Bible Word Study
ῥέω
reō · I flow
ῥέω
I flow
Definition
ῥέω (reō) is a verb meaning 'to flow' or 'to stream,' describing the movement of liquids like water or rivers. In its only New Testament occurrence, John 7:38, it is used metaphorically to describe rivers of living water flowing from within a believer. This imagery conveys a continuous, abundant outpouring. The word can also imply 'to overflow' or 'to gush forth,' emphasizing a plentiful and dynamic supply.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in John 7:38. Here, Jesus uses it in a metaphorical and prophetic context, stating, 'Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow (ῥεύσουσιν) from within them.' The usage is entirely figurative, describing the spiritual life given by the Holy Spirit.
Etymology
Derived from the ancient Greek verb ῥέω, meaning 'to flow.' It is a primary verb with a clear, enduring sense related to liquid motion. Cognates include ῥεῦμα (rheuma, G4511), meaning 'a flow' or 'stream,' and ῥύσις (rhysis, G4511 in some contexts), meaning 'a flowing.' The root concept consistently pertains to flowing or streaming.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit's indwelling and overflowing work in a believer's life. The imagery of 'flowing rivers' in John 7:38-39 points to the abundant, life-giving, and transformative power of the Spirit, which would be fully given after Jesus' glorification. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by emphasizing the continuous, dynamic, and superabundant nature of the spiritual life Christ offers, moving beyond a static concept to one of active, outward-moving grace. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, flowing, living water from a spring or river was a powerful symbol of life, sustenance, blessing, and divine provision. This metaphor would have been immediately vivid to Jesus' audience, contrasting with stagnant water. The promise of an internal, inexhaustible source would have been profoundly striking. κυλίω (kuliō, G2947) — to roll, often used for water rolling along; πίνω (pinō, G4095) — to drink, focusing on the consumption rather than the movement of liquid.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]