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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 7:38 Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/7-38.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/43_Jhn_07_38.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 7:38 - Living Water" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/7-38.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/7-38.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/7.htm">Chapter 7</a> > Verse 38</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/7-37.htm" title="John 7:37">◄</a> John 7:38 <a href="/john/7-39.htm" title="John 7:39">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/7.htm">New International Version</a> Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/7.htm">New Living Translation</a> Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” <a href="/esv/john/7.htm">English Standard Version</a> Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” <a href="/bsb/john/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” <a href="/blb/john/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The one believing in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'" <a href="/kjv/john/7.htm">King James Bible</a> He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. <a href="/nkjv/john/7.htm">New King James Version</a> He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” <a href="/nasb_/john/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” <a href="/nasb/john/7.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, &#8216From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” <a href="/lsb/john/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” <a href="/amp/john/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a> He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” <a href="/csb/john/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” <a href="/hcsb/john/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/7.htm">American Standard Version</a> He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. <a href="/cev/john/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say." <a href="/erv/john/7.htm">English Revised Version</a> He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. <a href="/gwt/john/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'" <a href="/gnt/john/7.htm">Good News Translation</a> whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, 'Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side.'" <a href="/isv/john/7.htm">International Standard Version</a> The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have rivers of living water flowing from his heart." <a href="/msb/john/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” <a href="/net/john/7.htm">NET Bible</a> let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, 'From within him will flow rivers of living water.'" <a href="/nheb/john/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." <a href="/wbt/john/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. <a href="/wey/john/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> He who believes in me, from within him--as the Scripture has said--rivers of living water shall flow." <a href="/web/john/7.htm">World English Bible</a> He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> he who is believing in Me, according as the Writing said, Rivers of living water will flow out of his belly”; <a href="/blb/john/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The one believing in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'" <a href="/ylt/john/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> he who is believing in me, according as the Writing said, Rivers out of his belly shall flow of living water;' <a href="/slt/john/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> He believing in me, as said the writing, from his belly shall flow rivers of living waters.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. <a href="/cpdv/john/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> whoever believes in me, just as Scripture says, ‘From his chest shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” <a href="/nabre/john/7.htm">New American Bible</a> Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’ ” <a href="/nrsvce/john/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Whoever believes in me, just as the scriptures have said, the rivers of living water shall flow from within him. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “Everyone who trusts in me, just as the scriptures have said, rivers of living water shall flow from within him.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, from his inner self shall flow rivers of living water. <a href="/godbey/john/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>The one believing on me, as the Scripture said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from his belly shall rivers flow of living water. <a href="/mace/john/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a> he that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. <a href="/wey/john/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> He who believes in me, from within him--as the Scripture has said--rivers of living water shall flow." <a href="/worrell/john/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>He that believes on Me, as the Scripture said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water."<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, rivers of living water shall flow from within him.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/7-38.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=2582" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/7.htm">Living Water</a> 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. 38<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">Whoever</a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: pisteuōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">believes</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">in</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: eme (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me,</a> <a href="/greek/2531.htm" title="2531: kathōs (Adv) -- According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.">as</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1124.htm" title="1124: graphē (N-NFS) -- (a) a writing, (b) a passage of scripture; plur: the scriptures. A document, i.e. Holy Writ.">Scripture</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">has said:</a> <a href="/greek/4215.htm" title="4215: Potamoi (N-NMP) -- A river, torrent, stream. Probably from a derivative of the alternate of pino; a current, brook or freshet, i.e. Running water.">‘Streams</a> <a href="/greek/2198.htm" title="2198: zōntos (V-PPA-GNS) -- To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.">of living</a> <a href="/greek/5204.htm" title="5204: hydatos (N-GNS) -- Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively.">water</a> <a href="/greek/4482.htm" title="4482: rheusousin (V-FIA-3P) -- To flow, overflow with. A primary verb; for some tenses of which a prolonged form rheuo is used to flow.">will flow</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">from</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2836.htm" title="2836: koilias (N-GFS) -- From koilos; a cavity, i.e. the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart.">within</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">him.’” </a> 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/4-14.htm">John 4:14</a> But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” <a href="/isaiah/44-3.htm">Isaiah 44:3</a> For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. <a href="/ezekiel/47-1.htm">Ezekiel 47:1-12</a> Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. / Next he brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and there I saw the water trickling out from the south side. / As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water. ... <a href="/revelation/22-1.htm">Revelation 22:1-2</a> Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb / down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. <a href="/john/3-5.htm">John 3:5</a> Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. <a href="/isaiah/55-1.htm">Isaiah 55:1</a> “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! <a href="/zechariah/14-8.htm">Zechariah 14:8</a> And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the Eastern Sea and the other half toward the Western Sea, in summer and winter alike. <a href="/revelation/7-17.htm">Revelation 7:17</a> For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” <a href="/john/6-35.htm">John 6:35</a> Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. <a href="/joel/2-28.htm">Joel 2:28-29</a> And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. <a href="/1_corinthians/12-13.htm">1 Corinthians 12:13</a> For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. <a href="/john/14-16.htm">John 14:16-17</a> And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— / the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. <a href="/jeremiah/2-13.htm">Jeremiah 2:13</a> “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water. <a href="/psalms/36-8.htm">Psalm 36:8-9</a> They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights. / For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. <a href="/john/16-7.htm">John 16:7-14</a> But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. / And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: / in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me; ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.He that.<a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15</a> The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;out.<a href="/john/4-14.htm">John 4:14</a> But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.<a href="/job/32-18.htm">Job 32:18,19</a> For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me… <a href="/proverbs/10-11.htm">Proverbs 10:11</a> The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/6-47.htm">Believes</a> <a href="/john/6-47.htm">Believeth</a> <a href="/john/7-5.htm">Believing</a> <a href="/luke/15-16.htm">Belly</a> <a href="/john/7-23.htm">Body</a> <a href="/john/7-31.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/luke/8-44.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/john/3-29.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/jonah/1-5.htm">Innermost</a> <a href="/job/41-19.htm">Out</a> <a href="/zephaniah/3-10.htm">Rivers</a> <a href="/john/2-22.htm">Scripture</a> <a href="/matthew/7-27.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/john/6-19.htm">Water</a> <a href="/john/5-42.htm">Within</a> <a href="/john/2-22.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/john/6-45.htm">Writings</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/11-25.htm">Believes</a> <a href="/john/11-25.htm">Believeth</a> <a href="/john/7-39.htm">Believing</a> <a href="/romans/16-18.htm">Belly</a> <a href="/john/11-39.htm">Body</a> <a href="/john/7-39.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/john/19-34.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/john/11-5.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-3.htm">Innermost</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-13.htm">Out</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/11-26.htm">Rivers</a> <a href="/john/7-42.htm">Scripture</a> <a href="/genesis/2-6.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/john/9-6.htm">Water</a> <a href="/john/8-37.htm">Within</a> <a href="/john/7-42.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/john/10-35.htm">Writings</a><div class="vheading2">John 7</div>1. <a href="/john/7-1.htm">Jesus reproves the ambition and boldness of his kinsmen;</a> 10. <a href="/john/7-10.htm">goes up from Galilee to the feast of tabernacles;</a> 14. <a href="/john/7-14.htm">teaches in the temple.</a> 40. <a href="/john/7-40.htm">Various opinions of him among the people.</a> 45. <a href="/john/7-45.htm">The Pharisees are angry that their officers took him not, </a> 50. <a href="/john/7-50.htm">and chide with Nicodemus for taking his side.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/john/7.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>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 <a href="/isaiah/44-3.htm">Isaiah 44:3</a> and <a href="/ezekiel/47.htm">Ezekiel 47:1-12</a>, 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 <a href="/john/4.htm">John 4</a>, 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.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(38) There can be little doubt that our English version rightly gives the meaning of the original here; though representatives of both the earliest and the latest schools of interpretation have tried so to read the verse as to avoid its difficulties. Some would attach the first clause to the preceding verse, reading, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me; and let him that believeth on Me drink." Others would have us think that the words, "as the Scripture hath said," belong to the clause before them, and not to that which follows, making the sense, "He that believeth on Me according to the Scriptures, out of his belly (I say) shall flow rivers of living water." The reader of the English will, it is believed, feel, and the reader of the Greek will feel still more strongly, that these are attempts to avoid what it is hard to explain, and that while they miss the difficulty they also miss the meaning.He that believeth on me . . .--We have here an advance on the thought, "If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink." That represented the satisfaction of the individual mind. This teaches the fuller truth that every one in living communion with Christ becomes himself the centre of spiritual influence. There is in him a power of life which, when quickened by faith, flows forth as a river, carrying life and refreshment to others. No spirit grasps a great truth which satisfies its own yearnings as the waters of the fountain slake physical thirst, without longing to send it forth to others who are seeking what he himself had sought. There is in him a river whose waters no barrier can confine. This is the spirit of the prophet and the evangelist, of the martyr and the missionary. It is the spirit of every great teacher. It is the link which binds men together and makes the life of every Christian approach the life of Christ, for he lives not for himself but for the world.The exact words "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water," are not found in any part of the Canonical Scriptures of the Old Testament, and yet Christ Himself utters them with the formula of quotation. This will be a difficulty only to those who value letter and syllable above spirit and substance. It may be that the words which our Lord actually uttered in the current language of Jerusalem were nearer to the very words of some passage in the Old Testament than they seem to be in the Greek form in which St. John has preserved them to us. But it is instructive that the thought is that which our Lord Himself, or St. John as representing Him, considers as the essence of the quotation. The thought meets us again and again in the Old Testament. See the following passages: <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm" title="Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.">Exodus 17:6</a>; <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm" title="And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.">Numbers 20:11</a>; <a href="/psalms/114-8.htm" title="Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.">Psalm 114:8</a>; <a href="/isaiah/44-3.htm" title="For I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground: I will pour my spirit on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring:">Isaiah 44:3</a>; <a href="/isaiah/55-1.htm" title="Ho, every one that thirsts, come you to the waters, and he that has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.">Isaiah 55:1</a>; <a href="/isaiah/58-11.htm" title="And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.">Isaiah 58:11</a>; <a href="/joel/2-23.htm" title="Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he has given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.">Joel 2:23</a>; <a href="/joel/3-18.htm" title="And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.">Joel 3:18</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/47-1.htm" title="Afterward he brought me again to the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.">Ezekiel 47:1</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/47-12.htm" title="And by the river on the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.">Ezekiel 47:12</a>; <a href="/zechariah/13-1.htm" title="In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.">Zechariah 13:1</a>; <a href="/zechariah/14-8.htm" title="And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.">Zechariah 14:8</a>. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 38. - He that believeth on me. The ὁ πιστεύων in the nominative absolute, followed by another construction, gives great force to the mighty words. This is not the first time that Christ has represented believing under the form of both "coming" and "drinking." The one term seems to cover that part of faith in Christ which unites the soul to him, which sides with him, which utterly abandons self to take his word as true and his power as sufficient; the other term, when applied to participation in his blood, implies receiving into the soul the full solace of his imparted life. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall rush torrents of living water. From his newly given, divinely imparted life shall proceed, as from the innermost depths of his consciousness, illimitable supplies of refreshment and fertility for others as well. Each soul will be a rock smitten in the thirsty land, from which crystal rivers of life-giving grace shall flow. Godet urges, against Meyer, the great sufficiency of this particular illustration of the rock in the wilderness as justifying the reference to the phrase, "as the Scripture hath said," and points especially to <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6</a>, "Behold, I will stand before thee there... in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and out of it (מִמֶּנּוּ) water shall come, that the people may drink" (cf. <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Numbers 20:11</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/8-15.htm">Deuteronomy 8:15</a>; <a href="/psalms/114-8.htm">Psalm 114:8</a>; passages read during the feast). He thinks the κοιλίας αὐτοὺ corresponds with "from out of it" of Exodus. Hengstenberg laid long and fantastic emphasis on the Canticles,where the κοιλία of the bride of Jehovah is described. It is certain that the numerous passages in the Old Testament, in which the gift of refreshing water is made the symbol of national mercies and spiritual blessings, do, for the most part, fall short of this remarkable expression. Still, <a href="/isaiah/44-3.htm">Isaiah 44:3</a>; <a href="/isaiah/55-1.htm">Isaiah 55:1</a>; <a href="/isaiah/58-11.htm">Isaiah 58:11</a>; <a href="/joel/3-18.htm">Joel 3:18</a>; <a href="/zechariah/14-8.htm">Zechariah 14:8</a>, all more or less approach the thought; but <a href="/ezekiel/47-1.htm">Ezekiel 47:1-12</a>, where from the altar the living, health giving, mighty river flows for the healing of the nations, is so akin to the saying of the Lord, as soon as we recognize the fact that he is greater than the temple, and that his Church is God's temple, and each body of man a temple of the Holy Ghost, that all real difficulty vanishes. The whole history of the Church is one continuous comment and illustration of the exhaustless fulness of his Word. Just as a soul of man comes and drinks of the water of life, he becomes himself a perennial source of life to others. He supplies not cisterns of stagnant water, but rivers of living water (<a href="/romans/8-9.htm">Romans 8:9-11</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/3-16.htm">1 Corinthians 3:16</a>). Chrysostom adds, "One may perceive what is meant, if he will consider the wisdom of Stephen, the tongue of Peter, the vehemence of Paul; how nothing withstood them - not the anger of multitudes, nor the uprising of tyrants, nor plots of devils, nor daily deaths - but, as rivers borne along with loud rushing sound, they went on their way." <a href="/commentaries/john/7-38.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Whoever ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. believes πιστεύων (pisteuōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust. in εἰς (eis) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. Me, ἐμέ (eme) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. as καθὼς (kathōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_2531.htm">Strong's 2531: </a> According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that. the ἡ (hē) Article - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Scripture γραφή (graphē) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1124.htm">Strong's 1124: </a> (a) a writing, (b) a passage of scripture; plur: the scriptures. A document, i.e. Holy Writ. has said: εἶπεν (eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. ‘Streams Ποταμοὶ (Potamoi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4215.htm">Strong's 4215: </a> A river, torrent, stream. Probably from a derivative of the alternate of pino; a current, brook or freshet, i.e. Running water. of living ζῶντος (zōntos) Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2198.htm">Strong's 2198: </a> To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live. water ὕδατος (hydatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5204.htm">Strong's 5204: </a> Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively. will flow ῥεύσουσιν (rheusousin) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4482.htm">Strong's 4482: </a> To flow, overflow with. A primary verb; for some tenses of which a prolonged form rheuo is used to flow. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. [within] κοιλίας (koilias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2836.htm">Strong's 2836: </a> From koilos; a cavity, i.e. the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart. him.’” αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/7-38.htm">NT Gospels: John 7:38 He who believes in me as (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/7-37.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 7:37"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 7:37" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/7-39.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 7:39"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 7:39" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>