New Living Translation
John 19:38
38Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away.
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
36These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37and “They will look on the one they pierced.” Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth.
Read all of John 19John 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 27:57As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus,
- Mark 15:42This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached,
- Luke 23:50Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council,
- John 9:22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.
- John 12:42Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.
- Proverbs 29:25Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.
- Philippians 1:14And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
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
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
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