Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 2:7
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
7. Fill the waterpots ] It is difficult to see the meaning of this command, if (as some contend) only the water which was drawn out was turned into wine. The pitchers had been partially emptied by the ceremonial ablutions of the company, i.e. pouring water over their hands. Note that in His miracles Christ does not create; He increases the quantity, or changes the quality of things already existing.
to the brim ] His Mother’s words ( Joh 2:5) have done their work. Our attention seems here to be called to the great quantity of water changed into wine.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
With water – This was done by the servants employed at the feast. It was done by them, so that there might be no opportunity of saying that the disciples of Jesus had filled them with wine to produce the appearance of a miracle. In this case there could be no deception. The quantity was very considerable. The servants would know whether the wine or water had been put in these vessels. It could not be believed that they had either the power or the disposition to impose on others in this manner, and the way was therefore clear for the proof that Jesus had really changed what was known to be water into wine.
To the brim – To the top. So full that no wine could be poured in to give the appearance of a mixture. Further, vessels were used for this miracle in which wine had not been kept. These pots were never used to put wine in, but simply to keep water in for the various purposes of ablution. A large number was used on this occasion, because there were many guests.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Either the water was defiled by some persons washing in it, or else the vessels were not full. Our Lord commands them to be filled (the water pots, not wine vessels)
with water, pure water; he commands them all to be filled by the servants, who could attest the miracle, that there was nothing in the vessels but pure water. Here was no new creature to be produced; he doth not therefore command the production of wine out of nothing; but only the transformation of a creature already existent into a creature of another kind. The servants dispute not his command, nor ask any reason of his command, but yield that ready and absolute obedience which we all of us owe to Divine precepts. They fill them, and so full that they could hold no more.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7, 8. Fill . . . draw . . .beardirecting all, but Himself touching nothing, to preventall appearance of collusion.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Jesus saith unto them,…. To the servants that waited at the feast,
fill the water pots with water. The Ethiopic version adds, “to their brims”, as they did. Christ chose the water pots, and not the vessel, or vessels, or bottles, now empty, out of which they had drank their wine; that it might not be said that there was any left therein, which gave colour and flavour to the water: and he ordered them to be filled with water by the servants, that they might take notice, and be witnesses, that that, and nothing else, was put into them; and up to the brims, so that they could not he capable of having any other liquor infused into them:
and they filled them up to the brim; strictly observing the orders of Christ, and the instructions of his mother.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Fill (). Effective first aorist active imperative of , to fill full.
With water (). Genitive case of material.
Up to the brim ( ). “Up to the top.” See (Mt 27:51) for “down to the bottom.” No room left in the waterpots now full of water.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Fill [] . Compare Mr 4:37, and see on Luk 14:23.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Jesus saith unto them,” (legei autois ho lesous) “Jesus instructed or directed them,” as His mother had indicated He would do Joh 2:5.
2) “Fill the waterpots with water.” (gemisate tas hudrias hudatos) “You all fill the water-pots with water.” They had therefore been emptied already, for the purifying of those of the party at the feast, friends of the bridegroom, who desired to act in harmony with the will of the Pharisee order or customs of cleansing.
3) “And they filled them up to the brim.” (kai egemisan autas heos ano) “And they filled them up td the top,” as Jesus had directed. The servants did as they were told, did their part, obediently, as they filled each of the six jars (Gk. a no) ”up” to the brim, with water, exactly as the Lord had directed, neither partially filling the jars nor running them over to do harm to the residence, a lesson in obedience for every servant of God, Jos 1:7-8; Pro 30:6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
7. Fill the water-pots with water. The servants might be apt to look upon this injunction as absurd; for they had already more than enough of water. But in this way the Lord often acts towards us, that his power may be more illustriously displayed by an unexpected result; though this circumstance is added to magnify the miracle; for when the servants drew wine out of vessels which had been filled with water, no suspicion can remain.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Fill the waterpots.It is implied that the pitchers were wholly or in part empty, the water in them having been used for the ablutions before the feast. The persons ordered are the servants (Joh. 2:5). Up to the brim marks the willing care with which the order was obeyed, and an expectation through the household of some work to be wrought.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Up to the brim That the surface of the liquid might be seen to be water.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Jesus says to them “Fill the water pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.’
On the basis of Jesus’ instruction to ‘fill the water pots with water’ the servers enthusiastically fill them to the brim. They are probably curious as to what He will do and perhaps a little jocular. There may well have been a few humorous remarks such as ‘let’s make sure there is plenty of water there, just in case we have to drink that’. Again, however, John intends us to get the idea of overabundance.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 2:7. Fill the water-pots with water: Mary was without doubt blameable for presuming to direct her Son in the duties of his ministry, her parental authority not extending to those matters; therefore he very justly gave her the gentle rebuke, Joh 2:4 in which he insinuated that his miracles were not to be performed at the desire of his relations for civil and private reasons; but in pursuance of the great ends that he had in charge,the conversion and salvation of mankind. But though Mary might have had only private reasons of conveniency for asking this miracle, yet Jesus, knowing that it would tend to the confirmation of his disciples’ faith, and to the advancement of his great cause, thought proper to comply; being not the less willing to exert his power, because his friends would reap some benefit from the matter of the miracle. Ordering the servants therefore to fill thewater-pots, which were at hand, to the brim, with water, he converted the whole mass of the liquid into excellent wine. The quantity of water turned into wine on this occasion, deserves notice. We have spoken something on the subject in the preceding note. The following is Dr. Macknight’s remark: “The six water-pots in which the wine was formed, being appointed, for such purifications or washings as required the immersion of the whole body, were of a very large capacity; so that, being filled to the brim, there was an abundance of wine produced: but the deists, a sort of people who look on all Christ’s actions with an evil eye, have not let this escape their censure, making it the subject of ridicule. This might have been spared, had they considered that the speech made by the governor of the feast to the bridegroom, Joh 2:10 does not imply that any of the company were drunk, as they would have itbelieved: it is only a comparison between the order in which he had produced his liquor, and that commonly observed by other people. [But see the note on that verse.] Besides, it ought to be considered, that Jesus did not order all the wine he furnished to be drank at this solemnity; though, according to the custom of Judea, it lasted a whole week. [See Jdg 14:12; Jdg 14:20 and the notes on Solomon’s Song.] It is probable, that our Lord designed to provide for the future occasions of the new-married couple, making them a valuable and seasonable nuptial present in this delicate though miraculous manner: and surely he, who in the first creation made such liberal provision for the necessities of men, might on a particular occasion, when he was formingnourishment for the natural life of his friends, do it plentifully; because thus the favour was enhanced, and by the quantity furnished he both shewed his own exuberant goodness, and gave such magnificence to the miracle, as removed it beyond all probability of fraud. Whereas, had the quantity been considerably less,only the cup, for instance, which was borne to the governor of the feast (as some have thought), who knows but the enemies of Christianity might have affirmed that here was no miracle at all; but that the water was artfully changed, and wine put into its place?an impossible cheat in so large a quantity, especially as the transmutation happened the moment the vessels were filled. We need not then dispute with the deists, concerning the capacity of the measure mentioned by the Evangelist: let them make it as large as they please; let them suppose it was the attic measure of that name, equal to our firkin, and that each water-pot held three of those measures, the miracle will still be decent, and in all respects worthy both of the wisdom and goodness of him who performed it.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Joh 2:7-8 . The transformation is accomplished in the time between Joh 2:7 and Joh 2:8 . [136]
] the servants, who obeyed Him according to the direction of Mary, Joh 2:5 ; not, as Lange’s imagination suggests, “under the influence of a miraculously excited feeling pervading the household.”
] The most natural supposition from this and Joh 2:6 is that the pitchers had been empty , the water in them having been used up before the feast began, and were to be filled afresh for use after meat. Observe, moreover, that Christ does not proceed creatively in His miracles, neither here nor in the feedings.
] This is stated for no other purpose than to give prominence to the quantity of the wine which Jesus miraculously produced.
] Altogether general, without specifying any particular pitcher, showing that as all were filled, the water in all was turned into wine (in answer to Semler and Olshausen). From the nature of the case, no object is appended, and we therefore can only understand the general word it . The drawing out was done by means of a vessel (a tankard, , Hom. Od . xviii. 397), out of which the master of the feast would fill the cups upon the table (comp. Nitzsch on Hom. Od . . 183).
The , table-master (Heliod. vii. 27), in Petron. 27 triclinarches , elsewhere also called (Athen. iv. p. 170 D E; Beck. Char . II. 252), is the chief of the waiters at table, upon whom devolved the charge of the meats and drinks, and the entire arrangement of the repast. See Walch, De architriclino , Jena 1753. Comp. Fritzsche on Sir 35:1 , where he is designated as . He was at the same time the taster of the meats and drinks, and is not to be confounded with the , modimperator, arbiter bibendi , who was chosen by the guests themselves from among their own number (Xen. Anab . vi. 1. 30; Herm. Privatalterth . 28, 29; Mitscherlich, ad Hor. Od . i. 4. 18).
[136] The commencement of the transformation might indeed be also placed after the drawing out, and consequently after ver. 8, so that only that portion of water which was drawn was converted into wine. But the minute statement of the number and large size of the vessels in ver. 6, by which it is manifestly intended to draw attention to the greatness in a quantitative point of view of the miracle of transformation, presupposes rather that all the water in the pitchers was converted into wine.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
Ver. 7. Up to the brim ] God permits his people an honest affluence. Christ supplies them here with great store of wine, to the quantity of a thousand and eight hundred pounds, as Beza computes, a No small gifts fall from so great a hand, Jas 1:5 .
a Nimirum ad libras mille octingentas: quod pertinet ad miraculi magnitudinem.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 2:7 . The first order Jesus gives to the is one they may unhesitatingly obey. , “Fill the water jars with water,” the water being specified in view of what was to follow. , “and they filled them up to the brim”. The corresponding expression, , is found in Mat 27:51 . and are also found in N.T. to indicate more precisely the terminus ad quem . In this usage is not perceptibly different from a preposition. “Up to the brim” is specified not so much to indicate the abundant supply as to suggest that no room was left for adding anything to the water. The servants did all their part thoroughly, and left no apparent room for Jesus to work. Thus they became instrumental to the working of a miracle.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fill. The first sign. Note “Cast”, Joh 21:6, and see the
Structure in App-176.
with. Greek. idiom. See note, on App-101.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 2:7
Joh 2:7
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.-They had been well nigh emptied by the guests before eating the supper, and he ordered them filled to the brim to remove all doubt as to their containing wine-to show no deception was practiced.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fill: Joh 2:3, Joh 2:5, Num 21:6-9, Jos 6:3-5, 1Ki 17:13, 2Ki 4:2-6, 2Ki 5:10-14, Mar 11:2-6, Mar 14:12-17, Act 8:26-40
Reciprocal: 2Ki 4:3 – empty vessels 2Ki 4:4 – and shalt pour
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
It required no miraculous power to fill the pots with water, hence Jesus bade the attendants do that. The lesson of human cooperation with the Lord is taught frequently throughout the Bible, showing that He will not do for us what we can do for ourselves. Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from death, but commanded the people to feed her (Mar 5:43). He brought Lazarus from the grave, but told the people to remove the grave clothes (Joh 11:44).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
[Jesus said, Fill, etc.] I. It is probable that the discourse betwixt Jesus and his mother was not public and before the whole company, but privately and betwixt themselves: which if we suppose, the words of the son towards the mother, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” will not seem so harsh as we might apprehend them if spoken in the hearing of all the guests. And although the son did seem by his first answer to give a plain denial to what was propounded to him, yet perhaps by something which he afterward said to her, (though not expressed by the evangelist,) or some other token, the mother understood his mind so far, that when they came into company again she could intimate to them, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
II. He answered his mother, “Mine hour is not yet come”: for it might be justly expected that the first miracle he would exert should be done in Jerusalem, the metropolis of that nation.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Joh 2:7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Probably they were now empty, perhaps in consequence of the ablutions before the feast.
And they filled them up to the brim. And when they are thus filled, nothing more can be done to fit them for their original design. They are able to furnish all that can be supplied for the purifying of the Jews.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Joh 2:7-10. Jesus saith unto them After some convenient pause, that the failing of the wine might be the more observed; Fill the water-pots with water Choosing, for wise reasons, to make use of these rather than the vessels in which the wine had before been contained: one of which reasons might be to prevent any suspicion that the tincture or taste of the water was in any degree derived from any remainder of wine in the vessels. Draw out now, and bear unto the governor Among the Greeks, Romans, and Jews, it was usual, at great entertainments, especially marriage-feasts, to appoint a master of ceremonies, who not only gave directions concerning the form and method of the entertainment, but likewise prescribed the laws of drinking. Jesus, therefore, ordered the wine which he had formed to be carried to the governor of the feast, that by his judgment passed upon it, in the hearing of all the guests, it might be known to be genuine wine of the best kind. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, &c. The governor of the feast, on tasting the wine, being highly pleased with its flavour and richness, but not knowing how it had been procured, addressed himself to the bridegroom, in the hearing of all the guests, and, commending the wine, as far preferable to what they had been drinking, praised him for the elegance of his taste, and for his civility, in giving the company better wine during the progress of the entertainment than at the beginning of it, which showed that he did not grudge the quantity they might use. This declaration of the governor, no doubt, surprised the bridegroom, who knew nothing of the matter, and occasioned an inquiry to be made about it. It is reasonable, therefore, to suppose, that the servants were publicly examined, and the company received an account of the miracle from them. For it is expressly said, that by it Jesus manifested his glory, that is, demonstrated his power and character, to the conviction of the disciples, and of all the guests. The expression in the tenth verse, , here rendered, when men have well drunk, though it may sometimes signify to drink to excess, yet frequently in Scripture, and sometimes in other writings, denotes no more than to drink sufficiently, or to satisfaction: and it would be very unjust and absurd to suppose it implies here, that these guests had already transgressed the rules of temperance. None can seriously imagine the evangelist to be so destitute of common sense as to represent Christ as displaying his glory by miraculously furnishing the company with wine to prolong a drunken revel. It is much more reasonable to conclude, that it signifies here, (as it does Gen 43:34; Son 5:1; Hag 1:6, in the Septuagint,) only to drink so freely as innocently to exhilarate the spirit. And even this, perhaps, might only be the case with some of them, and particularly not of those who, drawn by a desire to converse with Jesus, might be but lately come in. Doddridge.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Vv. 7, 8. Jesus says to them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8. And he says to them, Draw out now and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bore it.
We should not understand, fill, in the sense of filling up, nor allege in support of this meaning the words , up to the brim;the matter thus understood has something repugnant in it. Either the urns were empty in consequence of the ablutions which had taken place before the repast, or they were beginning by emptying them, in order to fill them afterwards anew. The: up to the brim serves to make the ardor with which the work was done apparent. The moment of the miracle must be placed between Joh 2:7-8; since the transformation is presupposed as accomplished by the word now of Joh 2:8. This now, as well as the words: bear it, breathes a spirit of overflowing joy and even gaiety. The person here called ruler of the feast was not one of the guests; he was the chief of the servants: it belonged to his office to taste the meats and drinks before they were placed upon the table. He ordinarily bears in Greek the name .
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
"Them" (NASB) is the servants to whom Mary had previously spoken (Joh 2:5). Their obedience is admirable and accounts in part for the full provision of the need. Normally people did not drink the water in those pots, but the headwaiter or toastmaster did not know that what the servant handed him came from there. Probably the pots were outside the house and he was inside.
Most commentators assumed that when the servants had filled the pots to the brim the water in them became wine. The servants then drew the wine out of the pots and served it to the headwaiter. A few writers noted that the verb "draw" (Gr. antleo, Joh 2:8) usually describes drawing water from a well. [Note: E.g., B. F. Westcott, The Gospel According to St. John: The Greek Text with Introduction and Notes, 1:84; and Carson, p. 174.] This led some of them to envisage a different scenario. Perhaps the servants filled the pots from a well and then continued drawing water out of the well that they served to the headwaiter. This explanation seems unnatural to me.
Many commentators saw the significance of what they understood to have happened as follows. Jesus’ disciples as well as the servants, and presumably Mary, knew that water had gone into the pots but that wine had come out. The only thing that accounted for the change was Jesus’ instructions. They realized that Jesus had the supernatural power to change water into wine. This miracle thus fortified their faith in Him (Joh 2:11).
Advocates of the view that the water the servants presented to the headwaiter came from the well see the same significance and more.
"Up to this time the servants had drawn water to fill the vessels used for ceremonial washing; now they are to draw for the feast that symbolizes the messianic banquet. Filling jars with such large capacity to the brim then indicates that the time for ceremonial purification is completely fulfilled; the new order, symbolized by the wine, could not be drawn from jars so intimately connected with merely ceremonial purification." [Note: Ibid. See also Tasker, pp. 55-57.]
I believe it is somewhat tenuous to build this interpretation on the usual meaning of antleo. Its essential meaning is "to draw" even though this word usually refers to drawing water from a well or spring (Gen 24:13; Gen 24:20; Exo 2:16; Exo 2:19; Isa 12:3; Joh 4:7; Joh 4:15). In classical Greek it describes drawing water out of a ship’s bilge. [Note: A Greek-English . . ., s.v. antleo, pp. 51-52.] Furthermore the symbolic interpretation that accompanies this view is questionable. There is nothing in the text that indicates that John intended his readers to see this miracle as teaching the termination of the old Mosaic order and the commencement of a new order. Jesus’ ministry certainly accomplished that, but there is no other evidence that this was a lesson that John was communicating to his readers here. Perhaps Jesus ordered the pots filled to the brim simply so there would be enough wine for everyone.