Open Bible Data Home  About  News  OET Key

OETOET-RVOET-LVULTUSTBSBMSBBLBAICNTOEBWEBBEWMBBNETLSVFBVTCNTT4TLEBBBEMoffJPSWymthASVDRAYLTDrbyRVSLTWbstrKJB-1769KJB-1611BshpsGnvaCvdlTNTWyclSR-GNTUHBBrLXXBrTrRelatedTopics Parallel InterlinearReferenceDictionarySearch

ParallelVerse GENEXOLEVNUMDEUJOBJOSJDGRUTH1 SAM2 SAMPSAAMOSHOS1 KI2 KI1 CHR2 CHRPROVECCSNGJOELMICISAZEPHABJERLAMYNA (JNA)NAHOBADANEZEEZRAESTNEHHAGZECMALLAOGESLESESGDNG2 PSTOBJDTWISSIRBARLJEPAZSUSBELMAN1 MAC2 MAC3 MAC4 MACYHNMARKMATLUKEACTsYAC (JAM)GAL1 TH2 TH1 COR2 CORROMCOLPHMEPHPHP1 TIMTIT1 PET2 PET2 TIMHEBYUD (JUD)1 YHN (1 JHN)2 YHN (2 JHN)3 YHN (3 JHN)REV

Yhn IntroC1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16C17C18C19C20C21

Yhn 7 V1V3V5V7V9V11V13V15V17V19V21V23V25V27V29V31V33V35V37V39V41V43V45V47V49V51V53

Parallel YHN 7:38

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

BI Yhn 7:38 ©

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal(All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV)[ref]Whoever trusts me will have rivers of living water flowing out from him just like the scriptures say.


7:38: Eze 47:1; Zech 14:8.OET logo mark

OET-LVThe one believing in me, as the scripture said:
Rivers of_ living _water will_be_flowing out_of the belly of_him.
OET logo mark

SR-GNT πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ, καθὼς εἶπεν Γραφή, ‘Ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος.’ ”
   (Ho pisteuōn eis eme, kathōs eipen haʸ Grafaʸ, ‘Potamoi ek taʸs koilias autou ɽeusousin hudatos zōntos.’ ”)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULTThe one believing in me, just as the scripture says, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his stomach.’ ”

USTThis is what the prophets wrote in the scripture about anyone who trusts in me: ‘Water that gives eternal life will abundantly flow from that person’s innermost being.’ ”

BSBWhoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from [within] him.’ ”

MSBWhoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from [within] him.’ ”

BLBThe one believing in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'"


AICNTThe one who believes in me, as the Scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

OEBFrom the heart of those who believe in me will flow, as is said in scripture, rivers of living water.’

LSB He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

WEBBEHe who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NETlet the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘ From within him will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

LSVhe who is believing in Me, according as the Writing said, Rivers of living water will flow out of his belly”;

FBVIf you trust in me, you will have streams of life-giving water flowing out from within you, as Scripture says.”[fn]


7:38 The closest reference appears to be Song of Songs 4:15.

TCNTWhoever believes in me, just as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

T4TJust like the Scriptures teach, streams of water shall flow out from within those who believe in me, and that water will cause them to live eternally.”

LEBthe one who believes in me.[fn] Just as the scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’ ”[fn]


7:38 An alternative punctuation of vv. 37–38 reads: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and let him drink.38 The one who believes in me, just as the scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

7:38 A quotation from the Old Testament of uncertain origin; texts most often suggested are Isa 44:3|link-href="None"; 55:1 ; 58:11 ;Zech 14:8|link-href="None"

BBEHe who has faith in me, out of his body, as the Writings have said, will come rivers of living water.

Moffhe who believes in me — out of his body, as scripture says, streams of living water will flow"

WymthHe who believes in me, from within him—as the Scripture has said—rivers of living water shall flow."

ASVHe that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.

DRAHe that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

YLThe who is believing in me, according as the Writing said, Rivers out of his belly shall flow of living water;'

DrbyHe that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

RVHe that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
   (He that believeth/believes on me, as the scripture hath/has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. )

SLTHe believing in me, as said the writing, from his belly shall flow rivers of living waters.

WbstrHe that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

KJB-1769 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
   ( He that believeth/believes on me, as the scripture hath/has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. )

KJB-1611He that beleeueth on me, as the Scripture hath saide, out of his belly shall flow riuers of liuing water.
   (Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

BshpsHe that beleueth on me, as saith the scripture, out of his belly shall flowe ryuers of water of lyfe.
   (He that believeth/believes on me, as saith/says the scripture, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life.)

GnvaHee that beleeueth in mee, as saith the Scripture, out of his bellie shall flowe riuers of water of life.
   (He that believeth/believes in me, as saith/says the Scripture, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life. )

CvdlHe that beleueth on me, as the scripture sayeth, out of his body shal flowe ryuers of the water of life.
   (He that believeth/believes on me, as the scripture saith/says, out of his body shall flow rivers of the water of life.)

TNTHe that beleveth on me as sayeth the scripture out of his belly shall flowe ryvers of water of lyfe.
   (He that believeth on me as saith/says the scripture out of his belly shall flow ryvers of water of life. )

WyclHe that bileueth in me, as the scripture seith, Floodis of quyk watir schulen flowe fro his wombe.
   (He that believeth/believes in me, as the scripture saith/says, Floodis of quick/living water should flow from his womb.)

LuthWer an mich glaubet, wie die Schrift sagt, von des Leibe werden Ströme des lebendigen Wassers fließen.
   (Who at/to me believes, as/like the writing says, from the body become streams the living/alive waters flow.)

ClVgQui credit in me, sicut dicit Scriptura, flumina de ventre ejus fluent aquæ vivæ.
   (Who he_believes in/into/on me, like he_says Scriptura, rivers from/about belly his fluent water vivæ. )

UGNTὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ, καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή, ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος.
   (ho pisteuōn eis eme, kathōs eipen haʸ Grafaʸ, potamoi ek taʸs koilias autou ɽeusousin hudatos zōntos.)

SBL-GNTὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ, καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ γραφή, ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος.
   (ho pisteuōn eis eme, kathōs eipen haʸ grafaʸ, potamoi ek taʸs koilias autou ɽeusousin hudatos zōntos.)

RP-GNTὉ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ, καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ γραφή, ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος.
   (Ho pisteuōn eis eme, kathōs eipen haʸ grafaʸ, potamoi ek taʸs koilias autou ɽeusousin hudatos zōntos.)

TC-GNTὉ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ, καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ γραφή, ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος.
   (Ho pisteuōn eis eme, kathōs eipen haʸ grafaʸ, potamoi ek taʸs koilias autou ɽeusousin hudatos zōntos. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ (from our SR-GNT base).


TSNTyndale Study Notes:

7:1-52 This chapter is another account of Jesus during a Jewish festival, the Festival of Shelters. Jesus used elements of the festival to reveal his true identity to his Jewish compatriots and to show that he had fulfilled the festival’s essential meaning (see 7:37-39; 8:12).


SOTNSIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:37–39: Jesus promised living water

During the festival of Booths the Jewish people remembered how God provided what they needed. He provided water for them in the past and continued to do so. Each day of the festival, the priests took some water from the pool of Siloam. Then they poured it out before the Lord at the base of the altar. This represented God’s gift of water and life. This ritual reminded the people that God had given them water and that he would also give them the Holy Spirit. On this occasion Jesus stood up and claimed that he fulfilled the hope expressed in this ritual.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus told those who were thirsty to come to him

Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit

7:38a

Whoever believes in Me,

Whoever believes in Me: This refers to anyone and everyone who believes on Jesus Christ. For example:

If anyone believes in me (NCV)

believes in Me: This phrase includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated similar phrases in 1:12b, 7:5, and 7:31a. Here are other ways to translate this idea:

Have faith in me (CEV)

trusts in me

7:38b

as the Scripture has said:

as the Scripture has said: This clause probably refers to Isaiah 58:11, which says, “You will be like…a spring whose waters never fail” (NIV). But it is not an exact quotation, and several OT passages talk about God giving water to his people. Those passages include Ezekiel 47:1–12 and Zechariah 14:8.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

As the scripture says (GNT)

according to God’s written word

7:38c

‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

Streams of living water will flow from within him: This is a further development of the metaphor in 7:37c. Refer to the story of the woman at the well, 4:10–15, to see how Christ used this metaphor earlier. Here, as there, it refers to the Holy Spirit as the one who brings true and plentiful life. It is good to keep the metaphor because Scripture uses it in other places.

Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

Rivers of living water will flow from his heart. (NLT)

You will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you. (CEV)

in his heart will be that which gives life which will be like water that flows from a spring

Streams of living water will flow: This expression indicates that the living water will flow and be plentiful. In some languages it may be natural to leave the idea of Streams implicit. Instead, you can indicate that the water is plentiful in the verb flow or in an adjective. For example:

shall flow/rush plentiful life-giving water

water flowing (CEV)

Streams of living water: The Greek word that the BSB translates literally as living in this context means “life-giving,” something that gives life. See also 4:14c and the notes there, and the note on living water at 4:10d. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

streams of life-giving water (GNT)

from within him: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as from within him is more literally “out of his stomach.” The pronoun “his” in the Greek probably refers to whoever believes in Jesus (7:38a).There are actually two ways to interpret the pronoun “his” here: (1) It refers to the person who believes in Jesus. For example: If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person’s heart, as the Scripture says (NCV) (BSB, NLT, CEV, NIV, RSV, REB, NRSV, GW, ESV, GNT76, KJV. NASB) (2) It refers to Jesus himself. For example: As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side.’” (GNT92) (GNT92) It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most Bible scholars. By using a plural pronoun, NIV forces that interpretation. It is recommended that you use a singular pronoun here like all other English translations (CEV uses “you,” which could be singular or plural in English). The NIV uses a plural pronoun here because there are many who believe in Jesus. However, the Greek text has a singular pronoun to refer to “the one believing in me.” The BSB, like nearly all English translations, uses a singular pronoun.

The most probable Scripture that this refers to is Isaiah 58:11. There the pronoun is “you” (“You will be like…a spring”). See the previous note at 7:38b.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

From his heart (NJB)

within him: The Greek word that the BSB translates as within him is more literally “his stomach.” At that time, people saw the stomach as the center of one’s feelings and desires. Today, most English speakers see the heart that way, so some English translations translated the phrase as “his heart.” Other English translations just refer to inside a person without saying a specific body part. For example:

there will flow what gives true life, coming from inside him, like a spring of water

you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you (CEV)

Translate this word in a way that is natural in your language. You may mention a specific body part that people see as the center or source of feelings and desires. Or you may just refer to the water coming from inside a person.

General Comment on 7:38a–c

This verse can be difficult to understand because the phrase “as the Scripture has said” interrupts the flow of the sentence. It separates the subject (“Whoever believes in me”) from what Jesus said about him. It may be clearer to change the order of the sentence. For example:

38bScripture says this about 38cthe one who believes in me. 38a‘Rivers of water that give life will flow from his heart.’


UTNuW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ, καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ καθώς εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή Ποταμοί ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος)

If it would be natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. You will also need to adjust some words to fit the new order. Alternate translation: [As the scripture says about anyone who believes in me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή, ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ καθώς εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή Ποταμοί ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος)

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [rivers of living water will flow from the stomach of the one believing in me, just as the scripture says]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή

said the Scripture

Jesus uses scripture as if it were a person who could speak. If this might confuse your readers, you could express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the prophets spoke in the scriptures]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ποταμοὶ & ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ καθώς εἶπεν ἡ Γραφή Ποταμοί ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος)

Jesus uses rivers to refer to a constant and abundant flow of living water. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [An abundance of living water will flow]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

ὕδατος ζῶντος

˱of˲_water living

Jesus uses living water here to refer to the Holy Spirit who works in a person to save and transform them. However, since John explains this meaning in the next verse, you do not need to explain it further here. See how you translated living water in [4:10](../04/10.md).

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὕδατος ζῶντος

˱of˲_water living

Here, living is used to mean “giving eternal life” or “causing people to live forever.” You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [of water that gives eternal life]

Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτοῦ

˱of˲_him

The pronoun his could refer to: (1) the person who believes in Jesus. This meaning is used in most Bible translations and assumes that a new sentence begins at the beginning of this verse. Alternate translation, as in the ULT: [his] (2) Jesus. This meaning is used in some ancient church writings and assumes that the sentence at the end of the previous verse continues through the one believing in me in this verse. Alternate translation: [my]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ

out_of the belly ˱of˲_him

The stomach is used to refer to the non-physical part of a person. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [from inside of him] or [from his heart]

BI Yhn 7:38 ©