Joh 2:6 | RWP | e4.org | Waterpots ( υδρια ). Old word from υδωρ (water) and used in papyri for pots or pans for holding money or bread as well as water. These stone ( λιθινα as in ) jars full of water were kept handy ( set there , κειμενα , present middle participle of κειμα ) at a feast for ceremonial cleansing of the hands ( ; ), "after the Jews' manner of purifying" ( κατα τον καθαρισμον των Ιουδαιων ). See ; for the word καθαρισμος (from καθαριζω ) which fact also raised a controversy with disciples of John because of his baptizing ( ). Containing ( χωρουσα ). Present active participle feminine plural of χωρεω , old verb from χωρος , place, space, having space or room for. Two or three firkins apiece ( ανα μετρητας δυο η τρεις ). The word μετρητης , from μετρεω , to measure, simply means "measurer," an amphora for measuring liquids (in Demosthenes, Aristotle, Polybius), the Hebrew bath ( ), here only in N.T., about 8 1/2 English gallons. Each υδρια thus held about 20 gallons. This common distributive use of ανα occurs here only in this Gospel, but is in . In a much smaller υδρια was used for carrying water.

‏ John 2:6

Waterpots ( υδρια ). Old word from υδωρ (water) and used in papyri for pots or pans for holding money or bread as well as water. These stone ( λιθινα as in 2Co 3:3) jars full of water were kept handy ( set there, κειμενα, present middle participle of κειμα ) at a feast for ceremonial cleansing of the hands (2Ki 3:11; Mr 7:3), "after the Jews' manner of purifying" ( κατα τον καθαρισμον των Ιουδαιων ). See Mr 1:44; Lu 2:22 for the word καθαρισμος (from καθαριζω ) which fact also raised a controversy with disciples of John because of his baptizing (Joh 3:25).

Containing ( χωρουσα ). Present active participle feminine plural of χωρεω, old verb from χωρος, place, space, having space or room for.

Two or three firkins apiece ( ανα μετρητας δυο η τρεις ). The word μετρητης, from μετρεω, to measure, simply means "measurer," an amphora for measuring liquids (in Demosthenes, Aristotle, Polybius), the Hebrew bath (2Ch 4:5), here only in N.T., about 8 1/2 English gallons. Each υδρια thus held about 20 gallons. This common distributive use of ανα occurs here only in this Gospel, but is in Re 4:8. In Joh 4:28 a much smaller υδρια was used for carrying water.