John 7:37-39 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 7:37-44

In these verses we have, I. Christ's discourse, with the explication of it, John 7:37-39. It is probable that these are only short hints of what he enlarged upon, but they have in them the substance of the whole gospel; here is a gospel invitation to come to Christ, and a gospel promise of comfort and happiness in him. Now observe, 1. When he gave this invitation: On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, that great day. The eighth day, which concluded that solemnity, was to be a holy... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:37-44

7:37-44 On the last, the great day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. As the scripture says: 'He who believes in me--rivers of living water shall flow from his belly.'" It was about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, that he said this. For as yet there was no Spirit because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words some of the crowd said: "This is really the promised Prophet." Others said: "This is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:37-44

Now that we have seen the vivid background of this passage we must look at it in more detail. The promise of Jesus presents us with something of a problem. He said: "He who believes in me--rivers of water shall flow from his belly." And he introduces that statement by saying, "as scripture says." No one has ever been able to identify that quotation satisfactorily, and the question is, just what does it mean? There are two distinct possibilities. (i) It may refer to the man who comes to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:37

In the last day, that great day of the feast ,.... That is, of tabernacles, as appears from John 7:2 , which was usually called חג , "the feast", in distinction from the passover and Pentecost F17 Shirshashirim Rabba, fol. 5. 3. & 7. 3. ; and the eighth day of it was called הרגל האחרון , "the last day of the feast" F18 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 7. sect. 6. & Maimon. in ib. , as here: and it was a "great day", being, as is said in Leviticus 23:36 , an holy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:38

He that believeth on me ,.... Which explains what is meant by coming to Christ, and drinking; for these acts are no other than for a man to go out of himself to Christ, and live by faith on him, and his grace. To which what follows is a great encouragement; as the Scripture hath said : some refer these words to the preceding clause concerning believing in Christ, which the writings of the Old Testament speak of, as in Deuteronomy 18:15 , and the sense is, that he that believes on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:39

But this spake he of the Spirit ,.... These are the words of the evangelist, explaining the figurative expressions of Christ; showing, that by rivers of living water, he meant the Spirit in his gifts and graces; and which is the plain sense of the passages referred to by him, particularly Isaiah 44:3 , and which, as before observed, the Jews supposed were intimated by their drawing and pouring water at the feast of tabernacles. Which they that believe on him should receive ; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:37

In the last day, that great day of the feast - This was the eighth day, and was called the great day, because of certain traditional observances, and not on account of any excellence which it derived from the original institution. On the seven days they professed to offer sacrifices for the seventy nations of the earth, but on the eighth day they offered sacrifices for Israel; therefore the eighth day was more highly esteemed than any of the others. It is probably to this that the evangelist... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:38

He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said - He who receives me as the Messiah, according to what the Scripture has said concerning me; my person, birth, conduct, preaching, and miracles, being compared with what is written there as ascertaining the true Messiah. Out of his belly - from his heart and soul; for in his soul shall this Spirit dwell. Living water - As a true spring is ever supplied with water from the great deep, with which it has communication, so shall the soul of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:39

Was not yet given - Δεδομενον , given is added by the Codex Vaticanus, (B.) the Syriac, all the Persic, later Syriac with an asterisk, three copies of the Slavonic, Vulgate, and all the Itala but three; and several of the primitive fathers. The word seems necessary to the completion of the sense. Certain measures of the Holy Spirit had been vouchsafed from the beginning of the world to believers and unbelievers: but that abundant effusion of his graces spoken of by Joel, Joel 2:28 ,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:37

Verse 37 37.On the last day. The first thing that ought to be observed here is, that no plots or intrigues of enemies terrified Christ, so as to cause him to desist from his duty; but, on the contrary, his courage rose with dangers, so that he persevered with greater firmness. This is proved by the circumstance of the time, the crowded assembly, and the freedom he used in exclaiming, while he knew that hands were stretched out on all sides to seize him; for it is probable that the officers were... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 7:37-44

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:37-44

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 7:37-44

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 7:39

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:37

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:38

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:39

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 7:37

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