John 19:30 kjv
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
John 19:30 nkjv
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:30 niv
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30 esv
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30 nlt
When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 53:10 | ...it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief... | Prophecy of God's sovereign plan in Messiah's suffering. |
| Psa 22:31 | They will come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn—that he has done it. | Anticipates the Messiah's completed work. |
| Psa 69:21 | They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. | Prophecy of Messiah being offered sour wine. |
| Matt 20:28 | ...even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Jesus' purpose to give His life as a redemptive sacrifice. |
| Luke 23:46 | And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. | Voluntary surrender of His spirit. |
| John 4:34 | Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. | Jesus' lifelong mission to accomplish God's work. |
| John 10:18 | No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. | Jesus' divine authority over His own life and death. |
| John 17:4 | I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. | Jesus' prayer confirming His completed mission prior to the cross. |
| Rom 3:24-25 | ...being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation... | Jesus' death as propitiation for sins, making salvation possible. |
| Rom 5:8 | But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | The love demonstrated in Christ's sacrificial death. |
| 1 Cor 15:3-4 | ...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again... | Core gospel message: Christ's death for sins and resurrection. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. | Christ becoming sin for us to achieve our righteousness. |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us... | Redemption from the Law's curse through Christ's sacrifice. |
| Col 2:13-14 | And you, being dead in your sins... hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances... nailing it to his cross. | The blotting out of humanity's debt and guilt by the cross. |
| Heb 1:3 | ...when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. | Christ's completed work of purification for sins. |
| Heb 9:12 | Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. | Eternal redemption achieved through His singular sacrifice. |
| Heb 9:26 | ...but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. | Christ's appearance to remove sin through His self-sacrifice. |
| Heb 10:10 | By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. | Sanctification through the single offering of Christ's body. |
| Heb 10:12 | But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. | Christ's singular, all-sufficient sacrifice is complete. |
| 1 Pet 3:18 | For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God... | Christ, the just one, suffering once to bring humanity to God. |
| Rev 21:6 | And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. | Echoes the theme of divine completion and sovereignty. |
John 19 verses
John 19 30 Meaning
John 19:30 declares the climax of Jesus' atoning work on the cross. After receiving the sour wine, a gesture that likely moistened His mouth enabling a clear utterance, Jesus pronounced, "It is finished." This phrase signifies the absolute completion and full accomplishment of God's redemptive plan through His obedient sacrifice. His subsequent act of bowing His head and voluntarily yielding His spirit emphasizes His sovereignty even in death, marking the successful culmination of His earthly mission to redeem humanity from sin and reconcile them to God.
John 19 30 Context
John 19:30 is situated at the absolute climax of Jesus' earthly ministry, moments before His death on the cross. The preceding verses (19:28-29) highlight Jesus' statement, "I thirst," made "that the Scripture might be fulfilled." This leads directly to the offering of "sour wine" (vinegar) on a hyssop branch. Historically and culturally, crucifixion was a public, prolonged, and agonizing form of execution designed for maximum humiliation and suffering. Roman practice typically involved leaving the crucified to linger for days. Jesus' rapid death, preceded by His ability to speak with force and clarity, stands out, underscoring His divine control and sovereign will. The Jewish Passover season provides a profound backdrop, as Jesus, the Lamb of God, is sacrificed, fulfilling centuries of typological shadows. This declaration takes place during the central act of human redemption, moving from the physical agony and humiliation to the profound spiritual triumph of accomplishment.
John 19 30 Word analysis
- When Jesus therefore had received: This emphasizes the sequence and the condition met. "Therefore" links His reception of the sour wine directly to His subsequent pronouncement, showing a deliberate and prepared act.
- the sour wine (οξος - oxos): A common, inexpensive vinegar or watered-down sour wine often consumed by Roman soldiers and laborers for sustenance and to quench thirst. In this context, it fulfilled a prophecy (Psa 69:21) and, crucially, may have served to moisten Jesus' parched lips, enabling His final, weighty pronouncement to be heard clearly. It was offered on a "hyssop branch" (Jn 19:29), echoing the hyssop used in the Passover ritual (Ex 12:22), reinforcing Jesus as the true Passover Lamb.
- he said: This indicates a conscious and deliberate utterance. It was not a gurgle or a gasp of defeat, but a purposeful statement from one who was still in control.
- It is finished (Τετέλεσται - Tetelestai): This is the most potent word in the verse.
- Τετέλεσται: Greek perfect passive/middle indicative of the verb τελέω (teleō), meaning "to bring to an end," "to complete," "to accomplish," "to fulfill."
- Perfect Tense: Denotes a past action with abiding, present results. It is finished and remains finished. It signifies not merely cessation, but successful completion and finality.
- Significance: It is a cry of triumph, not of defeat or exhaustion. It declares that every prophecy concerning the Messiah, every shadow of the Old Covenant, the entire will of God for human redemption, and every sin of humanity had been perfectly atoned for. The penalty was paid, the sacrifice was accepted, and reconciliation was accomplished. The Greek word was sometimes written on ancient tax or legal documents, meaning "paid in full." This implies that the debt of sin was fully discharged by Christ's sacrifice.
- and he bowed his head: This was a deliberate act of lowering His head, distinct from a head slumping in unconsciousness or death. It conveys dignity, composure, and voluntary submission, confirming His self-control even in death, not just succumbing to it.
- and gave up his spirit (παρέδωκεν τὸ πνεῦμα - paredōken to pneuma): "Gave up" implies an act of voluntary surrender or entrusting. It highlights Jesus' absolute authority over His own life, contrasting with merely "dying." He did not lose His life; He yielded it. This underscores His words in John 10:18, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself." It demonstrates His obedient, active participation in His own sacrifice, a deliberate entrustment to the Father (Luke 23:46).
John 19 30 Bonus section
- The profound finality of "Tetelestai" means that human effort cannot add to or diminish the perfect work of Christ. It renders all attempts at self-salvation or earning merit redundant for reconciliation with God.
- The speed of Jesus' death was unusual for crucifixion victims. The soldiers breaking the legs of the others (Jn 19:31-32) was to hasten death; for Jesus, it was unnecessary, indicating He gave up His spirit before that was needed.
- The cross, often seen as a symbol of shame and defeat in the Roman world, is radically reinterpreted by "It is finished" into a symbol of victory, justice, and complete divine love.
- The specific mention of the "hyssop branch" for the sour wine connects to ceremonial purification and Passover symbolism (Ex 12:22; Lev 14:4, 49), emphasizing Jesus as the true cleansing sacrifice.
- Jesus' final utterances on the cross progressively reveal His mind: forgiveness (Luke 23:34), salvation (Luke 23:43), relational care (John 19:26-27), cosmic suffering (Matt 27:46), physical agony (John 19:28), divine accomplishment (John 19:30), and trusting submission (Luke 23:46). "It is finished" is the ultimate declaration of victory.
John 19 30 Commentary
John 19:30 is the pinnacle of the gospel narrative, articulating the complete and sovereign achievement of redemption. "It is finished" encapsulates the divine purpose for which Jesus came: to accomplish God's saving will and make full atonement for sin. This was a triumph, not a tragedy—a declaration that the prophetic narrative stretching from Genesis to John had reached its intended culmination in Christ's sacrifice. Every legal claim against humanity for sin was decisively nullified, the demands of the Law were met, and access to God was perfectly restored. Jesus' deliberate bowing of His head and conscious yielding of His spirit attest to His control and voluntary obedience, validating that His death was not a failure, but the ultimate success of His mission, establishing a completed and unrepeatable salvation.