The Meaning of John 19:6 Explained

John 19:6

KJV: When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

YLT: When, therefore, the chief priests and the officers did see him, they cried out, saying, 'Crucify, crucify;' Pilate saith to them, 'Take ye him -- ye, and crucify; for I find no fault in him;'

Darby: When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him they cried out saying, Crucify, crucify him. Pilate says to them, Take him ye and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.

ASV: When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him , crucify him ! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When  the chief priests  therefore  and  officers  saw  him,  they cried out,  saying,  Crucify  [him], crucify  [him]. Pilate  saith  unto them,  Take  ye  him,  and  crucify  [him]: for  I  find  no  fault  in  him. 

What does John 19:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If Pilate had thought that the sight of Jesus bruised and bleeding would satisfy Israel"s rulers, he was wrong. The sight of His blood stirred their appetites for even greater revenge. They cried out repeatedly for the ultimate punishment: crucifixion.
"Well-meaning preachers have often said that the crowd that on Palm Sunday shouted "Hosannah!" turned right around and shouted "Crucify Him!" on Good Friday. However, it was two different crowds. The Palm Sunday crowd came primarily from Galilee where Jesus was very popular. The crowd at Pilate"s hall was from Judea and Jerusalem where the religious leaders where very much in control." [1]
Pilate"s reply reflected his disgust with the Jewish leaders. It was really an expression of frustration with them. They had brought Jesus to him for a decision, he had given it, and now they refused to accept it. Pilate knew that the Jews could not crucify Jesus without his permission.

Context Summary

John 19:1-9 - Jesus Endures Contempt
Pilate was convinced of our Lord's innocence, and he adopted several expedients to save His life; he did everything, indeed, except to act with absolute justice and discharge the case. If he had promptly and firmly refused to be a party to the unrighteous act to which the Jewish leaders were goading him, before they could further inflame the popular sentiment, the whole matter would have come to an end. But he let the golden moment slip, and every succeeding hour made it more impossible to retrieve it. The proposal to chastise Jesus; the endeavor to induce the people to ask for Him rather than Barabbas; the scourging as an appeal to their pity-all such expedients failed to turn them from their purpose. The governor became more and more afraid. Whence art thou? Of human birth or more? Our Lord's silence was His answer. Had He been only of earth, He would never have let Pilate suppose that He might be of heaven. [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 19:6

Crucify him, crucify him [σταυρωσον σταυρωσον]
First aorist active imperative of εγω γαρ ουχ ευρισκω — stauroō for which verb see Matthew 20:19, etc. Here the note of urgency (aorist imperative) with no word for “him,” as they were led by the chief priests and the temple police till the whole mob takes it up (Matthew 27:22). For I find no crime in him (γαρ — egō gar ouch heuriskō). This is the third time Pilate has rendered his opinion of Christ‘s innocence (John 18:38; John 19:4). And here he surrenders in a fret to the mob and gives as his reason (gar for) for his surrender the innocence of Jesus (the strangest judicial decision ever rendered). Perhaps Pilate was only franker than some judges! [source]
They cried out []
See on John 18:40. [source]
Crucify []
The best texts omit Him. [source]
Take ye Him [λάβετε αὐτὸν ὑμεῖς]
According to the Greek order, “take Him ye.” Rev., take Him yourselves. See on John 18:31. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 19:6

John 1:12 Received [ἔλαβον]
The simple verb of the compound παρέλαβον in John 1:11. The meaning of the two verbs is substantially the same (so Alford, De Wette, and apparently Meyer), though some recognize a difference, as Milligan and Moulton, who render παρέλαβον acceptedand ἔλαβον receivedand say that “the former lays emphasis upon the will that consented (or refused) to receive, while the latter brings before us the possession gained: so that the full meaning is, As many as by accepting Him, received Him.” For the use of the simple verb, see John 5:43; John 13:20; John 19:6. [source]
John 11:43 He cried with a loud voice [πωνηι μεγαληι εκραυγασεν]
First aorist active indicative of κραυγαζω — kraugazō old and rare word from κραυγη — kraugē (Matthew 25:6). See Matthew 12:19. Occurs again in John 18:40; John 19:6, John 19:12. Only once in the lxx (Ezra 3:13) and with πωνηι μεγαληι — phōnēi megalēi (either locative or instrumental case makes sense) as here. For this “elevated (great) voice” see also Matthew 24:31; Mark 15:34, Mark 15:37; Revelation 1:10; Revelation 21:3. The loud voice was not for the benefit of Lazarus, but for the sake of the crowd standing around that they might see that Lazarus came forth simultaneously with the command of Jesus. Lazarus, come forth “Hither out.” No verb, only the two adverbs, deuro here alone in John. Lazarus heard and obeyed the summons. [source]
John 19:1 Took and scourged [ελαβεν και εμαστιγωσεν]
First aorist active indicative of λαμβανω — lambanō and μαστιγοω — mastigoō (from μαστιχ — mastix whip). For this redundant use of λαμβανω — lambanō see also John 19:6. It is the causative use of μαστιγοω — mastigoō for Pilate did not actually scourge Jesus. He simply ordered it done, perhaps to see if the mob would be satisfied with this penalty on the alleged pretender to royalty (Luke 23:22) whom Pilate had pronounced innocent (John 18:38), an illegal act therefore. It was a preliminary to crucifixion, but Jesus was not yet condemned. The Sanhedrin had previously mocked Jesus (Mark 14:65; Matthew 26:67.; Luke 22:63.) as the soldiers will do later (Mark 15:16-19; Matthew 27:27-30). This later mock coronation (Mark and Matthew) was after the condemnation. Plaited a crown of thorns Old verb πλεκω — plekō to weave, in the N.T. only here, Mark 15:17; Matthew 27:19. Not impossible for the mock coronation to be repeated. Arrayed him “Placed around him” (second aorist active indicative of περιβαλλω — periballō). In a purple garment Old adjective πορπυρεος — porphureos from πορπυρα — porphura purple cloth (Mark 15:17, Mark 15:20), dyed in purple, in the N.T. only here and Revelation 18:16. Jesus had been stripped of his outer garment ιματιον — himation (Matthew 27:28) and the scarlet cloak of one of the soldiers may have been put on him (Matthew 27:28). [source]
John 7:32 The Pharisees [οι Παρισαιοι]
This group of the Jewish rulers (John 7:11, John 7:15, John 7:25.) was particularly hostile to Christ, though already the Sadducees had become critical (Matthew 16:6) and they join here First aorist active indicative of ακουω — akouō with the genitive case and the descriptive participle of the vivid onomatopoetic verb γογγυζω — gogguzō (John 7:12) now grown louder like the hum of bees. It was the defense of Jesus by a portion of the crowd (John 7:31) that irritated the Pharisees. Here the Pharisees take the initiative and enlist the Sadducees in the Sanhedrin (for this combination see John 7:45; John 11:47, John 11:57; Matthew 21:45; Matthew 27:62, the organized court) to send “officers” For υπηρετας — hupēretas (temple police here) see John 7:45; John 18:3, John 18:12, John 18:22; John 19:6; Acts 5:22, Acts 5:26. For the word see Matthew 5:25; Luke 1:2, “an under rower” (υπο ερετης — hupo class="translit"> eretēs), any assistant. [source]
1 Peter 2:22 Found [εὑρέθη]
Stronger than the simple was, and indicating a guilelessness which had stood the test of scrutiny. Compare Matthew 26:60; John 18:38; John 19:4, John 19:6. Christ's sinlessness had also stood the test of Peter's intimacy. [source]
1 Peter 2:22 Was found [ευρετη]
First aorist passive indicative of ευρισκω — heuriskō Christ‘s guilelessness stood the test of scrutiny (Vincent), as Peter knew (Matthew 26:60; John 18:38; John 19:4, John 19:6). [source]

What do the individual words in John 19:6 mean?

When therefore saw Him the chief priests and officers they cried out saying Crucify Says to them - Pilate Take yourselves crucify [Him] I for no find in Him guilt
Ὅτε οὖν εἶδον αὐτὸν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ ὑπηρέται ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες Σταύρωσον Λέγει αὐτοῖς Πιλᾶτος Λάβετε ὑμεῖς σταυρώσατε ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐχ εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ αἰτίαν

εἶδον  saw 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἀρχιερεῖς  chief  priests 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρχιερεύς  
Sense: chief priest, high priest.
ὑπηρέται  officers 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑπηρέτης  
Sense: servant.
ἐκραύγασαν  they  cried  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κραυγάζω  
Sense: to cry out, cry aloud, to shout, to cry out to one.
λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Σταύρωσον  Crucify 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: σταυρόω  
Sense: to stake, drive down stakes.
Λέγει  Says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πιλᾶτος  Pilate 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πειλᾶτος 
Sense: the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified.
Λάβετε  Take 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ὑμεῖς  yourselves 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
σταυρώσατε  crucify  [Him] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: σταυρόω  
Sense: to stake, drive down stakes.
οὐχ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
εὑρίσκω  find 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
αἰτίαν  guilt 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: αἰτία  
Sense: cause, reason.