Bible Strands
John 2:7
Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the servants at the wedding feast, giving a direct command immediately following Mary’s intercession. They respond by obeying the instruction and filling the six stone purification jars completely.
The words — The imperative γεμίσαντε (gemisate) translates literally as "do fill," stressing the demand for total completion. The pronoun αὐτοῖς (autois) "to them" explicitly identifies the servants as the designated agents for this task.
The thread — The text records the physical filling of containers, which parallels the gathering of vessels in 2 Kings 4:2 and the preparation of provisions in 1 Kings 17:13. These passages demonstrate a consistent pattern where God's provision is mediated through ordinary objects brought to full capacity.
Why it lands — The passage first states a clear command and its immediate execution before describing any supernatural result. It requires the reader to acknowledge that obedience to specific, practical instructions is the necessary precondition for divine action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 4:2 “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
- John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
- 1 Kings 17:13 “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son,
- John 2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”
- Mark 11:2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.
- Mark 14:12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
- Joshua 6:3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.
- 2 Kings 5:10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”
- Numbers 21:6 So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
- Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”