John 2:6

Waterpots of stone. Presumably stone was preferable to ordinary earthenware as a container for water used for purposes of purification (cf. Mishnah Kelim 10.1, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 52; Talmud Shabbath 96a, Soncino ed., p. 459). The water stored in these containers was no doubt intended for the ceremonial use of the guests attending the wedding.

The purifying. That is, the ceremonial washing of hands before and after meals (see on Mark 7:2-5), and perhaps also of the various utensils needed in the preparation and eating of the food at the wedding feast.

The Jews. John was evidently writing for non-Jews. The explanation here given would not have been needed by Jewish readers.

Two or three firkins. The “firkin” (see p. 50) may have been about 5.8 U.S. gal. (22 l.), or, as others think, roughly 10 gal. (c. 39 l.). If we take the smaller estimate of two firkins apiece, each waterpot would have held either 11.6 gal. (44 l.) or around 20 gal. (78 l.); all six would have contained 69.7 gal. (264 l.), or, at the most, 120 gal. (468 l.). A vast number of guests must have been present at this wedding feast.