John 2:6

John 2:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
• New International Version (NIV)Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.

Context of John 2:6

4Jesus replied, ‘Woman, why do you tell me this? It is not my time yet.’ 5His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you to do.’ There were six big pots there. People had used stone to make them. Each pot could contain about 100 litres of water. The water was there so that the Jews could wash themselves in the way that their special rules taught. 7Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the pots with water.’ So they filled the pots to the top. 8Then he said, ‘Now take some of the water from the pots and give it to the master of the party.’ So they did that.

John 2:6 word by word

ἦσαν δὲ ἐκεῖ λίθιναι ὑδρίαι ἓξ κατὰ τὸν καθαρισμὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων κείμεναι, χωροῦσαι ἀνὰ μετρητὰς δύο ἢ τρεῖς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• there wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• setκεῖμαιkeimai · to lay/be appointedG2749
• thereἐκεῖekei · thereG1563
• sixἕξhex · sixG1803
• waterpotsὑδρίαhudria · jarG5201
• of stoneλίθινοςlithinos · stoneG3035
• after the manner ofκατάkata · according toG2596
• the purifyingκαθαρισμόςkatharismos · cleansingG2512
• of the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• containingχωρέωchōreō · to make room forG5562
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• orἤē · orG2228
• threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
• firkinsμετρητήςmetrētēs · measureG3355
• apieceἀνάana · eachG303

Cross-references for John 2:6

• John 3:25John's disciples began to argue with a certain Jew about some Jewish rules. Those rules told people how they should wash properly.
• Mark 7:2They had been watching Jesus' disciples. Some of the disciples did not wash their hands before they ate a meal. That is to say, they did not wash them in the right way.
• Ephesians 5:26He did that to make us completely clean, as the people of God. It was like he washed us with water, as he brought God's message to us.
• Hebrews 6:2We have already learned about how to become clean. We know that leaders put their hands on other Christians to pray for God's help. We know that God will raise dead people to live again. And we know that God will judge every person one day at the end of time.
• Hebrews 9:10The old rules taught people about different kinds of food and drink. They taught about how people should wash in special ways. Those rules were about people's bodies. They had authority only until the time when God would make things new and better.
• Hebrews 10:22So we should come near to God and we should not be afraid. But we must be honest and we must continue to trust him. He has made us clean from the dirt of our sins. Our thoughts no longer give us trouble about our sins. We have become clean. It is like he has washed our bodies with clean water.

Commentaries on John 2:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6After the manner of the purifying of the Jews - Or, for the purpose of the purifying of the Jews. The preposition , which I have translated, for the purpose, often denotes in the best Greek writers the final cause of a thing. See several examples produced by Raphelius, from Arrian and Herodotus. These six vessels were set in a convenient place, for the purpose of the Jews washing their hands before they sat down to meat, and probably for other purposes of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Six water-pots of stone - Made of stone; or, as we should say, stoneware. After the manner - After the usual custom. Of the purifying - Of the “washings” or ablutions of the Jews. They were for the purpose of washing the hands before and after eating Matthew 15:2, and for the formal washing of vessels, and even articles of furniture, Luke 11:39; Mark 7:3-4. Two or three firkins - It is not quite certain what is meant here by the word “firkins.” It is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6The stone water jars were cut from solid rock. They were used for Jewish purification ceremonies (religious washing rituals; see Mark 7:1–4). Jesus was about to give new meaning to these ceremonies. He would show that something greater than ritual washing was now present.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. firkins--about seven and a half gallons in Jewish, or nine in Attic measure; each of these huge water jars, therefore, holding some twenty or more gallons, for washings at such feasts (Mr 7:4).Read the comment

Topics related to John 2:6

• Cana
• Firkin
• Jesus, the Christ
• Mary
• Measure
• Miracles
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Cana
• Fill
• Firkin
• Hour
• Marriagefeasts
• Propitiation
• Scourge
• Syriac
• Testify
• Wine

Commentaries on John 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings