JHN 19:31-37

Jesusʼ Side Is Pierced

31Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was of great importance), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. [19:32] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. [19:33] But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [19:34] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. [19:35] He who saw it has borne witness — his witness is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth — so that you also may trust. [19:36] For these things took place so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: 'Not one of his bones will be broken.' [19:37] And again another Scripture says, 'They will look on him whom they have pierced.'

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Jewish context, the Sabbath was a day of strict rest, and leaving bodies on crosses overnight violated Deuteronomic law (Deut 21:22-23), which required burial before sunset to avoid defiling the land. The (Preparation Day) was the time to prepare for the Sabbath, including ensuring no work remained unfinished. The Jewish leaders’ request to Pilate reflects their concern for ritual purity and adherence to Torah, especially on a (great) Sabbath, likely coinciding with Passover, a festival of heightened religious observance. Roman soldiers, tasked with maintaining order, typically broke the legs of crucified individuals to hasten death by asphyxiation, as the victim could no longer push up to breathe. The use of a (spear) to pierce Jesus’ side was a standard Roman military action, ensuring death. The flow of blood and water, noted in the text, would have been understood as confirmation of death, a critical detail for both Jewish burial customs and Roman execution protocols.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

JHN 19:31

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.
BSB: It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.
Koinōnos: 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 of great importance), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

JHN 19:32

KJV: Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
BSB: So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other.
Koinōnos: So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him.

JHN 19:33

KJV: But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
BSB: But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
Koinōnos: But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

JHN 19:34

KJV: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
BSB: Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
Koinōnos: But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.

JHN 19:35

KJV: And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
BSB: The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
Koinōnos: He who saw it has borne witness — his witness is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth — so that you also may trust.

JHN 19:36

KJV: For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
BSB: Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.”
Koinōnos: For these things took place so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: 'Not one of his bones will be broken.

JHN 19:37

KJV: And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
BSB: And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced.”
Koinōnos: And again another Scripture says, 'They will look on him whom they have pierced.

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

Translator's notes

JHN 19:31

[the] Preparation:The word translated 'Preparation' refers to the day before the Sabbath, when people would prepare food and other necessities, as no work was permitted on the Sabbath itself.
a high:The term used here for 'high' often described something of great importance or significance, not just physical elevation, indicating the special nature of this particular Sabbath.

JHN 19:34

with a spear:The word translated 'spear' specifically refers to a soldier's lance, a common weapon used by Roman soldiers.
pierced,:The word translated 'pierced' implies a forceful, deep penetration, often used for a wound inflicted by a sharp object.