Jesus’s Side Pierced

31 Since it was the preparation day,(A) the Jews did not want the bodies(B) to remain on the cross(C) on the Sabbath(D) (for that Sabbath was a special[a] day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.(E) 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead.(F) 34 But one of the soldiers pierced(G) his side(H) with a spear, and at once blood and water(I) came out. 35 He who saw this has testified(J) so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.(K) 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled:(L) Not one of his bones will be broken.[b](M) 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.[c](N)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:31 Lit great
  2. 19:36 Ex 12:46; Nm 9:12; Ps 34:20
  3. 19:37 Zch 12:10

31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an important day), asked Pilate that their legs could be broken and they could be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they[a] came to Jesus, after they saw he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water came out immediately. 35 And the one who has seen it[b] has testified, and his testimony is true, and that person knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things happened in order that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not a bone of his will be broken.”[c] 37 And again another scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”[d]

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Footnotes

  1. John 19:33 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  2. John 19:35 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. John 19:36 A quotation from Exod 12:46, Num 9:12, and Ps 34:20
  4. John 19:37 A quotation from Zech 12:10