John 19:31 - Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
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What does "John 19:31" mean?
This verse from John 19:31 describes the actions taken by Jewish authorities to ensure the crucified bodies were removed from the crosses before the Sabbath. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day...": The "Preparation Day" was the day before the Sabbath, a time to prepare for the holy day when work was forbidden.
"...so that the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath...": Jewish law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) stated that a hanged body should not remain exposed overnight. Leaving the bodies on the crosses during the Sabbath would violate this law and defile the holy day.
"...(for that Sabbath was a special one)...": This Sabbath was particularly significant, likely because it coincided with the first day of Passover, making it a "High Sabbath."
"...asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken...": This refers to crurifragium, a practice of breaking the legs of the crucified to hasten their death. By breaking their legs, the victims could no longer push themselves up to breathe, leading to asphyxiation.
"...and that they might be taken away.": Once dead, the bodies could be removed from the crosses and properly buried before the Sabbath began.
In essence, the Jewish authorities were concerned with maintaining ritual purity and adhering to their laws regarding the Sabbath. They requested Pilate to speed up the deaths of the crucified individuals to ensure their removal before the holy day began. This passage highlights the tension between Roman legal practices and Jewish religious law in the context of Jesus' crucifixion.
John 19:31 - Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
What does "John 19:31" mean?
This verse from John 19:31 describes the actions taken by Jewish authorities to ensure the crucified bodies were removed from the crosses before the Sabbath. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day...": The "Preparation Day" was the day before the Sabbath, a time to prepare for the holy day when work was forbidden.
"...so that the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath...": Jewish law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) stated that a hanged body should not remain exposed overnight. Leaving the bodies on the crosses during the Sabbath would violate this law and defile the holy day.
"...(for that Sabbath was a special one)...": This Sabbath was particularly significant, likely because it coincided with the first day of Passover, making it a "High Sabbath."
"...asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken...": This refers to crurifragium, a practice of breaking the legs of the crucified to hasten their death. By breaking their legs, the victims could no longer push themselves up to breathe, leading to asphyxiation.
"...and that they might be taken away.": Once dead, the bodies could be removed from the crosses and properly buried before the Sabbath began.
In essence, the Jewish authorities were concerned with maintaining ritual purity and adhering to their laws regarding the Sabbath. They requested Pilate to speed up the deaths of the crucified individuals to ensure their removal before the holy day began. This passage highlights the tension between Roman legal practices and Jewish religious law in the context of Jesus' crucifixion.