John 2:6

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
And	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
were	ἦν ēn	G2258	I (thou
set	κείμεναι, keimenai	G2749	to lie outstretched (literally or figuratively) · verb — present middle or passive deponent participle, nominative plural feminine
there	ἐκεῖ ekei	G1563	there · adverb
six	ἓξ hex	G1803	six · adjective — numeral, indeclinable
waterpots	ὑδρίαι hudriai	G5201	a water-jar · noun — nominative plural feminine
stone	λίθιναι lithinai	G3035	stony · adjective — nominative plural feminine
of	κατὰ kata	G2596	(prepositionally) down (in place or time) · preposition
purifying	καθαρισμὸν katharismon	G2512	a washing off · noun — accusative singular masculine
Jews	Ἰουδαίων Ioudaiōn	G2453	Judæan · noun — genitive plural masculine, a people name
containing	χωροῦσαι chōrousai	G5562	to be in (give) space · verb — present active participle, nominative plural feminine
two	δύο duo	G1417	"two" · adjective — numeral, indeclinable
or	ἢ ē	G2228	disjunctive · conjunction
three	τρεῖς. treis	G5140	"three" · adjective — accusative plural masculine
firkins	μετρητὰς metrētas	G3355	a measurer · noun — accusative plural masculine
apiece	ἀνὰ ana	G303	properly · preposition

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

John 3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Mark 7:2-5 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
Hebrews 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and sc…
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed wi…
Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on John 2:1-11

We have here the story of Christ's miraculous conversion of water into wine at a marriage in Cana of Galilee. There were some few so well disposed as to believe in Christ, and to follow him, when he did no miracle; yet it was not likely that many should be wrought upon till he had something wherewith to answer those that asked, What sign showest thou? He could have wrought miracles before, could have made them the common actions of his life and the common entertainments of his friends; but, miracles being designed for the sacred and solemn seals of his doctrine, he began not to work any till he began to preach his doctrine. Now observe, I. The occasion of this miracle. Maimonides observes it…

Read the whole note in the console

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 2:6

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 (Mar 7:4).

Adam Clarke on John 2:6

After the manner of the purifying of the Jews - Or, for the purpose of the purifying of the Jews. The preposition κατα, 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 purification. See this custom referred to in Mat 15:2 (note). As to the number six, we need seek for no mystery in it; the number of pots was proportioned to the number of the guests. Containing two or three firkins apiece - Measures or…

Read the whole note in the console

John Gill on John 2:6

And there were set six water pots of stone,.... To distinguish them from other vessels made of different matter: for the Jews had "vessels made of dust, and the dung of beasts, , "vessels of stone", vessels of earth, vessels made of shells, vessels of nitre, vessels made of the bones and skins of fishes (t).'' And as these vessels were very likely for washing of hands, such were used for that purpose: their rule is (u), "they may put water for the hands in all sorts of vessels; in vessels of dung, in stone vessels, and in vessels of earth.'' At a wedding were set vessels of various sizes to wash hands and feet in; there was one vessel called which the gloss says was a large pitcher, or…

The Church Fathers

Vessels to hold water were there, after the manner of the purifying of Jews. Among other traditions of the Pharisees, they observed frequent washings.
— Alcuin of York ((as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)), Catena Aurea by Aquinas

It is not without a reason that the Evangelist says, "After the manner of the purifying of the Jews," but in order that none of the unbelievers might suspect that lees having been left in the vessels, and water having been poured upon and mixed with them, a very weak wine had been made. Therefore he says, "after the manner of the purifying of the Jews," to show that those vessels were never receptacles for wine. For because Palestine is a country with but little water, and brooks and fountains were not everywhere to be found, they always used to fill waterpots with water, so that they might not have to hasten to the rivers if at any time they were filed, but might have the means of purification at hand.
— John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of John 22

(Tr. ix. 5. et sq.) Now if He ordered the water to be poured out, and then introduced the wine from the hidden recesses of creation, He would seem to have rejected the Old Testament. But converting, as He did, the water into wine, He showed us that the Old Testament was from Himself, for it was by His order that the waterpots were filled. But those Scriptures have no meaning, if Christ be not understood there. Now we know from what time the law dates, viz. from the foundation of the world. From that time to this are six ages; the first, reekoning from Adam to Noah; the second, from Noah to Abraham; the third, from Abraham to David; the fourth, from David to the carrying away into Babylon; the fifth, from that time to John the Baptist; the sixth, from John the Baptist to the end of the world. The six waterpots then denote these six ages of prophecy. The prophecies are fulfilled; the waterpots are full. But what is the meaning of their holding two or three firkins apiece? Had He said three only, our minds would have run immediately to the mystery of the Trinity. Nor perhaps can we reject it, even though it is said, two or three: for the Father and the Son being named, the Holy Ghost may be understood by consequence; inasmuch as it is the love between the Father and the Son, which is the Holy Ghost. (c. 17.). Nor should we pass over another interpretation, which makes the two firkins alluded to the two races of men, the Jews and the Greeks; and the three to the three sons of Noah.
— Augustine of Hippo ((as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)),

Dictionary and topics

Cana — Reedy, a town of Galilee, near Capernaum. Here our Lord wrought his first miracle, the turning of water into wine (John 2:1-11; 4:46). It is also mentioned as the birth-place of Nathanael (21:2). It…
Firkin — Used only in John 2:6; the Attic amphora, equivalent to the Hebrew bath (q.v.), a measure for liquids containing about 8 7/8 gallons.
Marriage-feasts — (John 2:1-11) “lasted usually for a whole week; but the cost of such prolonged rejoicing is very small in the East. The guests sit round the great bowl or bowls on the floor, the meal usually…
Philip — Lover of horses. (1.) One of the twelve apostles; a native of Bethsaida, “the city of Andrew and Peter” (John 1:44). He readily responded to the call of Jesus when first addressed to him (43), and…
Weights And Measures — A. WEIGHTS.—The general principle of the present inquiry is to give the evidence of the monuments the preference on all doubtful points. All ancient Greek systems of weight were derived, either…
Wine — The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out.…
Cana · Marriage at — Marriage at
Firkin · About nine gallons — About nine gallons
Life, Natural · Be thankful for: The preservation of — Be thankful for: The preservation of
Marriage · Celebrated: With feasting — Celebrated: With feasting
Mary · .Is present with Jesus at a marriage feast in — .Is present with Jesus at a marriage feast in

John 2:6

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on John 2:1-11

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 2:6

Adam Clarke on John 2:6

John Gill on John 2:6

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John 2:6

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on John 2:1-11

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 2:6

Adam Clarke on John 2:6

John Gill on John 2:6

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on John 2:1-11

Tyndale Open Study Notes on John 2:6