John 19 23

John 19:23 kjv

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

John 19:23 nkjv

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.

John 19:23 niv

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

John 19:23 esv

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,

John 19:23 nlt

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

John 19 verses

John 19 23 Meaning

John 19:23 describes the actions of the Roman soldiers after crucifying Jesus, specifically their division of His clothing. They divided His outer garments into four parts, one for each soldier. However, His inner garment, the tunic (χιτῶν), was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, which led them to cast lots for it instead of tearing it, thus fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

John 19 23 Context

This verse takes place immediately following Jesus' crucifixion on Golgotha. The Roman soldiers, having executed their task, engage in a common practice of claiming the possessions of the condemned. Jesus is suspended on the cross, utterly exposed and vulnerable. His outer garments (ἱμάτια, himatia) were typically four pieces: the outer cloak, tunic, girdle, and sandals. These were mundane possessions easily divided. The focus of the passage, however, quickly shifts to the single, distinctive inner tunic (χιτών, chiton). This action of the soldiers, seemingly trivial, directly fulfills specific prophecies and highlights God's sovereign control even in the midst of human indifference and cruelty. It contrasts the worldly actions of the soldiers with the divine plan unfolding.

John 19 23 Word analysis

• Then (οὖν, oun): A strong connecting particle, linking this action directly to the crucifixion of Jesus that has just occurred. It denotes consequence or transition.
• soldiers (στρατιῶται, stratiōtai): Roman legionaries, likely a quaternion (four men) assigned to the execution. Their actions here are those of typical executioners, claiming perquisites.
• crucified (ἐσταύρωσαν, estaurōsan): Aorist tense, indicating a completed past action. It implies that after His suspension on the cross, they proceeded to deal with His belongings.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦν, Iesoun): The focus of their action, highlighting the divine victim of their mundane ritual.
• took (ἔλαβον, elabon): To seize, obtain. This emphasizes the soldiers' right of claim over the victim's possessions.
• His garments (τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, ta himatia autou): Refers to the outer garments, typically four distinct pieces (cloak, girdle, sandals, head covering/smaller tunic). These were seen as common, separable items of lesser value.
• and made four parts (καὶ ἐποίησαν τέσσαρα μέρη, kai epoiēsan tessara merē): A pragmatic division reflecting the four soldiers present, ensuring each received a share of the disposable clothing.
• to every soldier a part (ἑκάστῳ στρατιώτῃ μέρος, hekastō stratiōtē meros): Equitable distribution, common among those who would strip crucified victims.
• and also the tunic (καὶ τὸν χιτῶνα, kai ton chitōna): The shift to the singular "tunic" (chiton) introduces a new and more significant element. This was the inner garment, worn close to the body.
• Now the tunic (ὁ δὲ χιτὼν, ho de chitōn): The emphatic "δὲ" (de) or "now" here introduces a contrast or qualification about this specific garment, signaling its uniqueness.
• was without seam (ἦν ἄρραφος, ēn arrhapos): From a- (without) and rhaptō (to sew). This denotes a garment woven in a single piece, not constructed from multiple pieces sewn together. Such weaving was less common and often indicative of higher quality or specialized garments.
• woven from top throughout (ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν ὑφαντὸς δι᾽ ὅλου, ek tōn anōthen hyphantos di' holou): "From top" (anōthen) could suggest divine origin or heavenly craftsmanship (as John sometimes uses it). "Throughout" (di' holou) confirms its seamless, integrated nature. This seamlessness is a key detail, making the tunic valuable and indivisible without ruin. It resonates with descriptions of the High Priest's robe in the Old Testament, which was also of seamless, woven work. This subtly links Jesus to the High Priestly office.

Words-group analysis:

• "His garments... and made four parts... to every soldier a part": This entire phrase depicts the routine, indifferent act of human agents focusing on material gain. It highlights the stark contrast between their worldly preoccupations and the momentous spiritual event occurring. Their action of division mirrors humanity's fallen state, attempting to compartmentalize or break apart what is divinely whole.
• "and also the tunic... Now the tunic was without seam, woven from top throughout": This significant contrast emphasizes the distinctiveness of Jesus' inner garment. Its seamless quality prevented division, forcing them to cast lots instead. This emphasizes its unity and integrity, reflecting perhaps the indivisible nature of Christ's person and His work, or the unified body of believers He was establishing. The weaving "from top" (often used by John for divine origin, cf. Jn 3:3, 7, 31) can imply its divine appointment or significance, tying Jesus to the heavenly.

John 19 23 Bonus section

The "seamless tunic" of Jesus has historically been seen as a potent symbol.

• Priestly Connotation: Many early Church fathers and commentators drew parallels between Jesus' seamless tunic and the seamless tunic of the Jewish High Priest (Exod 28:32). This strengthens the typology of Jesus as the true High Priest who offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice (Heb 4:14; 9:12). Just as the high priest wore sacred garments to mediate before God, Jesus, our great High Priest, was "robed" in His humanity for the one, perfect sacrifice.
• Unity of the Church: The seamless nature has been widely interpreted as a symbol of the unity of the Church, Christ's body. Just as the garment was whole and could not be divided, so too should the body of Christ remain undivided, united in truth and love. To tear it would be to destroy its very nature.
• Integrity of Christ's Person and Work: The tunic's woven integrity can also represent the absolute completeness and indivisibility of Jesus' divine and human natures (the hypostatic union) and the perfect unity of His redemptive work on the cross. His work is complete, whole, and cannot be torn apart or added to.

John 19 23 Commentary

John 19:23, while describing a mundane act by Roman soldiers, is saturated with theological meaning. The division of Jesus' outer garments for material gain highlights the indifference of the world to Christ's profound suffering and the sacredness of His sacrifice. The detail regarding the seamless tunic is pivotal. Its inability to be torn reflects the unified and indestructible nature of Christ's work and perhaps even His indivisible divine-human person. This garment, likely signifying His High Priestly identity, would have been unique, as garments of high quality, especially priestly ones, were often woven without seam to prevent tearing and signify holiness (Exod 28:32, 39:22-23). The soldiers, in their ignorance, preserve this symbol, and by casting lots for it, they inadvertently fulfill a precise messianic prophecy from Ps 22:18, showcasing God's sovereign control even over the random actions of men. This verse is not just a historical detail but a profound illustration of God's overarching plan being perfectly executed, ensuring prophecy fulfillment through unwitting agents, while also foreshadowing the unity of the body of Christ, His Church. Jesus' public nakedness, stripped of all possessions and dignity, exemplifies His ultimate humility and total surrender to the Father's will for the salvation of humanity.