Waterpots (υδρια). Old word from υδωρ (water) and used in papyri for pots or pans for holding money or bread as well as water. These stone (λιθινα as in 2. Corinthians 3:3) jars full of water were kept handy ( set there , κειμενα, present middle participle of κειμα) at a feast for ceremonial cleansing of the hands (2. Kings 3:11; Mark 7:3), "after the Jews' manner of purifying" (κατα τον καθαρισμον των Ιουδαιων). See Mark 1:44; Luke 2:22 for the word καθαρισμος (from καθαριζω) which fact also raised a controversy with disciples of John because of his baptizing (John 3:25).

Containing (χωρουσα). Present active participle feminine plural of χωρεω, old verb from χωρος, place, space, having space or room for.

Two or three firkins apiece (ανα μετρητας δυο η τρεις). The word μετρητης, from μετρεω, to measure, simply means "measurer," an amphora for measuring liquids (in Demosthenes, Aristotle, Polybius), the Hebrew bath (2. Chronicles 4:5), here only in N.T., about 8 1/2 English gallons. Each υδρια thus held about 20 gallons. This common distributive use of ανα occurs here only in this Gospel, but is in Revelation 4:8. In John 4:28 a much smaller υδρια was used for carrying water.