Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the "Spirit was not yet given" not because the Holy Spirit was absent from the world, but because Jesus's glorification—his ascension into heavenly glory—was the necessary precursor for the Spirit's full, empowered outpouring upon believers. This wasn't just a delay; it was a divinely ordained sequence where Christ's completed work in glory paved the way for the Spirit to indwell and empower his church in a new and abundant way.
Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just finished a passionate invitation at the Feast of Tabernacles, calling anyone who thirsts to come to Him and drink, promising that believers would have rivers of living water flowing from them. John now clarifies that this "living water" Jesus spoke of refers to the Holy Spirit, who was not yet fully given because Jesus Himself had not yet been glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. This highlights that the outpouring of the Spirit, a cornerstone of Christian experience, was directly linked to Jesus' completed work.
Jesus speaks of the Spirit flowing like rivers, but says it wasn't 'given' yet. What does this mean for believers then and now?
In John 7:39, Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit, but John clarifies that this gift wasn't fully realized yet. This isn't because God the Father or the Son were unwilling, but because the Spirit's full ministry was directly tied to Jesus' glorification.
A Conditional Promise
Before Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit's work was different. While believers in the Old Testament and even Jesus' immediate followers experienced His presence and power, the unique, indwelling ministry of the Spirit as the 'Comforter' and 'Advocate' was contingent on Jesus returning to the Father. Think of it like a powerful tool that could only be fully deployed after its master returned to headquarters.
The 'Not Yet' Principle
This 'not yet' is crucial. It highlights that God's redemptive plan unfolds in stages. The promise of the Spirit wasn't a broken promise, but a future, glorious reality that would be poured out after Jesus' work was completed and He ascended into His glory. This doesn't diminish the Spirit's work in the past, but points to a new, more abundant era of His presence.
Jesus' 'glorification' is presented as the turning point for the Holy Spirit's coming. What does 'glorified' mean in this context?
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The verse hinges on Jesus being 'glorified.' This isn't just about Jesus looking radiant or experiencing fame. In John's Gospel, 'glorification' is a multi-layered concept that includes:
The Spirit as God's Seal of Approval
When Jesus was glorified, it was God's powerful declaration to the world: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' The subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit was God's way of validating Jesus' finished work and extending His presence and power to believers. The Spirit's coming signifies that Jesus’ mission was accomplished, accepted, and is now actively at work through His people.
Understand the original words
pneuma · Greek Noun
The third person of the Trinity; the agent of God's presence, power, and sanctification in the life of the believer, promised to the church following Christ's ascension.
doxazo · Greek Verb
In the context of the Fourth Gospel, this refers to Christ's return to the Father through the cross, resurrection, and ascension—the process by which His mission is completed and His divine glory is fully revealed.
This verse highlights a critical shift in God's redemptive work: the Spirit's empowerment for believers became fully available only after Jesus' ascension and glorification.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected, marking the pivotal event that would lead to His glorification.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Ascension
Jesus ascends to heaven, returning to the Father's glory, an event essential for the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised.
AD 30s
Pentecost and the Coming of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is poured out in His fullness upon believers, empowering them and inaugurating the new era of God's presence.
This passage directly echoes Jesus explaining that his departure (glorification) is necessary for the coming of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, reinforcing the idea that the Spirit's coming was tied to Jesus' finished work.
Acts 2:33Peter explicitly states that Jesus, after being exalted to the right hand of God, has poured out the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the fulfillment of Jesus' promise mentioned in John 7:39.
Joel 2:28-29This Old Testament prophecy foretold a time when God would pour out His Spirit on all people, a promise Peter links to Pentecost (Acts 2), showing the long-awaited outpouring of the Spirit that John 7:39 points towards.
Ephesians 4:8-10This passage describes Jesus' ascension and subsequent giving of gifts to humanity, which includes the outpouring of the Spirit, aligning with the concept that Jesus' glorification preceded the Spirit's full bestowal.
vincentJohn 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.)"
The SpiritThe Holy Spirit, personally.The Holy Ghost (πνεῦμα ἅγιον)The best texts omit ἅγιον, holy, and the definite article is not in the text, so that the strict rendering is simply spirit. Literally, spirit was not yet. Given, in A.V. and Rev., is added to guard against a possible misconception, which, as Alford ob…
jfbJohn 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.)"
- this spake he of the Spirit—who, by His direct personal agency, opens up this spring of living waters in the human spirit (Joh 3:6), and by His indwelling in the renewed soul ensures their unfailing flow.they that believe, &c.—As the Holy Ghost is, in the redemption of man, entirely at the service of Christ, as His Age…
The verse highlights that the "Spirit was not yet given" not because the Holy Spirit was absent from the world, but because Jesus's glorification—his ascension into heavenly glory—was the necessary precursor for the Spirit's full, empowered outpouring upon believers. This wasn't just a delay; it was a divinely ordained sequence where Christ's completed work in glory paved the way for the Spirit to indwell and empower his church in a new and abundant way.
Jesus had just finished a passionate invitation at the Feast of Tabernacles, calling anyone who thirsts to come to Him and drink, promising that believers would have rivers of living water flowing from them. John now clarifies that this "living water" Jesus spoke of refers to the Holy Spirit, who was not yet fully given because Jesus Himself had not yet been glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. This highlights that the outpouring of the Spirit, a cornerstone of Christian experience, was directly linked to Jesus' completed work.
Jesus had just finished a passionate invitation at the Feast of Tabernacles, calling anyone who thirsts to come to Him and drink, promising that believers would have rivers of living water flowing from them. John now clarifies that this "living water" Jesus spoke of refers to the Holy Spirit, who was not yet fully given because Jesus Himself had not yet been glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. This highlights that the outpouring of the Spirit, a cornerstone of Christian experience, was directly linked to Jesus' completed work.
"Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." — The verse highlights that the "Spirit was not yet given" not because the Holy Spirit was absent from the world, but because Jesus's glorification—his ascension into heavenly glory—was the necessary p…
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Last reviewed October 2026