John 7:39

John 7:39, in plain English

The writer explains that Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, whom believers would receive later. The Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified through the cross.

Why it's here

This is one of those moments where the Gospel writer steps in to make sure you understand. The living water is the Holy Spirit, and He was coming soon.

Who's speaking

The Gospel writer gives you behind-the-scenes insight into what Jesus was really promising.

Where it sits in the story

The living water Jesus promised was not water at all. It was the Holy Spirit, who would come pouring into believers after Jesus finished His work on the cross. The best was yet to come.

The scholarly reading

The narrator provides an authoritative interpretation: Jesus was speaking about the pneuma (Spirit) whom believers would later receive, adding that the Spirit had not yet been given (oupō ēn) because Jesus had not yet been glorified (edoxasthē).

Language and setting

The glorification (doxazō) in John's Gospel refers primarily to the cross as the moment of divine glory revealed. The Spirit's outpouring is contingent on the completed work of Christ: death, resurrection, and ascension.

Voice

The narrator provides an explanatory aside, connecting Jesus' living water promise to the future gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Significance

John gives the reader the decoder ring. The living water is the Holy Spirit, who would come only after Jesus completed His work on the cross. The promise is real, but its fulfillment awaits the glorification of the Son.

37On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

39He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

40On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.”

41Others declared, “This is the Christ.”

Read all of John 7 — Jesus appears at the Festival of Tabernacles and divides the crowd. Some say he's a prophet, some say he's the Messiah, and some want him arrested.