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

4“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

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 3:25A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.
• Mark 7:2They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.
• Ephesians 5:26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
• Hebrews 6:2You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
• Hebrews 9:10For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.
• Hebrews 10:22let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure 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