σουδάριον (soudarion)
soudarion
handkerchief
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun soudarion refers to a small cloth, typically described as a handkerchief or napkin. Its Latin origin suggests it was a common item in the Roman world, used for practical daily tasks like wiping sweat from the face or cleaning one’s nose. This humble object appears in four New Testament passages, grounding its meaning in ordinary human experience.
Its most striking usage occurs in the Gospel of John, where it takes on a solemn role. After Jesus raises Lazarus, he is found wrapped in grave clothes with a soudarion placed over his face (John 11:44). Later, in the empty tomb, this same cloth is seen lying separately from the burial wrappings (John 20:7). This detail highlights the reality of Jesus’ death and the orderly manner in which he was laid to rest.
While often translated simply as "handkerchief," the word carries a sense of personal intimacy. It was not a large shroud but a small, functional cloth that touched the face directly. In Acts 19:12, it is mentioned alongside Paul’s handkerchiefs being used to heal the sick, showing its association with personal care and touch. The term remains a quiet witness to the physical reality of the Gospel events.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word soudarion refers to a small cloth, often translated as a handkerchief or face cloth. In the ancient world, this was a common, everyday item used for wiping sweat or cleaning one’s face. It represents the humble, practical side of life, far removed from grand symbols. Yet, Scripture uses this ordinary object to anchor us in the physical reality of Jesus’ ministry and resurrection.
In John 11:44 and John 20:7, we see this cloth connected to Lazarus and Jesus. After raising Lazarus, Jesus is wrapped in a soudarion; later, it lies separately in the empty tomb. This detail shows that Jesus truly died and was buried with care. The orderly arrangement of these burial clothes reminds us that death did not have the final word. God’s power works through real bodies and real materials.
We also see this word in Acts 19:12, where Paul’s handkerchiefs were taken to the sick. This highlights how God can use simple, personal items to bring healing. It encourages us that our small acts of care and faith matter. Whether in grief or healing, God meets us in the ordinary details of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- soudarion1×
- in a headcloth1×
- handkerchiefs1×
- a piece of cloth;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σουδάριον1×
- σουδάρια1×
- σουδαρίῳ·1×
- σουδαρίῳ1×
Key Verses
-
John 11:44
He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”
This verse identifies the cloth over Lazarus's face as a soudarion, linking the word to the miracle of resurrection and the physical reality of death.
-
John 20:7
and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
Here the soudarion is described as rolled up separately, emphasizing the orderly nature of the empty tomb and the completeness of Jesus' resurrection.
-
Acts 19:12
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
This occurrence shows the word applied to Paul’s personal handkerchiefs, demonstrating how God used ordinary items for healing in the early church.