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.
Ver. 37. In the last day] In this eighth day (which the Jews called Hosanna Rabbah) they read the last section of the law, and likewise began the first; lest they might otherwise seem more joyful in ending their sections than willing to begin them. (Tremel. ex Talmud.) Upon this day also, by the institution (say they) of Haggai and Zechariah (but more likely by their own superstition), they did, with great solemnity and joy, bring great store of water from the river Shiloh to the temple; where it being delivered unto the priests, it was poured upon the altar, together with wine; and all the people sang that of the prophet,Isaiah 12:3; "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Hereunto our Saviour is thought to allude, John 7:38; "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of water;" provided that he believe in me, so as the Scripture saith he should. For so (after Chrysostom) Heinsius, De Dieu, and others expound it.
He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said] sc. That men should believe on me, to such I make a promise, that out of his belly, that is (by a catachresis), a out of the bosom and bottom of his soul "shall flow rivers," &c.: he shall not only have sufficient for himself, but wherewith to refresh others.
a Improper use of words; application of a term to a thing which it does not properly denote; abuse or perversion of a trope or metaphor. ŒD