The Meaning of John 19:18 Explained

John 19:18

KJV: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

YLT: where they crucified him, and with him two others, on this side, and on that side, and Jesus in the midst.

Darby: where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on this side, and one on that, and Jesus in the middle.

ASV: where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Where  they crucified  him,  and  two  other  with  him,  on either side one,  and  Jesus  in the midst. 

What does John 19:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The horrors and shame of crucifixion are difficult for people who have grown up hearing pleas against "cruel and unusual punishment" to appreciate. It was a deliberately long and painful form of death that humiliated the sufferer as well as torturing him. Its purpose was to discourage others from rebelling against Rome, the main reason for crucifixion. John"s original readers would have been only too familiar with it, which probably accounts for his lack of elaboration.
"It was so brutal that no Roman citizen could be crucifed [1] without the sanction of the Emperor. Stripped naked and beaten to pulpy weakness ..., the victim could hang in the hot sun for hours, even days. To breathe, it was necessary to push with the legs and pull with the arms to keep the chest cavity open and functioning. Terrible muscle spasm [1] wracked the entire body; but since collapse meant asphyxiation, the strain went on and on. This is also why the sedecula [3] ... prolonged life and agony: it partially supported the body"s weight, and therefore encouraged the victim to fight on." [4]
"Crucifixion was probably the most diabolical form of death ever invented." [5]
"Popular piety, both Protestant and Catholic, has often emphasized the sufferings of Jesus; it has reflected on what happened and has dwelt on the anguish the Savior suffered. None of the Gospels does this. The Evangelists record the fact and let it go at that. The death of Jesus for sinners was their concern. They make no attempt to play on the heartstrings of their readers." [6]
All the Gospel writers mentioned the men crucified with Jesus ( Matthew 27:38; Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:27; Mark 15:32; Luke 23:32-33; Luke 23:39-43). They were evidently robbers (Gr. lestai) and terrorists, such as Barabbas (cf18:40). John may have mentioned them to remind his readers of the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12. [6] Their mention also prepares the reader to understand John"s description of the breaking of their legs but not Jesus" legs ( John 19:32-33).

Context Summary

John 19:18-24 - "they Crucified Him"
Just outside the city gates, beside the main road, was a little conical eminence, which from its resemblance to a skull was called in Aramaic, Golgotha, and in Latin, Calvary. As we speak of the brow of a hill, they called the bald eminence a skull. The three languages in which the inscription was written stand for religion, government, and science. Note that every one of us is unconsciously writing his verdict about Jesus Christ; and when once it is written, there is no altering it. We may be forgiven, but the past cannot be obliterated.
The clothes of the crucified were the perquisite of the soldiers. But Christ's were so poor that they were not worth keeping entire, except the inner tunic, the gift of someone's-it may well have been His mother's-love. What a contrast! Above, the consummate evidence of love working out the plan of eternity; below, the appeal of ignorance and brutality to chance. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 19

1  Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and beaten
4  Pilate is desirous to release him,
15  but being overcome with the outrage of the crowd, he delivers him to be crucified
23  They cast lots for his garments
25  He commends his mother to John
28  He dies
31  His side is pierced
38  He is buried by Joseph and Nicodemus

Greek Commentary for John 19:18

They crucified [εσταυρωσαν]
The soldiers just as in Acts 22:24.; the scourging of Paul was to be done by the soldiers. And Jesus in the midst Predicate adjective μεσον — meson A robber (ληιστης — lēistēs not a thief, κλεπτης — kleptēs) was on each side of Jesus (Mark 15:27; Matthew 27:38) like Barabbas (John 18:40) and probably members of his band, malefactors (κακουργοι — kakourgoi) Luke terms them (Luke 23:32). [source]
In the midst []
All the Synoptists describe the character of the two who were crucified with Jesus. Matthew and Mark, robbers; Luke, malefactors ( κακούργους ). All three use the phrase, one on the right, the other on the left, and so, substantially, John: on either side one. John says nothing about the character of these two, but simply describes them as two others. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 19:18

John 1:26 In the midst of you standeth [μεσος υμων στηκει]
Adjective as in John 19:18, not εν μεσωι υμων — en mesōi humōn Present active indicative of late verb στηκω — stēkō from perfect stem εστηκα — hestēka John had already baptized Jesus and recognized him as the Messiah. Whom ye know not This was the tragedy of the situation (John 1:11). Apparently this startling declaration excited no further inquiry from the committee. [source]
Revelation 22:2 On this side of the river and on that [του ποταμου εντευτεν και εκειτεν]
Εντευτεν — Enteuthen occurs as a preposition in Daniel 12:5 (Theodoret) and may be so here (post-positive), purely adverbial in John 19:18.The tree of life (χυλον ζωης — xulon zōēs). For the metaphor see Genesis 1:11. and Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:14. Χυλον — Xulon is used for a green tree in Luke 23:31; Ezekiel 47:12.Bearing Neuter active participle of ποιεω — poieō (making, producing, as in Matthew 7:17). Some MSS. have ποιων — poiōn (masculine), though χυλον — xulon is neuter.Twelve manner of fruits (καρπους δωδεκα — karpous dōdeka). “Twelve fruits.”Yielding Neuter active participle of αποδιδωμι — apodidōmi to give back, but some MSS. have αποδιδους — apodidous (masculine) like ποιων — poiōn the healing of the nations Spiritual healing, of course, as leaves (πυλλα — phulla) are often used for obtaining medicines. Here again the problem occurs whether this picture is heaven before the judgment or afterwards. Charles distinguishes sharply between the Heavenly City for the millennial reign and the New Jerusalem that descends from heaven after the judgment. Charles rearranges these chapters to suit his theory. But chronology is precarious here. [source]

What do the individual words in John 19:18 mean?

where Him they crucified and with Him others two on this side on that side in between now - Jesus
ὅπου αὐτὸν ἐσταύρωσαν καὶ μετ’ αὐτοῦ ἄλλους δύο ἐντεῦθεν ἐντεῦθεν μέσον δὲ τὸν Ἰησοῦν

ὅπου  where 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὅπου  
Sense: where, whereas.
ἐσταύρωσαν  they  crucified 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: σταυρόω  
Sense: to stake, drive down stakes.
ἄλλους  others 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.
δύο  two 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: δύο 
Sense: the two, the twain.
ἐντεῦθεν  on  this  side 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔνθεν 
Sense: from this place, hence.
ἐντεῦθεν  on  that  side 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔνθεν 
Sense: from this place, hence.
μέσον  in  between 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: μέσος  
Sense: middle.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦν  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.