John 7:37

¶ 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.

{G1161} In {G1722} the last {G2078} day {G2250}, that great {G3173} day of the feast {G1859}, Jesus {G2424} stood {G2476} and {G2532} cried {G2896}, saying {G3004}, If {G1437} any man {G5100} thirst {G1372}, let him come {G2064} unto {G4314} me {G3165}, and {G2532} drink {G4095}.

Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking!

On 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.

Now on the last day, the greatdayof the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.

John 7:37 presents one of Jesus' most profound and open invitations, delivered during a significant Jewish festival. This verse highlights Jesus as the ultimate source of spiritual satisfaction for all who seek it.

Historical and Cultural Context

This powerful declaration takes place on the "last day, that great day" of the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as Sukkot). This was one of the three major annual pilgrimage festivals for the Jewish people, commemorating God's provision and protection during Israel's forty years in the wilderness and celebrating the harvest. A central ritual of the feast involved daily water libations, where priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out at the temple altar. This ceremony symbolized God's miraculous provision of water to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 17:6) and anticipated the future outpouring of the Holy Spirit (as prophesied in Isaiah 12:3). On this final, most significant day, Jesus stands up and makes a startling claim, directly connecting Himself to the very spiritual realities the water ceremony represented.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Universal Invitation: Jesus' words, "If any man thirst," extend an open invitation to everyone, regardless of their background or past. It speaks to a deep, inherent human need that only God can satisfy.
  • Spiritual Thirst: The "thirst" Jesus refers to is not merely physical but a profound spiritual longing for meaning, purpose, forgiveness, and eternal life. It represents humanity's innate emptiness apart from God.
  • Jesus as the Source of Living Water: By inviting people to "come unto me, and drink," Jesus boldly declares Himself to be the ultimate source of "living water". This living water symbolizes the Holy Spirit, salvation, and the abundant, satisfying life that comes from a relationship with Him. He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and the temple rituals.
  • The Act of Faith: "Come unto me, and drink" implies an active response of faith and reliance on Jesus. It's an invitation to receive His gift of grace and spiritual nourishment.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "cried" (Greek: ekraxen - ἔκραξεν) signifies a loud, public, and emphatic declaration. Jesus was not whispering; He was making a powerful, attention-grabbing statement in the midst of a crowd and a significant religious ceremony. This emphasizes the urgency and importance of His message. The term "thirst" (Greek: dipsa - διψᾷ) conveys a deep, desperate need, highlighting the intensity of the spiritual longing Jesus addresses.

Related Scriptures

This invitation echoes prophetic calls for spiritual satisfaction, such as in Isaiah 55:1: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." Jesus Himself previously spoke of giving water that would become a spring of eternal life in John 4:14. The promise of spiritual satisfaction is further emphasized in John 6:35, where Jesus states, "he that believeth on me shall never thirst." The call to drink the water of life freely is reiterated at the very end of the Bible in Revelation 22:17.

Practical Application

John 7:37 remains a timeless and open invitation. It encourages individuals to recognize their spiritual hunger and thirst, not to seek fulfillment in temporary worldly pleasures, but to turn to Jesus Christ. For those feeling empty, lost, or searching for purpose, Jesus offers true and lasting satisfaction. To "come and drink" means to place one's faith in Him, receive His forgiveness, and allow His Spirit to fill and guide one's life, leading to eternal life and an abundance of spiritual blessings.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 55:1

    ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

  • John 4:14

    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.

  • John 6:35

    And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

  • Isaiah 12:3

    Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

  • Revelation 22:17

    And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

  • Isaiah 44:3

    For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

  • John 4:10

    Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back