The Meaning of John 19:28 Explained

John 19:28

KJV: After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

YLT: After this, Jesus knowing that all things now have been finished, that the Writing may be fulfilled, saith, 'I thirst;'

Darby: After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now finished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, says, I thirst.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does John 19:28 Mean?

Verse Meaning

All things necessary for the fulfillment of Scripture that predicted the provision of redemption were almost accomplished (Gr. teleiothe). John was speaking proleptically again (cf. John 12:23; John 17:1; John 17:4); He spoke anticipating what would happen. Obviously Jesus still had to die. As the moment of His death drew nearer, Jesus expressed His thirst. This showed His true humanity. A man in Jesus" physical condition would have also experienced torture by dehydration. It is paradoxical that the Water of Life should confess thirst (cf. John 4:4-14; John 7:38-39). The solution obviously is that Jesus had referred to Himself as the source of spiritual rather than physical water.
"One may no more assume that John"s emphasis on the cross as the exaltation of Jesus excludes his desolation of spirit than his emphasis on the deity of the Son excludes the Son"s true humanity." [1]
"By accepting the physical refreshment offered Him, the Lord once more indicated the completion of the work of His Passion. For, as He would not enter on it with His senses and physical consciousness lulled by narcotised [2] wine, so He would not pass out of it with senses and physical consciousness dulled by the absolute failure of life-power. Hence He took what for the moment restored the physical balance, needful for thought and word. And so He immediately passed on to "taste death for every man."" [3]
The Scripture that spoke of Messiah"s thirst may be Psalm 22:15 (cf. John 19:24) and or Psalm 69:21 (cf. John 2:17; John 15:25). Jesus" mention of His thirst resulted in the soldier callously giving Him vinegar to drink, which Psalm 69:21 mentioned. Thus John stressed that Jesus" death not only fulfilled God"s will but also prophetic Scripture.

Context Summary

John 19:23-30 - Jesus' Last Thought For Others
Love made Mary brave to encounter the tragedy of that scene. The sword, as Simeon had foretold, was piercing her soul, Luke 2:35. Jesus knew how lonely she would be. He had neither silver nor gold, but could at least secure her a home and tender care. As the cross was elevated but slightly from the ground, His words could easily reach the little group. He chose the title, Woman, rather than "Mother," lest identification with Himself should bring her insult.
It is to this paragraph that the soul turns when oppressed with the consciousness of guilt. The light-hearted, gay world, which has never known the terror of a sinful conscience, turns from it as from a tragedy of woe and blood, but the repentant sinner presses from this vintage the wine of life. We stand beside thy Cross, O Son of God, and worship in adoring love, as we behold thy tenderness to thy mother, thy devotion to Holy Scripture, and the majesty of thy last cry of victory. It is finished-the Savior's work of redemption and the ground of our salvation. What is there left for us, but to hide in the cleft of His pierced side, and to seek the cleansing of the water and the blood? [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 19:28

Are now finished [ηδη τετελεσται]
Perfect passive indicative of τελεω — teleō See same form in John 19:30. As in John 13:1, where Jesus is fully conscious (knowing, ειδως — eidōs) of the meaning of his atoning death. Might be accomplished First aorist passive subjunctive of τελειοω — teleioō rather than the usual πληρωτηι — plērōthēi (John 19:24) with ινα — hina John sees the thirst of Jesus in Psalm 69:21. Jesus, of course, did not make the outcry in any mechanical way. Thirst is one of the severest agonies of crucifixion. For the “perfecting” of the Messiah by physical suffering see Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:7. [source]
Were accomplished [τετέλεσται]
Rev., with stricter rendering of the perfect tense, are finished. Finished corresponds better with it is finished, John 19:30. This sentence may be taken with the preceding one, or with that which follows. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 19:28

Matthew 1:22 “All this has happened” [τουτο δε ολον γεγονεν]
The Hebrew word for young woman is translated by virgin See note on Matthew 2:15, Matthew 2:23; Matthew 4:14-17; Matthew 8:17; Matthew 12:17-21; Matthew 13:35; Matthew 21:4.; John 12:38.; John 13:18; John 19:24, John 19:28, John 19:36. [source]
Matthew 20:20 Asking a certain thing [αιτουσα τι]
“Asking something,” “plotting perhaps when their Master was predicting” (Bruce). The “something” put forward as a small matter was simply the choice of the two chief thrones promised by Jesus (John 19:28). [source]
Matthew 27:48 Gave him to drink [εποτιζεν]
Imperfect of conative action, offered him a drink of vinegar on the sponge on a reed. Others interrupted this kindly man, but Jesus did taste this mild stimulant (John 19:30) for he thirsted (John 19:28). [source]
John 4:34 Finish [πελειώσω]
Better, as Rev., accomplish. Not merely bring to an end, but perfect. From τέλειος , perfect. The verb is characteristic of John, and of the Epistle to the Hebrews. See John 5:36; John 17:4; John 19:28; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:12; Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:9, etc. [source]
John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover [προ δε της εορτης του πασχα]
Just before, John means, not twenty-four hours before, that is our Thursday evening (beginning of 15th of Nisan, sunset to sunset Jewish day), since Jesus was crucified on Friday 15th of Nisan. Hence Jesus ate the regular passover meal at the usual time. The whole feast, including the feast of unleavened bread, lasted eight days. For a discussion of the objections to this interpretation of John in connexion with the Synoptic Gospels one may consult my Harmony of the Gospels, pp. 279-84, and David Smith‘s In the Days of His Flesh, Appendix VIII. The passover feast began on the 15th Nisan at sunset, the passover lamb being slain the afternoon of 14th Nisan. There seems no real doubt that this meal in John 13:1-30 is the real passover meal described by the Synoptics also (Mark 14:18-21; Matthew 26:21-25; Luke 22:21-23), followed by the institution of the Lord‘s Supper. Thus understood John 13:1 here serves as an introduction to the great esoteric teaching of Christ to the apostles (John 13:2-17:26), called by Barnas Sears The Heart of Christ. This phrase goes with the principal verb ηγαπησεν — ēgapēsen (loved). Knowing Second perfect active participle, emphasizing the full consciousness of Christ. He was not stumbling into the dark as he faced “his hour” See John 18:4; John 19:28 for other examples of the insight and foresight (Bernard) of Jesus concerning his death. See on John 12:23 for use before by Jesus. That he should depart Sub-final use of ινα — hina with second aorist active subjunctive of μεταβαινω — metabainō old word, to go from one place to another, here (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14) to go from this world (John 8:23) back to the Father from whom he had come (John 14:12, John 14:28; John 16:10, John 16:28; John 17:5). His own which were in the world His own disciples (John 17:6, John 17:9, John 17:11), those left in the world when he goes to the Father, not the Jews as in John 1:11. See Acts 4:23; 1 Timothy 5:8 for the idiom. John pictures here the outgoing of Christ‘s very heart‘s love (chs. John 13-17) towards these men whom he had chosen and whom he loved “unto the end” (εις τελος — eis telos) as in Matthew 10:22; Luke 18:15, but here as in 1 Thessalonians 2:16 rather “to the uttermost.” The culmination of the crisis (“his hour”) naturally drew out the fulness of Christ‘s love for them as is shown in these great chapters (John 13-17). [source]
John 19:30 Had received [ελαβεν]
Second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω — lambanō Jesus took the vinegar (a stimulant), though he had refused the drugged vinegar. It is finished Same for as in John 19:28. A cry of victory in the hour of defeat like νενικηκα — nenikēka in John 16:33. Jesus knew the relation of his death to redemption for us (Mark 10:45; Matthew 20:28; Matthew 26:28). Bowed his head First aorist active participle of κλινω — klinō This vivid detail only in John. Gave up his spirit With the quotation of Psalm 31:5 according to Luke 23:46, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (the last of the seven sayings of Jesus on the Cross that are preserved for us). Jesus died with the words of this Psalm upon his lips. The apostle John had come back to the Cross. [source]
John 4:6 Jacob‘s well [πηγη του Ιακωβ]
“A spring of Jacob” (here and John 4:14), but πρεαρ — phrear (well, pit, cistern) in John 4:11 and John 4:12. It is really a cistern 100 feet deep dug by a stranger apparently in a land of abundant springs (Genesis 26:19). Wearied Perfect active participle of κοπιαω — kopiaō a state of weariness. The verb means to toil excessively (Luke 5:5). John emphasizes the human emotions of Jesus (John 1:14; John 11:3, John 11:33, John 11:35, John 11:38, John 11:41.; John 12:27; John 13:21; John 19:28). With his journey As a result Imperfect (descriptive) middle of κατεζομαι — kathezomai “was sitting.” Thus Probably “thus wearied,” graphic picture. By the well Literally, “upon the curbstone of the well.” Sixth hour Roman time, about 6 p.m., the usual time for drawing water. [source]

What do the individual words in John 19:28 mean?

After this knowing - Jesus that now all things had been accomplished so that might be fulfilled the Scripture He says I thirst
Μετὰ τοῦτο εἰδὼς Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἤδη πάντα τετέλεσται ἵνα τελειωθῇ γραφὴ λέγει Διψῶ

Μετὰ  After 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
εἰδὼς  knowing 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἤδη  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἤδη  
Sense: now, already.
πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
τετέλεσται  had  been  accomplished 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: τελέω  
Sense: to bring to a close, to finish, to end.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
τελειωθῇ  might  be  fulfilled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: τελειόω  
Sense: to make perfect, complete.
γραφὴ  Scripture 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: γραφή  
Sense: a writing, thing written.
λέγει  He  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Διψῶ  I  thirst 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: διψάω  
Sense: to suffer thirst, suffer from thirst.