SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:37
¶ Mas en el postrer día, el día grande de la Fiesta, se puso de pie y clam, diciendo: Si alguno tiene sed, venga a mí y beba.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 7:37
Verse 37. In the last day, that great day of the feast] This was the eighth day, and was called the great day, because of certain traditional observances, and not on account of any excellence which it derived from the original institution. On the seven days they professed to offer sacrifices for the seventy nations of the earth, but on the eighth day they offered sacrifices for Israel; therefore the eighth day was more highly esteemed than any of the others. It is probably to this that the evangelist refers when he calls the last day the great day of the feast. See the account of the feast of tabernacles, in the note on ver. 2. It was probably when they went to draw water from the pool Siloam, and while they were pouring it out at the foot of the altar, that our Lord spoke these words; for, as that ceremony pointed out the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, our Lord, who was the fountain whence it was to proceed, called the people to himself, that, by believing on him, they might be made partakers of that inestimable benefit.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 37. In the last day, that great day of the feast , etc.] That is, of tabernacles, as appears from ( John 7:2), which was usually called gj , the feast, in distinction from the passover and Pentecost f326 ; and the eighth day of it was called wrjah lgrh , the last day of the feast f327 , as here: and it was a great day, being, as is said in ( Leviticus 23:36), an holy convocation, a solemn assembly, in which no servile work was done, and in which an offering was made by fire unto the Lord. According to the traditions of the Jews, fewer sacrifices were offered on this day than on the rest; for on the first day they offered thirteen bullocks, and lessened one every day; so that on the seventh, day, there was but seven offered, and on the eighth day but one, when the priests returned to their lots, as at other feasts f328 ; but notwithstanding the Jews make out this to be the greater day for them, since the seventy bullocks offered on the other seven days, were for the seventy nations of the world; but the one bullock, on the eighth day, was peculiarly for the people of Israel f329 : and besides, they observe, that there were several things peculiar on this day, as different from the rest; as the casting of lots, the benediction by itself, a feast by itself, an offering by itself, a song by itself, and a blessing by itself f330 : and on this day they had also the ceremony of drawing and pouring water, attended with the usual rejoicings as on other days; the account of which is this f331 : the pouring out of water was after this manner; a golden pot, which held three logs, was tilled out of Siloah, and when they came to the water gate, they blew (their trumpets) and shouted, and blew; (then a priest) went up by the ascent of the altar, and turned to the left hand, (where) were two silver basins that on the west side was filled with water, and that on the east with wine; he poured the basin of water into that of wine, and that of wine into that of water. At which time there were great rejoicing, piping, and dancing, by the most religious and sober people among the Jews; insomuch that it is said f332 , that he that never saw the rejoicing of the place of drawing of water, never saw any rejoicing in his life.
And this ceremony, they say f333 , is a tradition of Moses from Mount Sinai, and refers to some secret and mysterious things; yea, they plainly say, that it has respect to the pouring forth of the Holy Ghost f334 . Says R. Joshua ben Levi, why is its name called the place of drawing water? because, from thence dwqh jwr ybaw , they draw the Holy Ghost, as it is said, and ye shall draw water with joy out of the wells of salvation, ( Isaiah 12:3).
Moreover, it was on this day they prayed for the rains for the year ensuing: it is asked f335 , from what time do they make mention of the powers of the rains (which descend by the power of God)? R. Eliezer says, from the first good day of the feast (of tabernacles); R. Joshua says, from the last good day of the feast. They do not pray for the rains, but near the rains; that is, the time of rains; and which, one of their commentators says f336 , is the eighth day of the feast of tabernacles; for from the feast of tabernacles, thenceforward is the time of rains. The Jews have a notion, that at this feast the rains of the ensuing year were fixed: hence they say f337 , that at the feast of tabernacles judgment is made concerning the waters; or a decree or determination is made concerning them by God. Upon which the Gemara has these words, wherefore does the law say pour out water on the feast of tabernacles? Says the holy blessed God, pour out water before me, that the rains of the year may be blessed unto you.
Now when all these things are considered, it will easily be seen with what pertinency our Lord expresses himself on this day, with respect to the effusion of the gifts and graces of the Spirit of God, as follows: Jesus stood and cried ; he now stood up, whereas at other times he used to sit, and spoke with a loud voice, both to show his fervour and earnestness, and that all might hear: saying, if any man thirst, let him come to me and drink . This is to be understood not of a natural thirst, though the allusion is to it, which is very painful and distressing; as the instances of the Israelites in the wilderness, Samson after he had slain the Philistines, and our Lord upon the cross, show; much less a sinful thirst, a thirst after the riches, honours, and pleasures of this life; but a spiritual thirst, or a thirst after spiritual things, after salvation by Christ, and a view of interest in it, free and full pardon of sin through him, justification by his righteousness, a greater degree of knowledge of him, more communion with him, and conformity to him, and after the sincere milk of the word, and the breasts of Gospel ordinances: and such that thirst after these things, and eagerly desire them, and are in pain and uneasiness without them, as a man is, who has a violent thirst upon him, are such as are regenerated and quickened by the Spirit of God, and are made sensible of themselves, and of their state and condition by nature. Now these Christ invites to come unto him, not to Moses and his law, moral or ceremonial, and to obedience to them, and works of righteousness done by them, to any creature, or creature acts; for these are cisterns without water, where no true peace, joy, righteousness, and salvation are to be had; but to himself, who is the fountain of gardens, the well of living waters, and who is as rivers of water in a dry land, to thirsty souls: and when come to him, which is by believing in him, they are encouraged to drink; that is, to take of the water of life freely, or to take of his grace freely; salvation by him is of free grace, and the pardon of sin is according to the riches of grace, and justification is freely by his grace, and so all other blessings; and of this they may drink abundantly, or they may partake of it largely: there is a fulness of grace in Christ, and there is an abundance of it communicated to his people; it is exceeding abundant; it flows, and overflows, and may be drank of to satisfaction, till their souls are as a watered garden, and they are satisfied with the goodness of the Lord.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 37-39 - On the last day of the feast of tabernacles, the Jews drew water an poured it out before the Lord. It is supposed that Christ alluded to this. If any man desires to be truly and for ever happy, let him appl to Christ, and be ruled by him. This thirst means strong desires afte spiritual blessings, which nothing else can satisfy; so the sanctifyin and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit, were intended by the waters which Jesus called on them to come to Him and drink. The comfor flows plentifully and constantly as a river; strong as a stream to bea down the opposition of doubts and fears. There is a fulness in Christ of grace for grace. The Spirit dwelling and working in believers, is a a fountain of living, running water, out of which plentiful stream flow, cooling and cleansing as water. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit we do not expect, but for his more common and more valuabl influences we may apply. These streams have flowed from our glorifie Redeemer, down to this age, and to the remote corners of the earth. Ma we be anxious to make them known to others.
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 PREP δε 1161 CONJ τη 3588 T-DSF εσχατη 2078 A-DSF ημερα 2250 N-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF μεγαλη 3173 A-DSF της 3588 T-GSF εορτης 1859 N-GSF ειστηκει 2476 5715 V-LAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ εκραξεν 2896 5656 V-AAI-3S λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM εαν 1437 COND τις 5100 X-NSM διψα 1372 5725 V-PAS-3S ερχεσθω 2064 5737 V-PNM-3S προς 4314 PREP με 3165 P-1AS και 2532 CONJ πινετω 4095 5720 V-PAM-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
37. The last day. The eighth, the close of the whole festival, and kept as a Sabbath (Lev. xxiii. 36). It was called the Day of the Great Hosanna, because a circuit was made seven times round the altar with "Hosanna;" also the Day of Willows, and the Day of Beating the Branches, because all the leaves were shaken off the willow-boughs, and the palm branches beaten in pieces by the side of the altar. Every morning, after the sacrifice, the people, led by a priest, repaired to the Fountain of Siloam, where the priest filled a golden pitcher, and brought it back to the temple amid music and joyful shouts. Advancing to the altar of burnt-offering, at the cry of the people, "Lift up thy hand!" he emptied the pitcher toward the west, and toward the east a cup of wine, while the people chanted, "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." It is not certain that this libation was made on the eighth day, but there can be no doubt that the following words of the Lord had reference to that ceremony.Stood (eisthkei). The imperfect, was standing; watching the ceremonies. Both A.V. and Rev. miss this graphic touch.
