Day, Last
Day, Last
( , he eschate hemera): Repeatedly used by Jesus in Jn (Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:44, Joh 6:54; Joh 11:24; Joh 12:48) for the day of resurrection and judgment (see ESCHATOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT). Compare the usage in the Old Testament (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1) and the New Testament (Act 2:17; 2Ti 3:1; 2Pe 3:3; 1Jo 2:18; Jud 1:18) of last days and last time to denote the Messianic age. See LATTER DAYS; LAST DAYS; LAST TIME.
In Joh 7:37, the last day, the great day of the feast refers to the eighth day of the feast of Tabernacles. This closing day was observed as a Sabbath (Lev 23:36). On it the libation of water made on other days was not made; hence, the allusion of Jesus to Himself as the Giver of the living water.