Devine Scripture

John 19:33

What does John 19:33 mean?

A plain-English look at John 19:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 19:33 means

When the soldiers came to Jesus, they discovered He was already dead. Therefore, they did not break His legs, unlike the two criminals. This detail is significant and deliberate, fulfilling a specific Old Testament prophecy: "A bone of him shall not be broken" (Psalm 34:20), referring to the Passover lamb, whose bones were not to be broken. Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb, perfectly fulfills this symbolic requirement, even in His death.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead by this time, and so his legs were not broken;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having come to Jesus, when they saw him already having been dead, they did not break his legs;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but coming to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead they did not break his legs,

Context

This verse describes the soldiers' discovery that Jesus was already dead, immediately after they broke the legs of the other two crucified men. This unexpected finding is crucial, as it leads directly to their not breaking His legs. This specific detail sets up the explicit declaration of prophetic fulfillment in verse 36, emphasizing Jesus' role as the Passover Lamb.

v.32The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him:

v.33This passage

v.34howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water.

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