John 2:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

NIV: Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

NASB: Now there were six stone waterpots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each.

CSB: Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons.

NLT: Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.

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.

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.

Turning water into wine was the first of John's seven highlighted miracles—called "signs"—meant to prove Jesus' divinity. This miracle is not only a kind gift to the bride and groom. It is also a powerful metaphor for Jesus' role as Savior. The water jars were used for ritual purification, holding around twenty-five gallons, or nearly ninety-five liters, each. Six is the biblical number of man; it can also represent imperfection. Seven is the "perfect" number: the number of God. Wine is a common biblical symbol of blood.

Jesus transformed water, meant for ritual cleansing, into wine, representing blood. In a symbolic way, this mirrors how Jesus' sacrifice transformed the rituals of the law into the gospel of grace.

According to John 2:11, this was the first miracle Jesus had ever performed. Later verses will explain that only the servants, Mary, and the disciples would have known about the event. True miracles are always a message from God, and this miracle is meant to teach the new disciples about Jesus.

John 2:1–12 describes Jesus' first miracle, which is turning water into wine at a wedding. This miracle was discreet and known only to a few people. Changing water meant for purification into wine, symbolic of blood, is a reference to Jesus' role as Messiah. Instead of rituals, we are purified by the miraculous blood of Christ. John specifically uses the Greek word sēmeion, or "sign," for these miracles, since they are meant to prove that Jesus is God. This is the first of seven such signs in the gospel of John.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This symbolizes a transformation of human rituals into divine sacrifice. Few people are even aware that a miracle has occurred. Jesus then drives crooked businessmen out of the temple, scolding them for turning a sacred area into a crass marketplace.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus' "signs," or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will become more spectacular over time, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is starkly different from the loud public spectacle of clearing the temple. Jesus' first miracle symbolizes His mission. During the temple clearing, He also predicts His death and resurrection. This sets the stage for Jesus' private discussion with Nicodemus, a respected and influential man.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 7/27/2024 2:11:49 AM