The Meaning of John 19:33 Explained

John 19:33

KJV: But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

YLT: and having come to Jesus, when they saw him already having been dead, they did not break his legs;

Darby: but coming to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead they did not break his legs,

ASV: but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  when  they came  to  Jesus,  and saw  that he  was dead  already,  they brake  not  his  legs: 

What does John 19:33 Mean?

Context Summary

John 19:31-37 - The Pierced Side
How punctilious the Jewish leaders were to maintain each detail of their ritual! Remember that there is a religiousness which is not religion but its counterfeit.
John solemnly attests the fact of the blood and water. He knoweth that he saith true. It is referred to again in his Epistle, 1 John 5:6; 1 John 5:8. Science tells us that the presence of those two elements was evidence that there had been heart rupture, and that our Lord literally died of a broken heart. But it was also, as devout souls have loved to remember, a symbol of the "double cure," which Jesus has effected. Blood to atone; water to purify and cleanse. What a comfort it is that Jesus did not come by water alone! As we come to know ourselves better, we realize that only blood could meet our need. He bowed His head, that we might lift ours up to greet the eternal morning. [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 19:33

Already dead [ηδη τετνηκοτα]
Perfect active participle of τνησκω — thnēskō So then Jesus died before the robbers, died of a broken heart. They brake not The augment is proper here (see John 19:32). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 19:33

Matthew 26:26 And blessed and brake it [ευλογησας εκλασεν]
Special “Grace” in the middle of the passover meal, “as they were eating,” for the institution of the Supper. Jesus broke one of the passover wafers or cakes that each might have a piece, not as a symbol of the breaking of his body as the Textus Receptus has it in 1 Corinthians 11:24. The correct text there has only to υπερ υμων — huper humōn without κλωμενον — klōmenon As a matter of fact the body of Jesus was not “broken” (John 19:33) as John expressly states. [source]

What do the individual words in John 19:33 mean?

to however - Jesus having come when they saw already Him having been dead not they did break His - legs
ἐπὶ δὲ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐλθόντες ὡς εἶδον ἤδη αὐτὸν τεθνηκότα οὐ κατέαξαν αὐτοῦ τὰ σκέλη

δὲ  however 
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.
ἐλθόντες  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
εἶδον  they  saw 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἤδη  already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἤδη  
Sense: now, already.
τεθνηκότα  having  been  dead 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θνῄσκω  
Sense: to die, to be dead.
κατέαξαν  they  did  break 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κατάγνυμι  
Sense: to break.
αὐτοῦ  His 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σκέλη  legs 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: σκέλος  
Sense: the leg, from the hip to the toes inclusive.

What are the major concepts related to John 19:33?

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