What Does John 2:6 Mean in the King James?

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

John 2:6 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The sign begins inside vessels already set apart for cleansing, before anyone expects them to hold anything else.

THE MEANING

You are shown six stone vessels appointed for purification, each with room for two or three measures. Their purpose frames the scene: what is ready for washing becomes the setting for unexpected provision.

THE ROOT

καθαρισμός

katharismos

GROWS FROM

καθαρ-

kathar-

Clean; clear of defilement.

“purifying” in this verse is katharismos. This word belongs to the Greek family of “clean” and “cleanse,” so the verse names an enacted practice, not merely a label for the jars. Their connection to cleansing is established before they hold anything else in the scene.

ALSO GROWS

clean: Clean; pure.

καθαρός

The shared stem connects the practice of purification to the state of being clean.

cleanse: To cleanse; make clean.

καθαρίζω

This verb shows the action contained in the noun: purification is the work of cleansing.

THE PATTERN

What is already set out to hold provision becomes the vessel for more than its expected use.

And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

2 Kings 4:6 · KJVThe borrowed vessels hold oil until there are no more vessels to receive it.

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

John 2:7 · KJVThe jars already named for purification are filled to the brim before the water becomes wine.

THE THREAD

Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

John 3:25 · KJV

The Greek noun ⁨καθαρισμός⁩ (katharismos, purification) names the practice associated with these vessels, and John returns to the same word-family in 3:25. The jars’ concrete purpose opens into a larger question about cleansing.

This reading is from Selah Verse.

You can read any verse this way in the app, keep it as a card, and send it on.

Get Selah Verse

A Bible app where you send verses from your keyboard and in Messages, and every verse has a Deep Dive.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us