Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."
The living water that Jesus promised has two meanings. Literally it refers to flowing water in contrast to stagnant water. Metaphorically it refers to the cleansing and refreshing grace that the Holy Spirit brings as a result of proper relationship with God (John 7:38-39; cf. Isaiah 1:16-18; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Zechariah 14:8; John 3:5). The Old Testament used water to symbolize teaching or doctrine and living water as a metaphor for God (cf. Psalms 36:9; Isaiah 55:1; Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13). [Note: See ibid., pp. 149-69.] 