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John 7:37

ESV On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
NIV On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
NASB Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
CSB On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
NLT On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, 'Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!
KJV In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
NKJV On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

What does John 7:37 mean?

Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths, also known as the Festival of Tabernacles. During this week-long celebration, Israel remembered the intervention of God during their wandering in the wilderness. This is described in the book of Exodus. As part of this holiday, priests would carry water from the Pool of Siloam to the altar, remembering God's provision of water for Israel (Exodus 17:1–7). The last day of the feast is the "great day," when the priests would recite Psalm 118:25 while making seven circuits around the altar. This backdrop is crucial for understanding why Jesus spoke these words at this time.

Jesus' words connect to His claim of being the ultimate cure for spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst (John 6:35). The incident of water from the rock, like the priests' ritual, is only meant to be a symbol. Those events are intended as foreshadowing of Jesus' eventual ministry. This comment from Christ is also echoed in His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar (John 4:10–14).
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