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σκέλος (skelos)

skelos

leg

G4628 · Greek · New Testament · 3 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
3 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The noun skelos refers to the leg, specifically defined by classical and biblical sources as the limb extending from the hip down to the toes. The lexicon data notes a likely etymological connection to a root meaning "to parch," which may allude to the lean or exposed nature of this body part. In the New Testament, the term is rare, appearing only three times, with the majority of its usage concentrated in the Gospel of John.

This scarcity gives the word significant narrative weight when it does appear. The primary context is the crucifixion account in John 19:33-36, where soldiers find Jesus already dead and thus do not break his legs (skela). This specific detail fulfills a scriptural pattern regarding the Passover lamb, whose bones were to remain unbroken. By omitting the breaking of the legs, the narrative emphasizes the completion of Jesus’ sacrifice and his identification with the ritual purity required of the lamb.

While the word simply denotes anatomy, its theological function in John is precise. It serves as a marker of authenticity in the death account and a typological link to Old Testament law. The sources highlight this usage to show how physical details in the passion narrative are not merely incidental but carry deep symbolic resonance for early Christian readers familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word skelos simply means leg, yet in John’s Gospel it carries heavy theological weight. When soldiers came to break the legs of those crucified with Jesus, they found Him already dead. This small physical detail was not an accident but a fulfillment of Scripture, linking Jesus directly to the Passover lamb whose bones were never to be broken.

This connection reminds us that Jesus’ death was not a chaotic end but a completed sacrifice. He is the true Lamb of God, offered once for all. The preservation of His legs serves as a marker of authenticity in the passion narrative, confirming that He fulfilled every requirement of the law and the prophets. It invites us to rest in the certainty that His work on the cross was finished and sufficient.

When we read these accounts, we see how physical details point to spiritual truths. Jesus’ body, even in death, aligns perfectly with God’s redemptive plan. This assurance can bring comfort, knowing that our salvation rests on a foundation secured by His perfect obedience and sacrifice.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • legs2×
  • legs,1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • σκέλη2×
  • σκέλη,1×

Key Verses

  • John 19:31
    Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

    This verse sets the urgency for breaking legs to hasten death before the Sabbath, establishing the context for the subsequent fulfillment.

  • John 19:32
    Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him;

    Here the soldiers break the legs of the two criminals, creating a contrast that highlights what happens next with Jesus.

  • John 19:33
    but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.

    The refusal to break Jesus’ legs fulfills the Passover lamb typology, confirming His identity as the unbroken sacrifice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Greek word skelos mean?

Skelos is a Greek noun that simply means 'leg.' In the New Testament, it appears only three times, all within the Gospel of John’s account of the crucifixion.

Why is breaking legs significant in John 19?

Breaking legs was a method to hasten death on the cross. In John 19, Jesus’ legs are not broken because He is already dead, fulfilling the Old Testament requirement that the Passover lamb’s bones remain unbroken.

How does this word connect to the Passover lamb?

The preservation of Jesus’ legs links Him typologically to the Passover lamb described in Exodus 12:46. This connection emphasizes that Jesus is the true Lamb whose sacrifice fulfills the law.

Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)

John 3 verses
John 19:31

Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath…

John 19:32

Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him;

John 19:33

but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.