God’s Word says a lot about water, there are countless biblical references to water in the Old and New Testament. Water is mentioned in the creation accounts and prominent in many of the miracles of the Bible. Below are some scripture references to help understand the symbol and substance of living water.
Scripture Quotes about Water
- John 4:14 Jesus gives water of eternal life.
- Isaiah 12:3 Water from the well of salvation.
- John 7:38 Rivers of living water.
- Isaiah 44:3 The Lord will pour water on thirsty land.
- Ezekiel 36:25 God will cleanse with water.
- Revelation 22:1 Water of life before God’s throne.
- John 7:37-39 Jesus promises water of life Bible verse.
- Isaiah 49:10 The Lord will provide water for the thirsty.
- Jeremiah 2:13 The sin of forsaking God’s living water.
- FAQ about Water in the Bible
- More Bible Study citation that talk about water.
John 4:14 Jesus gives water of eternal life.
John 4:14
(ESV) but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(KJV) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(MSG) Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
(NIV) but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(NLT) But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
Isaiah 12:3 Water from the well of salvation.
Isaiah 12:3
(ESV) With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
(KJV) Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
(MSG) Joyfully you’ll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation.
(NIV) With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
(NLT) With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!
John 7:38 Rivers of living water.
John 7:38
(ESV) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
(KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(MSG) Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.”
(NIV) Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
(NLT) Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
Isaiah 44:3 The Lord will pour water on thirsty land.
Isaiah 44:3
(ESV) For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
(KJV) For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
(MSG) For I will pour water on the thirsty ground and send streams coursing through the parched earth. I will pour my Spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children.
(NIV) For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
(NLT) For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.
Ezekiel 36:25 God will cleanse with water.
Ezekiel 36:25
(ESV) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
(KJV) Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
(MSG) I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean.
(NIV) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
(NLT) “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.
Revelation 22:1 Water of life before God’s throne.
Revelation 22:1
(ESV) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
(KJV) And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
(MSG) Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb,
(NIV) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
(NLT) Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
John 7:37-39 Jesus promises water of life Bible verse.
John 7:37
(ESV) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
(KJV) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
(MSG) On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
(NIV) On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
(NLT) On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!
John 7:38
(ESV) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
(KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(MSG) Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.”
(NIV) Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
(NLT) Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
John 7:39
(ESV) Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
(KJV) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
(MSG) (He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. The Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)
(NIV) By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
(NLT) (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Isaiah 49:10 The Lord will provide water for the thirsty.
Isaiah 49:10
(ESV) they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.
(KJV) They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
(MSG) Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind, For the Compassionate One guides them, takes them to the best springs.
(NIV) They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.
(NLT) They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the LORD in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters.
Jeremiah 2:13 The sin of forsaking God’s living water.
Jeremiah 2:13
(ESV) for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
(KJV) For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
(MSG) “My people have committed a compound sin: they’ve walked out on me, the fountain Of fresh flowing waters, and then dug cisterns— cisterns that leak, cisterns that are no better than sieves.
(NIV) “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
(NLT) “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!
FAQ about Water in the Bible
The Bible is very clear that we are to avoid drinking contaminated water. In Genesis 6:17, God commanded Noah to take seven pairs of every clean animal and bird into the ark because He was going to “cleanse the earth of all wickedness.” Unclean animals were not to be brought into the ark (v. 19). When God finished His cleansing of the earth with the flood, He again warned man not to drink from polluted waters, saying in Isaiah 24:5: “‘They did not destroy the cities for lack of knowledge, but she who goes away remembers them no more.’ So please beware and be informed when choosing what type of water you will consume.”
“Living water” is a term used in the Bible to refer to fresh water that has not been stagnant or still. It is often used in reference to God’s promises of life and hope, as well as His enlightening power.
In the Old Testament, living water was often associated with the Tabernacle and Temple, places where God’s presence dwelt amongst His people. The laver in the Tabernacle, for example, was filled with living water (Exodus 30:18). And when discussing the construction of the future Temple, Ezekiel envisions a river of living water flowing out from beneath it (Ezekiel 47:1-12).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19
“John answered, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” – John 1:26-27
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth
While an exact number is not given, water is referenced dozens, if not hundreds, of times in the Bible. It is clear that water is a important symbol in Scripture. Whether it is the physical act of baptism or the story of Esther saving her people from thirst, water is often used to represent new life, salvation, and cleansing. In the Old Testament, water was essential for purification and ceremonial washing. In the New Testament, Christ himself places great importance on water when he talks about being born again of water and Spirit in John 3:5. And later in Revelation 22:17 Christ says, “And let him who thirsts come; let him who desires drink… “
More Bible Study citation that talk about water.
https://sojo.net/magazine/november-2013/10-bible-verses-about-water
https://www.openbible.info/topics/water
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Water/
https://sites.duke.edu/theconnection/2014/06/05/remembering-gods-gift-of-water/