Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 2:6

"Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews` manner of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece." — John 2:6 (ASV)

I admire the accuracy of the Holy Spirit. John does not know exactly how much these vessels held; they were not made to measure things in, so he writes, containing two or three firkins apiece. Let us always speak correctly; sometimes, "almost" or "thereabouts" will be words that will just save our truthfulness. Let us not speak positively when we do not know; and when the accuracy of a statement is necessary, and we cannot give it in terms that are definite, let us give it in words like these, containing two or three firkins apiece.

These were great waterpots of stone. Stone will not, as a rule, hold the flavour of anything that has been in it, as an earthen vessel would; so these pots, which had contained nothing else but water, could not be suspected of having any lees of wine concealed in them, or any flavouring material that would make the water taste like wine. No, they were genuine stone waterpots.