Isaiah 12:3
in Isaiah 12With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
KJV
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
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This verse in Isaiah 12
Commentary
18 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Therefore - In view of all his mercies, the Hebrew is, however; simply, ‘” and” ye shall draw.’ It has already been intimated that the Jews applied this passage to the Holy Spirit: and that probably on this they based their custom of drawing water from the fountain of Siloam at the feast of the dedication (note, Joh 7:37). The fountain of Siloam was in the eastern part of the city, and the water was borne from that fountain in a golden cup, and was poured, with every expression of rejoicing, on the sacrifice on the altar.
This site's exposition
though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away
on Isaiah 12:1-3
The chapter is a psalm set on the far side of the judgments just pronounced against Assyria, opening in that day thou shalt say, the same phrase that closed the highway prophecy of chapter 11, deliverance now met with praise rather than merely announced. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid states the confession in the first person before the corporate praise of verses 4 through 6 begins, and the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also is become my salvation is drawn almost word for word from the Song of Moses at Exodus 15:2, verified, the same confession Israel sang on the far side of the Red Sea. Delitzsch reads the borrowing as deliberate, the exodus language of chapter 11's highway carried straight into the psalm that answers it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Between this rich man and the poor man there is a great chasm; because after death, merits cannot be changed, and therefore the rich man is led into hell, desiring to draw something of the poor man's refreshing spirit; for water is the nourishment of the soul in its afflictions, of which Isaiah says: "And water will be drunk with delight from the fountains of salvation." But why is he tormented before judgment? Because punishment is to be deprived of luxuries for the one indulging in them. For the Lord says: "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of heaven." And yet this late rich master begins to be; since he no longer has time for learning or teaching.
A commentator
Ambrose of MilanCommentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 40.4-5 · Written before 397.
proposed
But perhaps you will say: How can Christ be rich in poverty? Although my intelligence may fail me, divine assistance does not fail in the reading of the Scriptures, for the Apostle says: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich." So what is this poverty that makes us rich? Let us consider it, let us focus on the sacred Sacrament itself. What can be purer and simpler than that? No one is drenched with the blood of bulls, as the sacrifices of the Gentiles are said to be; no sinner is washed with the blood of goats and rams (for no one is purified in this way; flesh is washed, not guilt diluted), but with water, as Isaiah says, with joy from the springs of the Savior; and a heavenly table is prepared before you, and what a splendid intoxicating cup it is! These are the riches of simplicity, in which is the precious poverty of Christ. Poverty is good in character; hence the Lord said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit." And in the Psalms we find that the Lord will save the humble in spirit. There is also abundant poverty in humble fellowship, if faith abounds. Hence the Apostle says: "And their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their simplicity."
But after discussing this sermon of the venerable Bishop Paul, Saint Cyril addressed the people and said, "The blessed prophet Isaiah, preaching tenderly about future teachers in Christ, said, 'Draw water from the fountains of salvation with joy.' " Behold, therefore, we drew water from …
The one whom he entitled "Emmanuel" above, then "take the spoils," "hasten to plunder," and with other names, he now calls "Savior," lest there appear to be another beyond him whom Gabriel announced to the Virgin, saying, "And you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people." He also prophesies that waters are to be drawn from his fonts—not from the waters of the rivers of Egypt, which were stricken, nor from the waters of the rivers of Rezin, but from the fonts of Jesus, for this is what "Savior" expresses in the Hebrew language. Hence Jesus himself cried out in the Gospel, "Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture says, 'rivers of living water will flow from his heart.' This," adds the evangelist, "he said of the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive." Jesus also says elsewhere in the Gospel, "The one who drinks from the water that I shall give him will never thirst again, for the water that I will give him will become in him a font of water springing up to eternal life." We understand the fonts of the Savior to be evangelical doctrine, about which we read in the sixty-seventh psalm, "Blessed be the Lord God in the congregations from the fonts of Israel."
And in the ninety-second Psalm it is sung: The rivers have lifted up, O Lord, the rivers have lifted up their voices from the voices of many waters. Wonderful are the elevations of the sea. These are the waters of Siloam, which flow with silence, of which Isaiah speaks: You shall draw waters with joy from the fountains of salvation. And the Psalmist says: Bless the Lord from the fountains of Israel. Likewise, Isaiah speaks of the Lord as Savior: He, it is said, shall dwell in the high cave of the strongest rock. Bread shall be given to him, and his water shall be faithful.
11 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Verse 3.) You shall draw water with joy from the springs of the Savior. He whom above all others Emmanuel acknowledges as Savior, hastens, despoiling the enemy, to plunder, and is called by other names, lest there appear to be another besides Him whom Gabriel announced to the Virgin, saying, 'And you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people' (Matthew 1:21): now He is called Savior, and proclaims the waters to be drawn from His springs, not from the waters of the Egyptian river, which were struck, nor from the waters of the river of Rasin, but from the springs of Jesus; for in the Hebrew language, Savior is expressed by this name. And He Himself also cried out in the Gospel, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'' Now this, the evangelist says, He spoke about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believe in Him were to receive. And in another place in the Gospel He Himself speaks, 'Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give Him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.' (John 7:38; 4:13,14). Let us understand the Evangelical teaching of the Sources of Salvation, which we read about in the sixty-seventh psalm: 'In the churches, bless God the Lord from the fountains of Israel' (Psalm 67:27).
We say that God is … a fountain because he fills the thirsty and empty.
The Medieval Church4 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
This fortitude is from God redeeming through the incarnation of the divine Word. Whence Isaiah says: "The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he has become my salvation; you shall draw waters with joy from the fountains of the Savior." These are the …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 17 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
And so, two kinds of water are distinguished. For one knowledge is described as being external, and the more one drinks of it, the more he thirsts; the other, as being internal, of which it is said: "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture …
And who is this strong man, except him of whom the Lord says in the Gospel; No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, unless he first bind the strong man. The Lord, therefore, clave the fountains and the torrents, when He spread in the hearts of His Apostles the streams of truth. Of whom it is said again by another Prophet; With joy shall ye draw water from the fountains of the Saviour. For we go in our thirst to their teaching, that we may bring back the pitcher of our hearts full of truth. But He dried the rivers of Ethan by the springing forth of His own fountains, when He withered the doctrine of the mighty and malignant spirit by displaying the ray of His own truth.
387. You shall draw. Here he promises the benefit: waters, of comfort, cooling them against the heat of tribulation. 391. It is to be noted on the words, you shall draw waters (Isa 12:3), that there is first, the water of doctrine, below: all you …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
"Thou shalt say, Lord, I will praise thee." Thanksgiving-work shall be closet-work. Many in concert shall join in praising God for the common benefit arising from this salvation (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
God's favour shall flow forth to you, and you shall have the comfort of it and make use of the blessed fruits of it." Note, (1.) God's promises revealed, ratified, and given out to us, in his ordinances, are wells of salvation; wells of the Saviour (so some read it), for in them the Saviour and salvation are made known to us and made over to us.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
With joy - Your thirsty souls shall be filled with Divine graces and comforts, which you may draw from God, in the use of gospel-ordinances.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
draw water . . . salvation--an expressive image in a hot country. On the last day of the feast of tabernacles the Jews used to bring water in a golden pitcher from the fountain of Siloam, and pour it, mingled with wine, on the sacrifice on the altar, with great rejoicing. This is the allusion in Jesus' words on "the last day of the feast" (Joh 7:2, 37-39).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And you shall draw water You shall receive a new teaching [from Targum].
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
for the strength and the praise of the Eternal the Lord The strength and the praise of the Holy One, blessed be He, that was my salvation.
Behold, in the word of God is my salvation; I am trusting, and shall not be moved, because my strength and my praise is the fear of the Lord: He hath spoken by His word, and He is become my salvation.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
5 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם־ | usheavtem- | and you will draw | H7579 → | |
| מַ֖יִם | mayim | water | H4325 → | 581 times |
| בְּשָׂשׂ֑וֹן | besason | with joy | H8342 → | 22 times |
| מִמַּעַיְנֵ֖י | mimaaynei | from [the] springs of | H4599 → | |
| הַיְשׁוּעָֽה׃ | hayshuah | <the> salvation | H3444 → | 78 times |
וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם־and you will draw
usheavtem-H7579 →
מַ֖יִםwater
mayimH4325 →581 times
בְּשָׂשׂ֑וֹןwith joy
besasonH8342 →22 times
מִמַּעַיְנֵ֖יfrom [the] springs of
mimaayneiH4599 →
הַיְשׁוּעָֽה׃<the> salvation
hayshuahH3444 →78 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 22:1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
it leads to
- John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 36:8–9
They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
- John 7:38–39
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
- John 4:10–11
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
- John 4:14
Through
Revelation 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
it leads to
- Revelation 21:6
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 7:37
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 21:6
Through
Revelation 7:17For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
it leads to
- John 7:37–38
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
- John 7:37–38
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Isaiah
This page draws on 17 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Ambrose of Milan, Commentary on Luke, 8.18-19; Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 40.4-5; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 17; Cassiodorus, EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 35:10; Facundus of Hermiane, TO JUSTINIAN 1:5.39-40; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Gregory the Dialogist, MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 6:33.20; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.