John 19 27

John 19:27 kjv

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

John 19:27 nkjv

Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

John 19:27 niv

and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 19:27 esv

Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

John 19:27 nlt

And he said to this disciple, "Here is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

John 19 verses

John 19 27 Meaning

At the moment of His deepest suffering on the cross, Jesus demonstrates profound care and responsibility by entrusting His mother, Mary, into the guardianship of His beloved disciple, John. This act fulfills a filial duty and simultaneously establishes a foundational principle for the nascent Christian community: the creation of a new spiritual family bound by love and mutual support, transcending biological ties, even amidst the most trying circumstances. It highlights Jesus's humanity, selflessness, and the disciple's immediate obedience to His Master's final directive, marking a pivotal transition from earthly familial support to spiritual communal care.

John 19 27 Context

This verse takes place during the crucifixion of Jesus, a scene of extreme suffering and humiliation on Golgotha. Jesus has been scourged, mocked, and made to carry His own cross, now hanging between two criminals. Amidst this physical torment and public spectacle, John chapter 19 describes various figures at the cross: Roman soldiers casting lots for His garments, Pilate's inscription "King of the Jews," and, notably, a small group of women including Mary, Jesus's mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John, the "beloved disciple," is also present, uniquely mentioned among the male apostles who had largely fled. The preceding verses (John 19:23-26) focus on the soldiers and the parting of Jesus's clothes, and then Jesus directly addresses His mother and John. This intimate exchange, observed amidst such public agony, highlights Jesus's profound human compassion and thoughtful provision for His mother, whose role as a widow (Joseph is not mentioned in the adult life of Jesus) left her particularly vulnerable in that society without a direct male protector. It also signifies Jesus's foresight for the continuity of care within His nascent community.

John 19 27 Word analysis

• Then He said: Denotes Jesus's action from the cross. "He" refers to Jesus. Despite immense pain and impending death, Jesus is fully conscious and articulate, giving a direct command.
• to the disciple: Refers to John, traditionally understood as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (Jn 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20). He is specifically identified, suggesting a deep, personal bond and trust between Jesus and John, making John a fitting recipient of this responsibility.
• "Behold your mother!":
  • Behold (Ἰδοὺ - Idou): An interjection demanding attention, emphasizing the importance and immediacy of the following declaration. It's a direct, emphatic command, a divine entrustment.
  • your mother! (τὴν μητέρα σου - tēn mētéra sou): A direct, personal address to John regarding Mary. This transforms John's relationship with Mary from an acquaintance to that of a son, implying all the duties and responsibilities a son would have in that culture towards his widowed mother. This is Jesus’s personal bequest to John.
• And from that hour: This phrase emphasizes immediate, decisive action. "That hour" is significant, not just an arbitrary time, but immediately after Jesus's command, demonstrating the disciple's unhesitating obedience and recognition of its weight.
• the disciple: Again refers to John, reiterating his role as the recipient of the command and now the one acting upon it. His identity as a disciple means his obedience is also a model for others.
• took her: (ἔλαβεν - elaben) - signifying adoption, acceptance, and assuming responsibility for Mary. It implies not just moving her physically, but also taking her into his life and providing for her, offering protection and provision.
• to his own home: (εἰς τὰ ἴδια - eis ta idia) - This indicates that John immediately integrated Mary into his household and life as a family member. "His own home" implies a place of belonging, safety, and personal care. This provision speaks volumes of Jesus's concern and John's loyalty, establishing a new family structure outside biological lineage.

John 19 27 Bonus section

• Jesus's Selflessness to the End: This act reveals Jesus’s enduring selflessness. Even as He faced unimaginable suffering and the weight of the world's sin, His concern was not for Himself but for His mother's well-being. It underscores His perfect obedience, living out love to the very last.
• Implications for Mary: Jesus's instruction implies Mary had no other immediate, responsible male kin (or believing male kin) who could provide for her. While Jesus had brothers, their faith in Him was not yet firm (John 7:5; Acts 1:14 shows they later believed), highlighting the specific need for a trusted disciple to fulfill this role.
• Significance of "Beloved Disciple": The intimate nature of this trust placed in John further emphasizes his unique relationship with Jesus. It's a profound honor and responsibility given to one whom Jesus cherished, symbolizing the intimate relationship God desires with all believers and the responsibility that comes with such closeness.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: Some scholars see this act, in light of passages like Isaiah 53 (describing the Suffering Servant's loneliness and substitutionary role), as a moment where Jesus personally ensures the care of those He loves even in His final act, a testament to His personal concern that runs parallel to His broader redemptive mission.

John 19 27 Commentary

John 19:27 stands as a powerful testament to Jesus's multifaceted nature: His profound humanity, His unwavering concern for others even in His darkest hour, and His foundational teaching on the formation of a new spiritual community. While physically enduring the agonies of the cross, Jesus’s attention is directed towards a most intimate earthly duty – providing for His mother. This act highlights that divine mission does not negate human responsibility, especially for family. By entrusting Mary to John, Jesus models the fulfillment of the Fifth Commandment ("Honor your father and your mother") even as His life was ending, setting a precedent for Christian discipleship that prioritizes sacrificial love and care.

Furthermore, this passage lays a critical foundation for the concept of the Church as a spiritual family. Jesus, in essence, creates a new familial bond between Mary and John, showing that love and commitment within the body of Christ transcend bloodlines. Mary, who once heard that Jesus’s "true" family were those who did God’s will (Mk 3:35), is now brought into this spiritual household through John. John's immediate, faithful obedience serves as an exemplary response for all disciples: to embrace responsibility for fellow believers, especially the vulnerable, and to welcome them into the "own home" of Christian community, providing practical care, belonging, and protection. It's a poignant depiction of grace, duty, and the birthing of a new, selfless covenant family that would extend Jesus's love into the world.