. The servants' response—immediate, complete, and without questioning ("they filled them to the brim")—is profoundly significant. Their readiness to obey an instruction that offered no logical solution to the problem of a lack of wine demonstrates a fundamental act of faith. It's in this space of simple, unassuming obedience that God often performs His greatest works. This verse exemplifies how participation in God's miraculous plan often requires a willingness to perform the mundane act God commands, even when the divine purpose is not yet clear. The fullness to the brim also eliminates any doubt regarding the source of the subsequent wine, validating the miracle's authenticity and ensuring the manifestation of Christ's glory.