John 19:31

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.

Context of John 19:31

29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 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. 32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

John 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• The Jewsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• becauseἐπείepei · sinceG1893
• it wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the preparationπαρασκευήparaskeuē · PreparationG3904
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• the bodiesσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• shouldμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• notμήmē · notG3361
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
• onἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the sabbath dayσάββατονsabbaton · SabbathG4521
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• an highμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• besoughtἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• legsσκέλοςskelos · legG4628
• might be brokenκατάγνυμιkatagnumi · to breakG2608
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• they might be taken awayαἴρωairō · to take upG142

Cross-references for John 19:31

• John 19:14It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
• Matthew 27:62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.
• Mark 15:42It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,
• Deuteronomy 21:22If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole,
• Leviticus 23:7On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.
• John 19:1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
• Proverbs 12:10The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
• Micah 3:3who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?”

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

• Day
• Jesus, the Christ
• Legs
• Preparation Day
• Sabbath

In the dictionaries

• Pilate; Pontius
• Pilate
• High Day
• Crucifixion
• Humiliation of Christ
• Thenceforth
• Writing
• Chronology of the New Testament
• Day Before the Sabbath
• Jesus Christ

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