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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible (1995)

John 7:38

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Belly;   Faith;   Holy Spirit;   Influence;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Peace;   Power;   Quotations and Allusions;   Salvation;   Symbols and Similitudes;   Water;   Scofield Reference Index - Faith;   Thompson Chain Reference - Channels of Truth;   Faith;   Faith-Unbelief;   Life, Water of;   Living Water;   Promises, Divine;   Truth;   Water;   Water of Life;   Wells;   The Topic Concordance - Belief;   Coming;   Holy Spirit;   Jesus Christ;   Living Waters;   Thirst;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Emblems of the Holy Spirit, the;   Feast of Tabernacles, the;   Fountains and Springs;   Gift of the Holy Spirit, the;   Rivers;   Water;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Tabernacle;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Feasts;   John, gospel of;   Water;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Drink;   Faith;   Heaven, Heavens, Heavenlies;   Jesus Christ;   Water;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Faith;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Achsah;   Canon of the Old Testament;   Garden;   Meribah;   Passover;   Siloam, the Pool of;   Wilderness of the Wanderings;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baptism of the Holy Spirit;   Festivals;   Hour;   Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament;   Regeneration;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Faith;   Scribes;   Spiritual Gifts;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Consciousness;   Death of Christ;   Doctrines;   Error;   Faith ;   Happiness;   Immanence ;   Incarnation (2);   John, Gospel of (Ii. Contents);   Living (2);   Metaphors;   Old Testament (Ii. Christ as Student and Interpreter of).;   Paraclete ;   Pentecost ;   Personality;   Quotations (2);   Regeneration;   River ;   Sacrifice (2);   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Scripture (2);   Searching;   Self-Control;   Son of God;   Tabernacles, Feast of;   Thirst;   Wilderness (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Pentecost;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Christ;   Fountain;   River;   Water;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Tabernacles feast of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Tabernacles, the Feast of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Belly;   Breath;   River;   Water;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Baptism of the Holy Spirit;   Belly;   Bible, the;   Inspiration;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Johannine Theology, the;   Lively;   Nicodemus;   Quotations, New Testament;   River;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for August 1;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for September 2;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The one who believes in me,
King James Version (1611)
He that beleeueth on me, as the Scripture hath saide, out of his belly shall flow riuers of liuing water.
King James Version
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
English Standard Version
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
New American Standard Bible
"The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
New Century Version
If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person's heart, as the Scripture says."
Amplified Bible
"He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, 'From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.'"
Legacy Standard Bible
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
Berean Standard Bible
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'"
Contemporary English Version
Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say."
Complete Jewish Bible
Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!"
Darby Translation
He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Easy-to-Read Version
If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from their heart. That is what the Scriptures say."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Hee that beleeueth in mee, as saith the Scripture, out of his bellie shall flowe riuers of water of life.
George Lamsa Translation
Whoever believes in me, just as the scriptures have said, the rivers of living water shall flow from within him.
Good News Translation
whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side.'"
Lexham English Bible
the one who believes in me. Just as the scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'"
Literal Translation
The one believing into Me, as the Scripture said, Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water. No OT passage
American Standard Version
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.
Bible in Basic English
He who has faith in me, out of his body, as the Writings have said, will come rivers of living water.
Hebrew Names Version
He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."
International Standard Version
The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have rivers of living water flowing from his heart."Deuteronomy 18:15; Proverbs 18:4; Isaiah 12:3; 44:3; John 4:14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
for whosoever believeth in me, as have said the scriptures, rivers of living waters shall flow from his belly.
Murdock Translation
Whoever believeth in me, as the scriptures have said, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that beleueth on me, as saith the scripture, out of his belly shall flowe ryuers of water of lyfe.
English Revised Version
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
World English Bible
He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He that believeth on me, out of his belly (as the scripture hath said) shall flow rivers of living water.
Weymouth's New Testament
He who believes in me, from within him--as the Scripture has said--rivers of living water shall flow."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that bileueth in me, as the scripture seith, Floodis of quyk watir schulen flowe fro his wombe.
Update Bible Version
He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, from inside him shall flow rivers of living water.
Webster's Bible Translation
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
New English Translation
let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘ From within him will flow rivers of living water .'"
New King James Version
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
New Living Translation
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
New Life Bible
The Holy Writings say that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of the one who puts his trust in Me."
New Revised Standard
and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He that believeth on me - just as said the Scripture, - River, from within him, shall flow, of living water.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith: Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Revised Standard Version
He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He that beleveth on me as sayeth the scripture out of his belly shall flowe ryvers of water of lyfe.
Young's Literal Translation
he who is believing in me, according as the Writing said, Rivers out of his belly shall flow of living water;'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that beleueth on me, as the scripture sayeth, out of his body shal flowe ryuers of the water of life.
Mace New Testament (1729)
he that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said , out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Just like the Good Book says, 'A fountain of youth will flow from within the cowboy who believes in me.'"

Contextual Overview

37 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. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40 Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet." 41 Others were saying, "This is the Christ." Still others were saying, "Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? 42 "Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 43 So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. 44 Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

He that: Deuteronomy 18:15

out: John 4:14, Job 32:18, Job 32:19, Proverbs 10:11, Proverbs 18:4, Isaiah 12:3, Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 58:11, Isaiah 59:21, Ezekiel 47:1-12, Zechariah 14:8, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 5:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:19 - springing water Exodus 17:6 - that the people Numbers 19:17 - running water shall be put thereto Numbers 29:35 - eighth day Psalms 78:15 - General Proverbs 22:18 - within thee Song of Solomon 4:15 - a well Isaiah 30:25 - upon every high Isaiah 35:7 - the parched Isaiah 55:1 - every Jeremiah 17:13 - forsaken Ezekiel 3:3 - and fill Mark 16:16 - that believeth and Luke 3:16 - he shall Luke 6:21 - for ye shall be Luke 6:45 - good man John 5:26 - so hath John 5:40 - that John 6:35 - never hunger John 6:51 - living Acts 2:33 - having Acts 16:31 - Believe Acts 26:18 - faith Romans 4:11 - father Romans 8:2 - Spirit Romans 8:11 - dwelleth 2 Corinthians 13:14 - the communion Galatians 3:8 - the scripture 1 Peter 2:6 - it 1 John 5:6 - by water and Revelation 7:17 - shall lead Revelation 21:6 - I will Revelation 22:1 - A pure

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He that believeth on me,.... Which explains what is meant by coming to Christ, and drinking; for these acts are no other than for a man to go out of himself to Christ, and live by faith on him, and his grace. To which what follows is a great encouragement;

as the Scripture hath said: some refer these words to the preceding clause concerning believing in Christ, which the writings of the Old Testament speak of, as in Deuteronomy 18:15, and the sense is, that he that believes on Christ, the object of faith the Scripture points at, and in him, as that directs and requires; that believes in him as the mighty God, and as the prophet, priest, and King, and as the only foundation of the church, and lives by faith upon him, as just men do, then

out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, though rather they belong to what follows; and do not design any particular place of Scripture; for no such one is to be found, where the following passage is expressed in so many words; but all those Scriptures which speak of grace, under the metaphors of water, and abundance of water, as rivers and floods of water, and of the effusion of the Holy Spirit, under such figurative expressions, such as

Isaiah 41:17. Hence the Syriac version reads in the plural number, "as the Scriptures hath said"; referring to more than one: "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water"; the grace of the Spirit of God is signified by water, because it is of a cleansing and purifying nature, as faith and hope are, having to do with the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin; and because it fructifies and causes the saints, as trees of righteousness, to grow, and bring forth fruit; and especially because it is cooling to those who are scorched with the heat of a fiery law, and very refreshing to thirsty souls: and it is called "living" water, because by it dead sinners are quickened, drooping saints are revived, and comforted; spiritual life in them is maintained and supported, and it springs up to, and issues in eternal life: and it is expressed by "rivers" of living water, because of the abundance of it in regeneration, justification, and pardon; it is grace for grace, abundance of grace believers receive from Christ; and from him, in whom those large measures of grace are, they "flow out" again, even "out of his belly": from within him, out of his heart, the seat of it, by his lips, both in prayer to God, and in conversation with the saints, to whom he communicates his rich experiences of grace, to their comfort, and the glory of God: for grace is of a diffusive and communicative nature; out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh: and also it flows out by his life and conversation, which is sober, righteous, and godly; and this the grace of God teaches and influences: and this grace, as it is permanent and lasting itself, even perpetual, and always abiding; so it continues to flow, and to show itself in its acts and effects, in one way or another. The Jews ought not to find fault with Christ's using such expressions, mystically understood, since they, comparing Moses and the Messiah together, say,

"as the first Redeemer caused a well to spring up, so the last Redeemer shall cause waters to spring up, according to Joel 3:18 e.''

e Midrash Kohelet, fol. 63. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He that believeth on me - He that acknowledges me as the Messiah, and trusts in me for salvation.

As the scripture hath said - This is a difficult expression, from the fact that no such expression as follows is to be found literally in the Old Testament. Some have proposed to connect it with what precedes - “He that believeth on me, as the Old Testament has commanded or required” - but to this there are many objections. The natural and obvious meaning here is, doubtless, the true one; and Jesus probably intended to say, not that there was any particular place in the Old Testament that affirmed this in so many words, but that this was the substance of what the Scriptures taught, or this was the spirit of their declarations. Hence, the Syriac translates it in the plural - the Scriptures. Probably there is a reference more particularly to Isaiah 58:11, than to any other single passage: “Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.” See also Isaiah 44:3-4; Joel 3:18.

Out of his belly - Out of his midst, or out of his heart. The word “belly” is often put for the midst of a thing, the center, and the heart, Matthew 12:40. It means here that from the man shall flow; that is, his piety shall be of such a nature that it will extend its blessings to others. It shall be like a running fountain - perhaps in allusion to statues or ornamented reservoirs in gardens. in which pipes were placed from which water was continually flowing. The Jews used the same figure: “His two reins are like fountains of water, from which the law flows.” And again: “When a man turns himself to the Lord, he shall be as a fountain filled with living water, and his streams shall flow to all the nations and tribes of men” (Kuinoel).

Rivers - This word is used to express abundance, or a full supply. It means here that those who are Christians shall diffuse large, and liberal, and constant blessings on their fellow-men; or, as Jesus immediately explains it, that they shall be the instruments by which the Holy Spirit shall be poured down on the world.

Living water - Fountains, ever-flowing streams. That is, the gospel shall be constant and life-giving in its blessings. We learn here:

1.That it is the nature of Christian piety to be diffusive.

2.That no man can believe on Jesus who does not desire that others should also, and who will not seek it.

3.That the desire is large and liberal - that the Christian desires the salvation of all the world.

4.That the faith of the believer is to be connected with the influence of the Holy Spirit, and in that way Christians are to be like rivers of living water.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 38. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said — He who receives me as the Messiah, according to what the Scripture has said concerning me; my person, birth, conduct, preaching, and miracles, being compared with what is written there as ascertaining the true Messiah. Out of his belly-from his heart and soul; for in his soul shall this Spirit dwell.

Living water. — As a true spring is ever supplied with water from the great deep, with which it has communication, so shall the soul of the genuine believer be supplied with light, life, love, and liberty, and all the other graces of the indwelling Spirit, from the indwelling Christ. The Jews frequently compare the gifts and influences of the Holy Spirit to water in general-to rain, fountains, wells, rivers, c., c. The Scriptures abound in this metaphor. Psalms 36:8, Psalms 36:9; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 44:4; Joel 2:23.


 
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