John 19:23
What does John 19:23 mean?
A plain-English look at John 19:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 19:23 means
After crucifying Jesus, the soldiers divide His garments into four parts, one for each soldier. However, they preserve His coat, or tunic, because it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. Such a garment was valuable and uncommon, suggesting a certain quality. This detail emphasizes the soldiers' routine, unfeeling actions and sets the stage for the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah's clothing, as God sovereignly works through even the mundane actions of men.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when Jesus was nailed to the cross, the men of the army took his clothing, and made a division of it into four parts, to every man a part, and they took his coat: now the coat was without a join, made out of one bit of cloth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The soldiers, therefore, when they did crucify Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to each soldier a part, also the coat, and the coat was seamless, from the top woven throughout,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified him, took his garments, (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part) and also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his clothes, and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and the body-coat; but the body-coat was seamless, woven through the whole from the top.
Context
This verse describes the soldiers' actions with Jesus' clothing, immediately following Pilate's final interaction with the Jewish leaders. The description of the seamless coat is a critical detail that leads directly into the next verse. This act of dividing the garments sets the stage for the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, highlighting God's meticulous plan even in the midst of human cruelty.
v.22Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
v.23This passage
v.24They said therefore one to another, 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 garments among them, And upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.
- Mark 15:24
And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take.
- Exodus 39:22
And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue;
- Matthew 27:35
And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;
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