John 7:38 kjv
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38 nkjv
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
John 7:38 niv
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."
John 7:38 esv
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
John 7:38 nlt
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
John 7 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 4:14 | "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. | Fulfils the promise here. |
| John 4:10 | "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ | Identifies Jesus' offer. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, | Links Spirit to power. |
| Gal 4:6 | "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, | Spirit as Son's Spirit. |
| Rom 8:9 | "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwel | Presence of God's Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 2:13 | "...comparing spiritual things with spiritual things." | Spirit imparts understanding. |
| 1 Cor 12:13 | "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—" | Baptism by one Spirit. |
| Eph 4:4 | "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were given one hope when you were called" | Unity in the Spirit. |
| Eph 5:9 | "(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)" | Spirit produces fruit. |
| Titus 3:5 | "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy | Salvation through the Spirit. |
| 1 John 5:6 | "This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by water only but by water and" | Christ's coming. |
| Isa 12:3 | "with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." | OT prophetic fulfillment. |
| Isa 44:3 | "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;" | OT promise of spiritual outpouring. |
| Isa 55:1 | "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy" | Invitation to spiritual blessings. |
| Prov 18:4 | "A man’s words are like deep water; the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream." | Water as a source of life. |
| Psa 36:8 | "They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of" | God as the source of rivers. |
| Psa 78:15 | "He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep;" | Water from rock (miraculous). |
| Eze 47:1-12 | Description of a river flowing from the temple bringing life. | Prophetic vision of life-giving water. |
| Zech 14:8 | "On that day living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern s" | Living waters from Jerusalem. |
| Rev 7:17 | "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them" | Lamb provides living water. |
| Rev 21:6 | "and he said to me, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning of the" | Water of life freely. |
| Rev 22:17 | "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.'" And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the" | Spirit inviting to drink. |
John 7 verses
John 7 38 Meaning
This verse describes the consequence of belief in Jesus: receiving living water, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit. This water flows from within the believer, signifying an internal, inexhaustible source of spiritual life and power.
John 7 38 Context
John chapter 7 portrays Jesus’ final visit to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as Booths). The chapter begins with Jesus’ brothers urging him to go to Judea and show himself openly, to which Jesus responds by saying his time had not yet come. While the religious leaders are plotting to arrest him, Jesus goes to the temple and teaches. His teaching amazes the crowds, who question his identity and origins, noting that he seems to know things without formal study. Jesus clarifies that his teaching comes from God who sent him.
The chapter climaxes on the last day of the feast, a significant day often associated with drawing water and pouring it out as a commemoration of God providing water for Israel in the wilderness. It was also a day of prayer for rain. It is against this backdrop that Jesus stands and cries out.
John 7 38 Word Analysis
ho (o) - he
pisteuōn (pistewwn) - believing (present participle). This emphasizes the ongoing nature of faith. It's not a one-time act but a continuous trust.
ek (ek) - out of, from. Denotes the source.
mou (mou) - me, my.
graphē (grafh) - scripture. The text itself.
legei (legei) - says (present indicative). The scripture states.
chrōizontos (xrhzontos) - having.
diaitō (daitw) - inner being, innermost part. This refers to the deepest part of a person's being, the very core of their existence.
rheousin (rJousin) - flow (present indicative). Denotes a continuous, active flow.
hydor (udwr) - water.
zōn (zwn) - living, alive (present participle). Emphasizes that this water is not stagnant but vital and active.
Words group analysis:
- "Believe in me": This is the core condition for receiving the promised gift. Faith in Jesus is the doorway.
- "as the Scripture has said": This points to Old Testament prophecy and promises that foreshadow Jesus and the blessings He brings. Jesus consistently ties His ministry and teachings back to the Scriptures.
- "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water": This vivid imagery describes the Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer, becoming an internal, abundant, and inexhaustible source of spiritual life and refreshment. The "rivers" (plural) suggest abundance, overflowing capacity to satisfy not only the believer but also to bless others.
John 7 38 Bonus Section
The feast Jesus refers to, the Feast of Tabernacles, celebrated Israel's time in the wilderness, relying on God for sustenance, particularly water. Jesus’ statement thus contrasts the temporary, physical provisions God gave Israel in the past with the eternal, spiritual provision He offers. The reference to "living water" also echoes the miraculous provision of water from the rock struck by Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8-11). Jesus Himself is presented as that spiritual Rock from which God’s life-giving Spirit flows. The disciples' understanding of this truth solidified after Jesus’ ascension when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost (Acts 2), fulfilling this promise explicitly and leading to the rapid spread of the Gospel.
John 7 38 Commentary
Jesus makes a profound promise on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. During this feast, a ritual involved drawing water from the Pool of Siloam and bringing it into the temple courtyard, pouring it out at the altar with prayers for rain and a remembrance of God providing water for Israel in the desert. Jesus dramatically intervenes in this context, proclaiming Himself to be the true source of spiritual life, superseding the symbolic ritual. He states that those who believe in Him will not just receive water once, but will have an inexhaustible internal spring from which "rivers of living water" will flow. This "living water" is universally understood by scholars as the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers after Jesus’ ascension. The Spirit provides constant spiritual sustenance, regeneration, empowerment, and the capacity to bless others. This promise fulfills Old Testament prophecies that spoke of a future outpouring of God’s Spirit and a renewed spiritual life for His people. The implication is that true spiritual life is an internal reality, a constant, abundant supply that originates from a relationship with Christ.
- Practical application: Just as a parched land longs for rain, our souls can experience spiritual dryness. Believing in Jesus, as the Scripture states, opens us to the indwelling Holy Spirit. This means we have direct access to God's strength, guidance, and peace within us, not an external dependency. This inner source is meant to be so abundant that it overflows, enabling us to be a source of refreshment and life to others in our interactions.