Food For Thought: March 2008

Zechariah 14:8 and John 7:38

Perhaps the foundational rule in dispensational hermeneutics states, "When the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense." In other words, when a student of the Bible reads a verse, and the language of the verse conveys a sensible message according to the normal understanding of those words, then no "deeper" meaning for the verse should be sought. Exceptions to this rule include (but are not limited to) situations in which the phrase or verse obviously conveys a figure of speech, or when the context of the verse indicates pictoral intent. It has been my desire throughout the study of Zechariah to apply this rule to the best of my ability.

Arriving at Zechariah 14:8, however, I encounter some difficulty with my standard practice of interpretation. In this verse I see every indication that the verse ought to be interpreted to mean that there will one day ("in that day"--a day that belongs to the LORD in a very special and significant way) be an actual, beautiful, wet river flowing from the geographical location of Jerusalem as one of the physical changes that will be made to the earth in the millennial reign. The words of the verse state this, the context of the verse supports this, and other uses of the Hebrew words for "living waters" confirm this. That being said, the case is not so completely and easily sewn up, because there is a rule of hermeneutics that states, "The New Testament is the best commentary on the Old Testament." One passage in the New Testament, which finds support in Old Testament references to "living waters", indicates a loose thread that threatens to unravel not only my understanding of Zechariah 14:8, but taken to an extreme could potentially make a shambles out of my dispensational way of thinking. If this verse (John 7:38) dictates that our verse in Zechariah must be understood in a typical manner (meaning that it stands for something other than what it actually describes), then the rest of the chapter, the rest of the book, and much of the rest of prophecy in all of Scripture is at least open to the possibility of meaning something other than what it appears to say.

Lest I lose anyone along the way, who thinks that the differences between literal (I prefer the word "normative") and allegorical interpretation are insignificant, allow me to list some of the ramifications that come to mind, if the normative method of interpretation is rendered inept:

1.Rather than immersing adults, I would sprinkle babies. (Ecclesiology)

2.Rather than listening for the trumpet, I would work to bring in the kingdom. (Eschatology)

3.Rather than accepting the plain sense, I would seek a deeper meaning. (Bibliology)

4.Rather than befriending Israel, I would seek peace at any cost. (Politics)

These are only some of the many things that would be affected if I were to adopt a non-literal approach to Scripture. I sincerely hope that my true desire is to be as biblical and as Christ-like as possible, and that I would be willing to change my method of interpretation, and accept all of the changes to my theology that would come with it, if God would use someone or something to demonstrate that the allegorical approach is the authentic approach to hermeneutics.

I have had to wrestle long and hard with the possibility that Jesus may have ascribed allegorical meaning to this verse in John 7:38, ". . . As the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John makes it very clear in the following verse that Jesus was speaking of those who would receive the Spirit, and the flowing, living waters are the fruit of the Spirit evidenced in the lives of believers. If this statement hearkens back to Zechariah 14:8, then the interpretation of the verse is not that there will be an actual flowing river, but that God's blessing will bring spiritual renewal to the earth, and may have been partially fulfilled as the Gospel spread from" Jerusalem" to "Judea", to "Samaria", and "to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

When all of the evidence is considered, however, I believe that Zechariah 14:8, as well as the rest of the chapter, is predicting a literal, physical fulfillment, and that John 7:38 does not significantly affect our understanding of Zechariah 14:8.

Having sufficiently introduced the text, let us now turn our attention to the verse itself:

"And in that day it shall be

That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,

Half of them toward the eastern sea

And half of them toward the western sea;

In both summer and winter it shall occur." (Zechariah 14:8 NKJV)

I. The obvious sense of the verse cannot be set aside.

As was stated above in a different order, the context, the actual wording, and a comparison of the wording of this verse all lead the reader to the conclusion that the prophet anticipates a literal fulfillment of this verse.

A. The context of the verse indicates physical events happening prior to the establishment of the millennial reign.

These physical events will be listed in rapid order, without much explanation at this time. In no way is this list intended to be exhaustive, but simply to make the point that many specific references are given, which indicate that will be fulfilled literally.

1. A specific time.

"In that day" (v. 8), which hearkens back to the reference in v. 1 to "the day of the LORD." This is a day that is uniquely His. God is always sovereign and continually reigns over the affairs of men. However, there is a day coming that will be unlike any other day the world has ever seen, in which God will display His awesome power in overthrowing the "prince of this world" and his world system. Some of the events that will take place on that day are described in our present chapter (Zechariah 14).

2. A specific enemy.

The LORD will gather "all the nations" of the earth (v. 2) and will ultimately destroy them. The reference to "all the nations" prevents us from interpreting this passage as having been fulfilled in history. When Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70, for instance, the Romans acted unilaterally. That event was not a fulfillment of Zechariah 14.

3. A specific place.

God will gather the nations to fight "against Jerusalem"--an actual, identifiable place.

4. Specific devastation.

"Your spoil will be divided in your midst . . .

The city will be taken . . .

The houses rifled . . .

The women ravished . . .

Half of the city shall go into captivity " (vv. 1 and 2)

Each of the above events can easily be envisioned as taking place in actual warfare. Not all of them lend themselves to easy spiritualization.

5. Specific wonders.

Unlike the preceding elements in this passage, the events described in this section are more difficult for us to imagine because they describe Almighty God demonstrating His power on earth. However, it should be noted that the author still takes pains to give specifics about what will be taking place.

a. The Mount of Olives will split into halves.

b. There will be a day like no other.

There are many other specifics I could identify in this chapter, but for the sake of brevity I will not do so. The point that I am attempting to make is that each of these details can easily be understood as describing actual events that will happen in the physical world one day. Granted, attempts are made to explain them by other means, but the normal understanding of these verses anticipates a literal fulfillment.

The context is only the first argument for the fact that Zechariah 14:8 should be interpreted literally. Secondly, the words themselves argue in favor of a literal fulfillment.

B. The words of the verse are best understood as referring to an actual river.

Two words are used to describe this river: "living" and "waters". We will consider "waters" first.

1. "Waters"

The word "waters" (mayim) refers to that of which you normally think when you hear the word "water." It refers to the nourishing, reviving, life-giving, cleansing liquid that is commonly known to flow in rivers, rest in lakes, and fall from clouds. In the interest of fairness, I should point out that the word can be used figuratively, but the ways in which it can so be used do not have a bearing on this passage (cf. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words, 283). In other words, there is nothing arresting about the word "waters" that would lead us to think that the verse might be talking about something other than a physical river.

We will find the same thing about the word "living", but that will require a bit more explanation.

2. "Living"

The Hebrew word (hay) behind the English word "living" has at its root the idea of being alive. For this reason nearly every translation preserves the word "living" in our verse. However, in other contexts the word is translated differently, and focusing on the aspect of life is not the best means of understanding the word when it is used in connection with water. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon defines the word in this manner: "of water, flowing, fresh" (312). Vine's agrees with that definition and adds this: "Applied to liquids, hay means 'running'; it is used metaphorically describing something that moves. . . . The emphasis is not on the fact that the water flows but on its freshness; it is not stagnant, and therefore is refreshing and pleasant when consumed" (139).

Disclaimer: It is true that the word is occasionally used in a figurative manner in the O.T., but those instances are well-marked. The most significant passages to this discussion will be listed in the following point.

Since the word "waters" indicates water as we commonly know it, and the word "living" is best understood as referring to fresh and flowing water, we may conclude that the normal understanding of the words "living waters" indicates that an actual physical river is in view. Both the context of the verse and the words of the verse lead us to conclude that a literal fulfillment is in view. The same is true when we compare both the words and the idea with other texts in Scripture.

C. A comparison with other passages supports the idea that an actual river is in view.

1. Unless otherwise indicated, "hay" refers to flowing waters.

Genesis 26:19 records the first occurrence of "hay" when it says, "Also Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found a well of RUNNING water there." Obviously the intent of the passage is that Isaac's servants found literal, physical water. The same is true of several reference to "hay" in Leviticus 14 and Numbers 19:17, where running water is incorporated into the ceremonial worship of the Israelites. Leviticus 14:50 reads, "Then he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over RUNNING water".

The word, then, normally refers to physical water. However, we should notice that there are exceptions:

2. Context clarifies when flowing waters are used as a comparison to communicate a concept.

Two examples come to mind, as they are theological in nature:

Jeremiah 2:13--"For My people have committed two evils;

They have forsaken Me the fountain of LIVING waters,

And hewn them out cisterns--broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

Jeremiah 17:13--"O LORD, the hope of Israel,

All who forsake You shall be ashamed.

Those who depart from Me

Shall be written in the earth,

Because they have forsaken the LORD,

The fountain of LIVING waters."

Though these two verses identify God as living waters, they are different from our verse in Zechariah because the normal understanding of these verses does not take them literally. God is not saying that He is actually a fountain any more than He is saying that the people have sinned against Him by constructing cisterns to catch the rain water. What He is saying is that the people have deserted Him and all the blessings He offered, for a wretched, stagnant life of self-service. There is no such figurative language apparent in Zechariah 14:8, leading us to conclude that the passage should be taken literally.

Not only do the words of Zechariah 14:8 occur in other Old Testament passages, but:

3. The concept of a millennial river is found elsewhere.

See Ezekiel 47:1-12. We obviously do not have the time or space to consider this passage in its entirety, but did we have that luxury, we would see that the passage is describing a river--very similar to the one in Zechariah, but from a different perspective--which flows from Jerusalem, originating under the Temple, which grows deeper and wider as it moves downstream. This river revitalizes the Dead Sea so that fish will once again abound in its waters, and rejuvenates the land so that lush foliage grows along its banks. As with the context of Zechariah 14, there are many specifics given concerning this verse that are easy to interpret literally, but require a mental stretch to interpret otherwise.

[Cf also Revelation 22:1-5, which is referring to a similar river in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth.]

In light of everything that I can discover concerning the Old Testament passage, I believe that obvious sense of the verse is that there will be a literal river in the Millennial Reign. I do not think that the obvious sense can be set aside without a compelling argument from the New Testament. In addition, I do not believe that Jesus intended to make such an argument with His statement in John 7:38. The verse was quoted above, but let's take a look at it again in its broader context:

"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

'He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'

But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39)

II. Jesus' statement does not significantly alter our understanding of Zechariah 14:8.

Let's begin by considering Jesus' statement in the broad context of His ministry. As we look at the events of His life, especially the events that were beginning to unfold at the time He made His statements, we find that:

A. Jesus anticipated a literal fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy.

Events were already under way in Jesus' life that had been predicted by Zechariah, were understood by Jesus, and were about to be literally fulfilled. For instance:

1. The people were beginning to reject their Shepherd (John 7:1; Zech. 11:8).

2. Jesus was going to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (John 12:14, 15; Zech. 9:9).

3. Jesus was going to be sold for thirty pieces of silver, which would be cast down in the Temple, then given to a potter (Matt.26:15; 27:5-7; Zech. 11:12, 13).

4. The Shepherd would be struck, and the sheep would be scattered (Matt. 26:31; Zech. 13:7).

5. The people would pierce Jesus, and would one day mourn when they see Him (John 19:37; Zech. 12:10).

Even a quick comparison of these verses reveals that Christ knew that Zechariah was to be understood as having a literal fulfillment--at least with regard to his first advent. Certainly it is difficult to see how He could deny a literal understanding of prophecies concerning His second advent even while He was experiencing the literal fulfillment of prophecies concerning His first advent (in the same chapter in which He makes His statement the Jews are planning to kill Him). Therefore, I do not believe that Jesus was giving a key to understanding Zechariah 14:8.

In addition, there is some difficulty in determining whether or not Jesus was even referring to the idea expressed in Zechariah 14:8 when He used the words "living water." That is because:

B. Jesus was not specifically quoting any Old Testament passage.

Though Jesus uses the term "as the Scripture has said . . ." He does not use an exact quote from any Old Testament passage. The closest quote we find in our Scriptures is that of Jesus in John 4:14, where He said, "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." But Jesus could not have been quoting Himself because of the word He chose. He said "Scripture," which is a translation the Greek word "graphē," and means "writings"--referring to the Old Testament. It is best, then, to understand that Jesus is giving the sense of Old Testament teaching rather than a specific Old Testament quote. The question arises, "Which passages are the basis for the quote?" There are several possible answers to that question. Two will be considered here:

1. Jesus could have been referring to our passage in Zechariah 14, as well as Ezekiel 37, leading the reader to conclude that the proper understanding of those passages is allegorical and that the fulfillment will be spiritual.

Certainly that is an option (otherwise we would not be having this discussion). The actual wording of His quote seems to be rather close to the wording of the aforementioned passages. However, we have considered Zechariah 14:8 in some detail, and everything about it leads us to conclude it should be taken literally. We have seen that Jesus anticipated a literal fulfillment of Zechariah. We need a compelling argument to change our conclusions. The fact that He may have been referring to the passage is not a compelling enough argument--especially when the idea of His statement may be more closely matched by other passages in the Old Testament--passages that also match up with the event during which He spoke. That leads us to the second option:

2. Jesus could have been referring to passages in Isaiah that use water as a symbol for the giving of the Spirit.

The specific verses that I have in mind are:

Isaiah 12:3--"Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation."

Isaiah 44:3--"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring".

The people to whom Jesus was speaking were aware of these verses, and understood them to predict the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In fact, this understanding of these verses contributed to the symbolic activities of the feast at which Jesus made His statement. I will elaborate on the activities in just a moment, but first let me say this: Since Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit, using water as an illustration, at a time when the people were participating in events that portrayed the pouring out of the Holy Spirit like water, using the verses in Isaiah as a basis for their ceremony, then it makes sense that Jesus would be referring to these passages when He said, “as the Scripture has said.”

Now for a brief consideration of the feast, after which we will conclude.

C. Jesus was speaking in the context of a symbolic event (the Feast of Tabernacles).

John identifies the context of Jesus’ statement this way: "On the last day, that great day of the feast.” The feast of which he is speaking is the Feast of Tabernacles. The primary means by which the people participated in this event was by building booths and living in them for one week. In so doing, they remembered how God had kept them safe and provided for them during their wilderness wanderings. This resulted in thankfulness to God for the provisions He continued to provide. However, the feast did not only look backwards. Being the last feast on the Jewish calendar, the Feast of Tabernacles also looked forward to the time when God would permanently tabernacle with His people. As a result of looking forward in this manner, coupled with their understanding of the verses we have considered from Isaiah, the people included in their observance of the feast a daily ritual in which the priests would fill a golden pitcher with water from the pool of Siloam. The water would then be carried in procession with trumpet blasts and the singing of psalms through the streets to the Temple, where the water would be poured on the altar as an offering, and also as a symbol of the anticipated coming of the Holy Spirit. It was in this context that Jesus cried out, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” In so doing, He offered to them the Spirit they had been awaiting. Tragically, the majority of them rejected both their Savior and the Spirit.

In light of everything we have studied, I am convinced that though Jesus’ statement conveys a wonderful invitation, and even a description of what the Spirit will do through believers (though we did not really even begin to consider the significance of what He was offering, as that was not the point of this study), it is not intended to shed new light on Zechariah 14:8. I believe that the verse should be understood as referring to a physical river that will flow during the millennial reign. Further, I will continue to interpret not only the verse, but the entire chapter, and all of the book of Zechariah in a normative manner unless I can be convinced from the Scriptures that I am wrong.

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