38After these things, Joseph of Arimathea — a disciple of Jesus, but a concealed one out of fear of the Jews — asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. He came, therefore, and took away his body. [19:39] And Nicodemus also came — the one who had come to him at first by night — bearing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred litras. [19:40] They took the body of Jesus, therefore, and bound it in linen wrappings with the aromatic spices, as is the custom of the Jews to prepare for burial. [19:41] Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [19:42] There, therefore, because of the Jews' day of preparation — for the tomb was nearby — they laid Jesus.
JHN 19:38-42
The Burial of Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In first-century Judea, burial customs were deeply tied to Jewish religious practices and Roman legal oversight. Jewish law required prompt burial, often on the day of death, to avoid ritual impurity. The use of linen cloths and aromatic spices like myrrh and aloes was customary, reflecting both reverence for the deceased and practical concerns about decomposition. Nicodemus’s contribution of about 100 litras (approximately 75 pounds) of spices indicates significant wealth, as such quantities were costly and reserved for elite burials. Joseph of Arimathea’s request to Pilate for Jesus’s body aligns with Roman practice, where bodies of the crucified were typically left exposed or discarded unless claimed by family or patrons. Joseph’s fear of the Jews suggests the political tension surrounding Jesus’s execution, as associating with a condemned criminal could bring social or legal repercussions. The secrecy of Joseph’s discipleship underscores the risks of publicly aligning with Jesus in this volatile context.
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How other translations render this
JHN 19:38
- KJV
- And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, 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.
- BSB
- Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
- Koinōnos
- After these things, Joseph of Arimathea — a disciple of Jesus, but a concealed one out of fear of the Jews — asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. He came, therefore, and took away his body.
JHN 19:39
- KJV
- And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
- BSB
- Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
- Koinōnos
- And Nicodemus also came — the one who had come to him at first by night — bearing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred litras.
JHN 19:40
- KJV
- Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
- BSB
- So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
- Koinōnos
- They took the body of Jesus, therefore, and bound it in linen wrappings with the aromatic spices, as is the custom of the Jews to prepare for burial.
JHN 19:41
- KJV
- Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
- BSB
- Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
- Koinōnos
- Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
JHN 19:42
- KJV
- There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
- BSB
- And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.
- Koinōnos
- There, therefore, because of the Jews' day of preparation — for the tomb was nearby — they laid Jesus.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 19:38
- <the>:The word translated 'secretly' here implies that Joseph was hiding his discipleship due to fear, suggesting a cautious and concealed allegiance.
JHN 19:39
- bearing:The term translated 'mixture' refers to a compound, often of spices or drugs, prepared for a specific purpose, in this case, for burial.
JHN 19:40
- in:The word translated 'strips of linen' refers specifically to linen bandages or cloths used for wrapping, particularly in the context of burial or for wounds.
- Jews:The word translated 'customs of the Jews for burial' is a single verb meaning 'to prepare for burial' or 'to lay out a body,' encompassing the entire ritual process.