Devine Scripture

John 19:36

What does John 19:36 mean?

A plain-English look at John 19:36 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 19:36 means

John declares that these events, specifically that no bone of Jesus was broken, came to pass to fulfill scripture. He refers to the prophecy, "A bone of him shall not be broken," found in Exodus 12:46 (concerning the Passover lamb) and Psalm 34:20 (concerning the righteous). This explicitly connects Jesus to the Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice atoned for sin, and shows God's intricate orchestration of events to fulfill His divine plan in precise detail.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

These things came about so that the Writings might be true, No bone of his body will be broken.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

For these things came to pass, that the Writing may be fulfilled, `A bone of him shall not be broken;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of him shall be broken.

Context

This verse explicitly states the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding Jesus' unbroken bones, directly following the eyewitness account and its validation. This theological explanation connects Jesus' death to the Passover lamb, a crucial point for understanding His redemptive sacrifice. This fulfillment is immediately followed by another prophetic declaration, further emphasizing the divine design behind these profound events.

v.35And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may believe.

v.36This passage

v.37And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 34:20

    He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken.

  • Matthew 1:22

    Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

  • Exodus 12:46

    In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

  • John 19:28

    After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.

  • Numbers 9:12

    they shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break a bone thereof: according to all the statute of the passover they shall keep it.

  • Psalms 35:10

    All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, Who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, Yea, the poor and the needy from him that robbeth him?

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