American Standard Version
John 19:31
31The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of that sabbath was a high day), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
- New International Version (NIV)Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Context of John 19:31
29There was set there a vessel full of vinegar: so they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his mouth. 30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of that sabbath was a high day), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him: 33but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Read all of John 19John 19:31 word by word
Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἐπεὶ παρασκευὴ ἦν, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ, ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου, ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πιλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη καὶ ἀρθῶσιν.Read the interlinear
- JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- Preparationπαρασκευήparaskeuē · PreparationG3904
- bodiesσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
- remainμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
- sabbathσάββατονsabbaton · SabbathG4521
- dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- askedἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
- PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
- legsσκέλοςskelos · legG4628
- brokenκατάγνυμιkatagnumi · to breakG2608
- takenαἴρωairō · to take upG142
Cross-references for John 19:31
- John 19:14Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!
- Matthew 27:62Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate,
- Mark 15:42And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
- Deuteronomy 21:22And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree;
- Leviticus 23:7In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work.
- John 19:1Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
- Proverbs 12:10A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
- Micah 3:3who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
Commentaries on John 19:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31It was the preparation - Every Sabbath had a preparation which began at the ninth hour (that is, three o'clock) the preceding evening. Josephus, Ant. b. xvi. c. 6, s. 2, recites an edict of the Emperor Augustus in favor of the Jews, which orders, "that no one shall be obliged to give bail or surety on the Sabbath day, nor on the preparation before it, after the ninth hour." The time fixed here was undoubtedly in conformity to the Jewish custom, as they…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31The preparation - John 19:14. That the bodies - The law required that the bodies of those who were hung should not remain suspended during the night. See Deuteronomy 21:22-23. That law was made when the punishment by crucifixion was unknown, and when those who were suspended would almost immediately expire. In the punishment by crucifixion, life was lengthened out for four, five, or eight days. The Jews therefore requested that their death might be…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-37Verses 31-37 A trial was made whether Jesus was dead. He died in less time than persons crucified commonly did. It showed that he had laid down his life of himself. The spear broke up the very fountains of life; no human body could survive such a wound. But its being so solemnly attested, shows there was something peculiar in it. The blood and water that flowed out, signified those two great benefits which all believers partake of through Christ…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-33The Jewish authorities, eager to complete the crucifixion before Sabbath began at dusk, asked Pilate to break the legs of the men. It was common to break the legs of those crucified with a tool. It caused them to stop breathing and bleed excessively because the victim could not push themselves up to breathe.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-4231-37. the preparation--sabbath eve. that the bodies should not remain--over night, against the Mosaic law (De 21:22, 23). on the sabbath day, for that sabbath day was an high day--or "great" day--the first day of unleavened bread, and, as concurring with an ordinary sabbath, the most solemn season of the ecclesiastical year. Hence their peculiar jealousy lest the law should be infringed. besought Pilate that their legs might be broken--to hasten their…Read the comment
Topics related to John 19:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries