John 19:38

John 19:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
• New International Version (NIV)Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
• New King James Version (NKJV)After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

Context of John 19:38

36This happened so that the Scripture would come true: “None of his bones will be broken.” 37Another Scripture passage says, “They will look at the person whom they have stabbed.” Later Joseph from the city of Arimathea asked Pilate to let him remove Jesus’ body. (Joseph was a disciple of Jesus but secretly because he was afraid of the Jews). Pilate gave him permission to remove Jesus’ body. So Joseph removed it. 39Nicodemus, the one who had first come to Jesus at night, went with Joseph and brought 75 pounds of a myrrh and aloe mixture. 40These two men took the body of Jesus and bound it with strips of linen. They laced the strips with spices. This was the Jewish custom for burial.

John 19:38 word by word

Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἠρώτησεν τὸν Πιλᾶτον Ἰωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ Ἁριμαθαίας ὢν μαθητὴς τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, κεκρυμμένος δὲ διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ. καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν ὁ Πιλᾶτος. ἦλθεν οὖν καὶ ἦρεν τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• afterμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• JosephἸωσήφIōsēph · JosephG2501
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• ArimatheaἈριμαθαίαArimathaia · ArimatheaG707
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a discipleμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• of JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• secretlyκρύπτωkruptō · to hideG2928
• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
• of the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• besoughtἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he might take awayαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• gaveἐπιτρέπωepitrepō · to permitG2010
• He cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• of JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424

Cross-references for John 19:38

• Matthew 27:57In the evening a rich man named Joseph arrived. He was from the city of Arimathea and had become a disciple of Jesus.
• Mark 15:42It was Friday evening, before the day of rest—a holy day,
• Luke 23:50There was a good man who had God’s approval. His name was Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish council,
• John 9:22(His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue.
• John 12:42Many rulers believed in Jesus. However, they wouldn’t admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue.
• Proverbs 29:25A person’s fear sets a trap ⌞for him⌟, but one who trusts the Lord is safe.
• Philippians 1:14So through my being in prison, the Lord has given most of our brothers and sisters confidence to speak God’s word more boldly and fearlessly than ever.

Commentaries on John 19:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Joseph of Arimathea - See on Matthew 27:57-60; (note); and particularly Mark 15:42, Mark 15:43; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38-42Verses 38-42 See the notes at Matthew 27:57-61.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-42Verses 38-42 Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Christ in secret. Disciples should openly own themselves; yet some, who in lesser trials have been fearful, in greater have been courageous. When God has work to do, he can find out such as are proper to do it. The embalming was done by Nicodemus, a secret friend to Christ, though not his constant follower. That grace which at first is like a bruised reed, may afterward resemble a strong cedar. Hereby…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38According to Luke's Gospel, Joseph of Arimathea was a brave man "waiting for the kingdom of God" (Luke 23:50–51). He was a wealthy and influential leader in Jerusalem and a member of the Jewish high council (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43). He disagreed with the decision to kill Jesus. He asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus in his own tomb. Joseph was a secret disciple (compare John 12:42–43). But his bold action showed his public support for Jesus.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 38-4038-40. Joseph of Arimathea--"a rich man" (Mt 27:57), thus fulfilling Is 53:9; "an honorable counsellor," a member of the Sanhedrim, and of good condition, "which also waited for the kingdom of God" (Mr 15:43), a devout expectant of Messiah's kingdom; "a good man and a just, the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them" (Lu 23:50, 51--he had gone the length, perhaps, of dissenting and protesting in open council against the condemnation of our…Read the comment

Topics related to John 19:38

• Arimathea
• Burial
• Cowardice
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joseph
• Opinion, Public
• Pilate, Pontius

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Pilate; Pontius
• Pilate
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Arimathea
• Humiliation of Christ
• Thenceforth
• Writing
• Arimathaea
• Golgotha

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