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JHN 19:16-27

The Crucifixion

16Then therefore he handed him over to them that he might be crucified. They therefore took Jesus and led him away; [19:17] and bearing his own cross, he went out to the place being named the Place of the Skull, which is named in Hebrew Golgotha, [19:18] where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on this side and one on that side, and Jesus in between. [19:19] And Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross. And it was written: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. [19:20] Many of the Jews therefore read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, in Greek. [19:21] The chief priests of the Jews therefore were saying to Pilate, 'Do not write, The King of the Jews, but that that man said, I am King of the Jews.' [19:22] Pilate answered, 'What I have written, I have written.' [19:23] The soldiers therefore, when they crucified Jesus, took his outer garments and made four parts, a part to each soldier, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven from the top throughout; [19:24] so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it will be,' that the Scripture might be fulfilled which is being spoken: 'They divided My garments among themselves, and for My clothing they cast a lot.' The soldiers therefore indeed did these things. [19:25] But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [19:26] Jesus therefore, seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved already standing by, said to his mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' [19:27] Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Roman Empire, crucifixion was a public spectacle designed to humiliate and deter rebellion. The condemned often carried their own crossbeam (patibulum) to the execution site, a practice underscoring their powerlessness. Golgotha, named for its skull-like appearance, was outside the city walls, aligning with Jewish purity laws that barred executions within sacred space. Pilate’s inscription, 'King of the Jews,' was both a mockery and a political statement, asserting Roman authority over Jewish aspirations. The seamless tunic Jesus wore was valuable, likely handwoven in one piece, making it a prize for the soldiers who cast lots. The presence of Mary and the beloved disciple at the cross reflects familial loyalty, as crucifixion typically isolated the condemned from their kin. The act of Jesus entrusting Mary to the disciple redefined kinship ties, a radical gesture in a culture where family honor was paramount.

See the receipts

How other translations render this

JHN 19:16

KJV
Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
BSB
Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away.
Koinōnos
Then therefore he handed him over to them that he might be crucified. They therefore took Jesus and led him away;

JHN 19:17

KJV
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
BSB
Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.
Koinōnos
and bearing his own cross, he went out to the place being named the Place of the Skull, which is named in Hebrew Golgotha,

JHN 19:18

KJV
Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
BSB
There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.
Koinōnos
where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on this side and one on that side, and Jesus in between.

JHN 19:19

KJV
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
BSB
Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Koinōnos
And Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross. And it was written: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

JHN 19:20

KJV
This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
BSB
Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
Koinōnos
Many of the Jews therefore read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, in Greek.

JHN 19:21

KJV
Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
BSB
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”
Koinōnos
The chief priests of the Jews therefore were saying to Pilate, 'Do not write, The King of the Jews, but that that man said, I am King of the Jews.

JHN 19:23

KJV
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
BSB
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
Koinōnos
The soldiers therefore, when they crucified Jesus, took his outer garments and made four parts, a part to each soldier, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven from the top throughout;

JHN 19:24

KJV
They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
BSB
So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.” So that is what the soldiers did.
Koinōnos
so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it will be,' that the Scripture might be fulfilled which is being spoken: 'They divided My garments among themselves, and for My clothing they cast a lot.' The soldiers therefore indeed did these things.

JHN 19:25

KJV
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
BSB
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.
Koinōnos
But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

JHN 19:26

KJV
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
BSB
When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
Koinōnos
Jesus therefore, seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved already standing by, said to his mother, 'Woman, behold your son!

JHN 19:27

KJV
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
BSB
Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.
Koinōnos
Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

  • Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3

And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, 9 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him

Cited to ground: Pilate’s inscription, 'King of the Jews,' was both a mockery and a political statement, asserting Roman authority over Jewish aspirations.

Translator's notes

JHN 19:17

  • bearing:The word translated 'bearing' often implies carrying a heavy burden, not just physically, but also in the sense of enduring or suffering through something difficult.

JHN 19:23

  • garments:The term translated 'garments' specifically refers to the outer cloak or mantle, which was a significant and often valuable piece of clothing in the ancient world.
  • tunic.:The word translated 'tunic' refers to the inner garment worn directly against the skin, distinct from the outer cloak.

JHN 19:26

  • already standing by:The phrase 'already standing by' conveys a sense of being present and attentive, often in a posture of readiness or service, not merely being physically located nearby.