Paragraph 2:6–10

This is the climax (the most important part) of the story. The servants filled six large water jars with water. When they poured some out, it had become very good wine.

2:6a

Now: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now here introduces some background information that describes the scene at the wedding. It is not a time word here. Many English translations do not translate this word. You should introduce the following information in a way that is natural in your language.

six stone water jars had been set there: These jars or pots were made by hollowing out large rocks. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Standing nearby were six stone water jars (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Six stone water jars were sitting near them

had been set there: While the Berean Standard Bible translates this clause literally as passive as in Greek, in some languages it may be more natural to translate it as active. For example:

stood nearby (New International Version)

2:6b

for the Jewish rites of purification: This phrase gives some background information about the jars. John was addressing people who were not Jews, and he explained a Jewish custom to them. It was the Jewish custom to wash in a certain way before joining in religious rituals. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing (New International Version)
-or-
They were used for Jewish purification rituals. (God’s Word)

rites of purification: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rites of purification is more literally “purification.” A rite is a ceremony or ritual. In this context, the Jewish people washed in order to make themselves ceremonially pure. This washing was not intended to remove dirt but to prepare the person to approach God to worship. In some languages it may be necessary to translate this noun phrase using a verb. For example:

washing themselves in the way that their religion said they must (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 2:6a–b

In some languages it may be natural to translate the information about ceremonial washing at the beginning of verse 6. For example:

6b The Jews have rules about ritual washing, 6a and for this purpose six stone water jars were there. (Good News Translation)

2:6c

Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as twenty to thirty gallons is more literally “two or three measures.” The Berean Standard Bible translates this in terms of gallons, but you could express this in terms of liters instead. Each pot could hold (contain) 80–120 liters of water. Use the measuring system that is natural in your language.

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