John 19:40 · Bible study
John 19:40 Commentary: Burial Preparation and Resurrection Hope
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
John's account of Jesus' burial highlights Jewish custom, the use of spices and linen, and the dignity of Christ's death, foregrounding the resurrection.
Research Summary
- Meaning: John records the burial of Jesus according to Jewish custom with linen and spices, confirming his real death and honoring his body.
- Key words: linen cloths (ὀθονίοις, othoniois), bound (ἔδησαν, edēsan), spices (ἀρωμάτων, arōmatōn), custom (ἔθος, ethos), to prepare for burial (ἐνταφιάζειν, entaphiazein).
- Main debate: None significant; some question whether the spices were for embalming or merely honor, but Jewish custom did not involve evisceration.
- Theological theme: The burial validates Jesus' humanity and death, and sets the stage for the resurrection; it also shows generous love for Christ.
- Best use: In sermons on the reality of Jesus' death, the hope of resurrection, and the value of honoring the body as part of Christian hope.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
WEB World English Bible 2000
So they took Jesus’ body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
They took, therefore, the body of Jesus, and bound it with linen clothes with the spices, according as it was the custom of the Jews to prepare for burial;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
They took therefore the body of Jesus and bound it up in linen with the spices, as it is the custom with the Jews to prepare for burial.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
They took therefore the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Tomaron pues el cuerpo de Jesús, y envolviéronlo en lienzos con especias, como es costumbre de los Judíos sepultar.
Tomaram pois o corpo de Jesus, e o envolveram em lençóis com as especiarias, como é costume dos judeus sepultarem.
Ils prirent donc le corps de Jésus, et l’ enveloppèrent de bandes, avec les aromates, comme c’ est la coutume d’ ensevelir chez les Juifs.
Da nahmen sie den Leichnam Jesu und banden ihn in leinene Tücher mit den Spezereien, wie die Juden pflegen zu begraben.
Zij namen dan het lichaam van Jezus, en bonden dat in linnen doeken met de specerijen, gelijk de Joden de gewoonte hebben van begraven.
Essi dunque presero il corpo di Gesù e lo avvolsero in pannilini con gli aromi, com’è usanza di seppellire presso i Giudei.
Wzięli tedy ciało Jezusowe i uwinęli je w prześcieradła z onemi rzeczami wonnemi, jako jest zwyczaj Żydom umarłe chować.
Итак они взяли тело Иисуса и обвили его пеленами с благовониями, как обыкновенно погребают Иудеи.
他們就 照 猶太人 殯葬 的規矩，把 耶穌 的身體 用細麻布 加上 香料 裹好了。
Then they took the body of Jesus, folding linen about it with the spices, as is the way of the Jews when they put the dead to rest.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 19:40
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that John emphasizes Jewish burial custom to contrast with Egyptian embalming and Roman cremation, and to stress the reality of Jesus' death. Vincent's Word Studies notes that John uses "linen cloths" (οθονίοις, othoniois) for narrow bandages rather than the "linen sheet" (σινδών, sindon) in the Synoptics, and "bound" (ἔδησαν, edēsan) for the wrapping process. Calvin sees the costly spices as God's way of honoring His Son, preparing the way for the resurrection. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown point out that no one would have performed such a burial if they thought Jesus might still be alive, the burial was final proof of death. The Cambridge Bible notes that the custom differed from Egyptian embalming, which involved removing organs. The spices were likely scattered in the folds of the linen as a mark of respect. Gill adds that Jewish burial wound the body in linen with spices to counteract odor. Together, these observations show John grounding the burial in real, human practice, making the resurrection all the more remarkable. The care of Joseph and Nicodemus reminds us that even in death, Jesus was treated with dignity; the God who died was given a real burial, and that same reality secures our hope.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse describes a real burial following Jewish custom, confirming Jesus' genuine death and honoring his body.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish custom vs. embalming | All agree the burial followed Jewish tradition of wrapping in linen with spices, not Egyptian embalming with organ removal. | Minor; some commentators call it 'embalming' loosely (Gill), but Cambridge and Vincent explicitly contrast it with Egyptian practices. |
| Degree of preparation | The burial was a full, proper preparation for the Sabbath, though the women planned to add more spices later. | Some (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) argue it was a complete anointing; others (Cambridge) note that the women returned to anoint, suggesting incompleteness. |
| Significance of the spices' quantity | The hundred Roman pounds (about 75 lbs) was a lavish amount showing great honor. | Calvin sees it as God-ordained to counter the cross's shame; Gill sees it as ordinary Jewish practice; no theological conflict. |
Historical & Cultural Context
John's description of Jesus' burial reflects standard Jewish funerary practice in the first century. Unlike the Egyptians, who removed organs and soaked bodies in natrum for seventy days (Herodotus, cited by Vincent), Jewish burial was simpler: the body was washed, wrapped in linen cloths with aromatic spices mixed in the folds, and placed in a rock-cut tomb. The "linen cloths" (οθονίοις) John mentions appear again in Luke 24:12 and John 20:5-7, narrow bandages rather than the single sheet used in the Synoptics. This matches the description of Lazarus in John 11:44, who came out "bound hand and foot with wrappings."
Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus brought a lavish amount of spices, about a hundred Roman pounds of myrrh and aloes (v39). Calvin sees this expense as God's design to honor Christ after the shame of the cross. The burial took place in a new tomb in a garden near the crucifixion site, because the day was the Preparation (Friday before a Passover Sabbath). This urgency forced the women to plan returning after the Sabbath to complete the anointing (Mark 16:1). John's detail that the tomb was new and unused (v41) ensures no confusion about whose tomb it was, and echoes the virgin birth, a place untouched by death. God's providence weaves through these practical details: a rich man's tomb, the timely request to Pilate, the proximity of the garden. The burial is not an afterthought but a divinely prepared stage for the resurrection.
Textual Notes
Reception History
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The specific Jewish custom shows the reality of Jesus’ death, he was truly buried, just as he truly died.
- The costly spices reflect the dignity of Christ and God’s provision of honor in place of shame.
- The careful burial sets the stage for the empty tomb, the same hands that wrapped him found only linen cloths on Easter.
Five-point outline
- The preparation was intentional: Joseph and Nicodemus acted publicly at great personal risk.
- The manner was traditional: winding in linen with spices followed Jewish custom, not pagan embalming.
- The materials were lavish: a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes showed extraordinary love.
- The location was providential: a new tomb in a garden, near the cross, exactly where prophecy placed him.
- The urgency was pressing: the approaching Sabbath forced a quick burial, but it was still done with care.
Illustration hooks
- The difference between embalming (preserving the body) and Jewish burial (honoring the dead for a time). We do not keep Jesus in the tomb, we come looking for the living.
- Think of a funeral director’s attention to every detail, the washing, dressing, positioning. Every step mattered for Joseph and Nicodemus.
- Compare the cost of the spices to something you would consider your most generous gift. How much is Christ worth to you?
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why do the gospels spend so many verses on the burial?
- Does this heavy burial mean Jesus was definitely dead, not just unconscious?
- What can we learn about Christian funeral practices from this passage?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows the respect and care given to Jesus' body after his death. Joseph and Nicodemus followed Jewish custom, using linen and spices to prepare him for burial. Their actions confirm that Jesus truly died, and they set the stage for the resurrection. As you discuss, consider how the burial both honors Christ and prepares us for Easter joy.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think John includes the detail about the specific Jewish custom? What point does he want his readers to see?
- How does the burial of Jesus differ from how we treat bodies today? What does that show about first-century Jewish culture?
- What does the use of a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes tell you about Joseph and Nicodemus's devotion? Would you have given so freely?
- How does the burial confirm that Jesus truly died? Why does that matter for the gospel message?
- In what ways does the careful burial prepare us for the resurrection story? What details in these verses point ahead to Easter morning?
- How can we honor the dead in a way that reflects Christian hope, rather than despair?
- What does this passage teach us about God's care for the physical body, even after death?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 26:12 | For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. |
| Luke 24:12 | But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened. |
| 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.” |
| John 20:5 | Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in. |
| 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. |
| Acts 5:6 | The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke does not offer his own explanation here. Instead, he directs readers to his note on John 11:44, where he already discussed the practice of winding a body in linen. This cross-reference assumes the reader will look back for the earlier detail.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees the lavish burial as a temporary provision: the Jews needed such ceremonies to support their faith before Christ's resurrection was clearly revealed. He warns that extravagant funerals today are misplaced, since they effectively deny the risen Christ and treat him as a dead man still needing honor.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that John describes the burial using linen cloths, or bandages, rather than the single linen sheet mentioned by the other Gospels. This detail, along with the reference to Jewish burial customs, distinguishes the preparation from Egyptian embalming practices.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Then tooke they the body of Iesus, and wrapped it in linnen clothes with the odours, as the maner of the Iewes is to burie.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees symbolic meaning in each detail of the burial. The fine linen wrapping represents Christ's pure and spotless righteousness. The spices signify the fragrant sweetness of his death to the Father as a pleasing sacrifice, and to believers who find a crucified Saviour precious.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues that the thorough Jewish burial procedure, with linen and
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry finds it remarkable that Christ's burial, performed by a secret disciple, was no ordinary funeral but one that conquered the grave and softened it for every believer. Joseph's hidden faith, Henry notes, was both his honor as a disciple and his weakness in not confessing Christ openly.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights John's distinct Greek word for the linen cloths, a plural term the Synoptics do not use, and compares the Jewish burial method of binding the body with spices to Egyptian embalming or Roman cremation. He notes that John describes the wrappings as bound rather than rolled or wound, reflecting a specific preparation custom.