John 19:38 kjv
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
John 19:38 nkjv
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
John 19:38 niv
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
John 19:38 esv
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
John 19:38 nlt
Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus' body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away.
John 19 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 7:13 | Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly... | General fear preventing open profession. |
| John 9:22 | His parents said these things because they feared the Jews... would be put out of the synagogue. | Specific threat of excommunication for confessing Jesus. |
| John 12:42 | Many even among the leading men believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess him... | High-ranking officials with hidden faith. |
| Luke 23:50-53 | Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council... had not consented to their decision... he went to Pilate and asked for the body... | Parallel account of Joseph's righteousness and action. |
| Mark 15:42-46 | ...Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council... went in boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. | Parallel account emphasizing Joseph's courage. |
| Matthew 27:57-60 | When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph... went to Pilate and asked for the body... | Parallel account identifying Joseph as rich and from Arimathea. |
| Isa 53:9 | He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death... | Prophecy of Messiah's burial among the wealthy. |
| Deut 21:22-23 | ...you must not leave his body hanging on the tree overnight. You must bury him the same day... | Jewish law requiring burial before sundown. |
| 1 Cor 15:4 | ...that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day... | The burial as a fundamental fact of the Gospel. |
| Acts 13:29 | When they had carried out all that was written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. | Early Church understanding of Jesus' burial. |
| Prov 28:1 | The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. | Joseph's sudden display of boldness. |
| Ps 22:15 | ...you lay me in the dust of death. | Prophetic anticipation of Jesus' death and burial. |
| Amos 8:9 | I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. | Referring to the darkness during Jesus' death. |
| Jer 34:5 | ...you will die in peace... will be mourned... | Contrasting proper burial rites with general lament. |
| Neh 2:10 | When Sanballat... and Tobiah... heard about this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites. | Facing opposition when acting for good. |
| John 3:2 | He came to Jesus by night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher..." | Nicodemus, another cautious high-ranking Jewish leader. |
| John 19:39 | And Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes... | Nicodemus joining Joseph in the burial process. |
| Rom 6:4 | We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death... | Theological link of believer's identification with Jesus' burial. |
| Col 2:12 | having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him... | Spiritual parallel to Christ's burial and resurrection. |
| Heb 13:13 | Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. | A call to courageous, public identification with Christ. |
John 19 verses
John 19 38 Meaning
John 19:38 describes a pivotal moment following Jesus' crucifixion. Joseph of Arimathea, a clandestine follower of Jesus due to his fear of the influential Jewish authorities, mustered the courage to formally petition Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. His request was to retrieve Jesus' body for burial. Pilate granted this petition, allowing Joseph to proceed with the dignified removal and interment of Jesus' corpse. This act signifies a transformation of hidden devotion into public and courageous action.
John 19 38 Context
John 19:38 unfolds in the immediate aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion, following the confirmation of His death by the Roman soldiers and the symbolic piercing of His side, which fulfills prophetic scripture. The approaching Sabbath, starting at sundown, legally necessitated the immediate burial of the deceased, particularly executed criminals, according to Jewish law (Deut 21:22-23). To leave a body unburied overnight was considered a severe dishonor. Culturally, crucified bodies were often left for public display or relegated to common, dishonorable graves. However, for Jesus, a proper, dignified burial was uniquely orchestrated, moving beyond the usual treatment for criminals. Within John's narrative, this event forms a crucial link between Jesus' public humiliation on the cross and the triumphant empty tomb, quietly underscoring the authenticity of His death while prophetically signifying His unique role even in burial.
John 19 38 Word analysis
- After this: The Greek meta tauta (μετὰ ταῦτα) denotes a direct chronological sequence, indicating that Joseph's actions promptly followed the confirmation of Jesus' death, particularly relevant with the Sabbath imminent.
- Joseph: The name Iōsēph (Ἰωσὴφ) is Hebrew in origin, meaning "He will add." His identity becomes significant due to his hidden discipleship and his eventual courage.
- of Arimathea: The Greek ho apo Arimathaias (ὁ ἀπὸ Ἁριμαθαίας) places Joseph's origin in Arimathea, believed to be the town of Ramathaim-zophim. This detail signifies his prominent social standing and establishes his home town.
- being a disciple of Jesus: The phrase ōn mathētēs tou Iēsou (ὢν μαθητὴς τοῦ Ἰησοῦ) explicitly confirms his allegiance to Jesus. This spiritual commitment underlies his actions despite his previous hidden status.
- but secretly: The Greek kekrymmenos de (κεκρυμμένος δέ), derived from kryptō (κρύπτω, "to hide"), emphasizes that his discipleship was covert. This suggests careful concealment, probably driven by prudence.
- for fear of the Jews: The phrase dia ton phobon tōn Ioudaiōn (διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων) highlights the severe social and religious consequences, particularly the threat of excommunication from the synagogue (Jn 9:22), for those who publicly associated with Jesus among the Jewish leadership.
- asked Pilate: The Greek ērōtēsen ton Pilaton (ἠρώτησεν τὸν Πιλᾶτον, "to ask or request") reveals a remarkably bold initiative. Joseph approached the Roman governor directly, seeking a concession typically granted to family members, an unusual and public act of a "secret" follower.
- that he might take away the body of Jesus: The purpose clause hina arē to sōma tou Iēsou (ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ) indicates his desire for a proper, respectful burial. "Body" (sōma) refers to the deceased physical form of Jesus.
- And Pilate gave him permission: The Greek kai epetrepsen ho Pilatos (καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν ὁ Πιλᾶτος, "to permit, allow") shows Pilate's consent. Mark's Gospel notes Pilate confirmed Jesus' death first (Mk 15:44-45), reflecting Roman legal diligence or indifference.
- So he came and took away his body: The immediate execution of the permission, ēlthen oun kai ēren to sōma autou (ἦλθεν οὖν καὶ ἦρεν τὸ σōma autou), demonstrates Joseph's resolve and the finality of the process.
Words-group analysis:
- "Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews": This opening phrase establishes Joseph as a figure of high social standing who harbored genuine faith in Jesus. His "secret" discipleship highlights the significant personal cost of public allegiance to Jesus during that era, particularly for someone with social standing facing the threat of ostracism from the Jewish religious authorities. His eventual action represents a courageous move beyond his established fear.
- "asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus": This entire action is imbued with immense significance. Claiming the body of a crucified criminal was not only religiously righteous but politically risky, associating oneself with a state enemy. It challenged the public shame of crucifixion, transforming an expected desecration into an act of piety. This brave public act by a formerly hidden disciple marked a critical turn.
- "And Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body": This conclusion underscores Roman legal authority over such matters. Pilate's quick granting of the request, potentially out of convenience or a lingering belief in Jesus' innocence, enabled the fulfillment of the Jewish law concerning swift burial. More profoundly, it facilitated the fulfillment of prophecy concerning Jesus' burial in a rich man's tomb (Isa 53:9) by a high-ranking individual like Joseph.
John 19 38 Bonus section
The timing of Joseph's courageous emergence, joined by Nicodemus, another high-ranking "secret" disciple, is profoundly significant. While most of Jesus' public apostles had scattered in fear, these two men stepped forward. This reveals that commitment to Jesus is not limited to overt followers but can manifest in hidden figures during crisis. Their combined efforts for a proper burial, complete with valuable spices, also served to underscore Jesus' importance and to fulfill the ancient prophecy of Isaiah 53:9, which predicted that the suffering servant would be "assigned a grave with the rich in his death." This unexpected provision of an honorable burial from wealthy and respected individuals for a crucified "criminal" served as a powerful testament against the indignity the authorities had intended.
John 19 38 Commentary
John 19:38 portrays a paradox of faith and courage. Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished man who had been a hidden follower of Jesus due to profound fear of the prevailing Jewish authorities, now emerges into public view at the most dangerous moment. His audacious act of requesting Jesus' body from Pilate – an act that carried immense social and political risks – reveals a powerful shift from covert discipleship to overt witness. This critical deed not only secured a proper and dignified burial for Jesus, in accordance with Jewish law and prophetic scripture, but also highlighted that true devotion can ignite immense bravery when circumstances demand a public stand. Joseph’s actions dignify Jesus in death, ensuring His burial fulfills prophecies amidst an otherwise dishonorable end.