John 19:31-37
Amplified Bible
Care of the Body of Jesus
31 Since it was the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], in order to prevent the bodies from hanging on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high holy day) the Jews asked Pilate to have their legs [a]broken [to hasten death] and the bodies taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other who had been crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came [flowing] out. 35 And he (John, the eyewitness) who has seen it has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also [who read this] may believe. 36 For these things took place to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of His shall be broken.”(A) 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look at Him whom they have pierced.”(B)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 19:31 After the legs were broken with a heavy blow, the condemned prisoner could no longer push upwards to assist his own breathing and would soon suffocate due to the awkward position that was forced on him by crucifixion. At the same time, breaking the legs was more painful than a quicker end with the point of a spear.
John 19:31-37
New American Standard Bible
Care of the Body of Jesus
31 Now then, since it was (A)the day of preparation, to prevent (B)the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath ([a]for that Sabbath was a (C)high day), the Jews requested of Pilate that their legs be broken, and the bodies be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other who was (D)crucified with Him; 33 but after they came to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 Yet one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately (E)blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has (F)testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place (G)so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “(H)Not a bone of Him shall be [b]broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “(I)They will look at Him whom they pierced.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 19:31 Lit for the day of that Sabbath was great
- John 19:36 Or crushed; or shattered
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.