John 7:39
“(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.)”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →John explains that Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit, which believers would receive only after his glorification.
Context
John adds a clarifying note to his gospel, speaking from the vantage point of the post-Pentecost church. The note explains that Jesus's words about living water must be understood in light of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.
What Does John 7:39 Mean?
John pauses to offer an editorial note—a moment of clarity inserted from the perspective of one writing after Pentecost. What Jesus meant by 'living water' was the Holy Spirit. The promise would not be fully realized until after the resurrection and ascension, when on Pentecost the Spirit fell upon the disciples in power. Jesus's words were prophetic, pointing to a future transformation of his followers. The Spirit was not yet given because Jesus had not yet ascended to the Father. There is a sequence, a timing woven into God's plan. First, the Son must come and be glorified through his passion and resurrection. Only then could the Spirit be given in fullness to all believers. John's parenthetical remark helps us see that the great promise of verse 37-38 does not belong to the distant future but to the era inaugurated by Pentecost—which is the era we inhabit now.
We who read this centuries later are the 'they' who receive the Spirit. The promise is ours. We do not await a future bestowal; we have been given the Spirit at baptism, at conversion. Yet there is always more to receive, deeper transformation to experience. The Spirit's work in us is not static but continuous. We are invited to yield increasingly to the Spirit's presence and power in our lives.
In the Original Language
pneuma (πνεῦμα), 'spirit' - the divine breath, the third person of the Trinity; here it refers to the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost and dwelling in believers.
Application
The Holy Spirit is the gift given to all who believe. We are living in the time of the Spirit's outpouring. We are invited to be aware of the Spirit's presence, to cooperate with the Spirit's work, and to let the Spirit increasingly remake us from the inside out.