Note 9 at Jn. 7:38: This phrase, "as the scripture hath said" could be referring to Isaiah 58:11 where the Lord promised to make us "like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." This promise, however, was a promised result of a godly type of fast and was not clearly associated with any aspect of the new covenant. Jesus' statement would also not be a very close quotation of Isaiah 58:11, or of Jeremiah 31:12, which contains a similar passage.

It is also possible that this phrase would be referring back to believing on Him, which would render the meaning of this verse to be "If we believe on Jesus as the scriptures teach that we should believe on Him, then out of our belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Note 10 at Jn. 7:38: These rivers of living water are referring to the Holy Spirit and the effects He produces in the life of the believer. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." These qualities should flow out of us as an artesian well. They should not have to be pumped. They will flow as we conform our thinking to God's Word (Prov. 23:7; Isa. 26:3; Rom. 8:6; 12:2).