John 19:39 kjv
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
John 19:39 nkjv
And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
John 19:39 niv
He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
John 19:39 esv
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
John 19:39 nlt
With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
John 19 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 3:1 | Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. | Nicodemus introduced; ruling member |
| John 7:50-51 | Nicodemus, he who had gone to Jesus by night, said to them... | Nicodemus defends Jesus |
| John 19:38 | Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. | Joseph also takes Jesus' body |
| Luke 23:50-51 | Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and righteous man. | Joseph, a council member |
| Mark 15:43 | Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God. | Joseph, honorable counselor |
| Genesis 50:2-3 | So Joseph commanded his physicians to embalm his father. The Egyptians embalmed him. | Old Testament embalming |
| Song of Songs 4:6 | ...to the mount of myrrh and from the hill of frankincense. | Spices used for honor |
| Exodus 30:34 | The Lord said to Moses, “Take”… a pleasant aromatic, purity’s essence. | Spices in religious rites |
| Matthew 27:57 | when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph. | Matthew's account |
| Luke 23:52-53 | He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen shroud. | Luke's account, burial shroud |
| 1 Corinthians 15:4 | and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. | Jesus' burial and resurrection |
| Acts 2:24 | But God raised him up, loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. | Resurrection |
| Acts 13:36 | For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep and was laid with his fathers. | Honorable burial for David |
| Philippians 3:10 | that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. | Knowing Christ in his death |
| Isaiah 53:9 | And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death. | Prophecy of Jesus' burial |
| Mark 16:1 | When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. | Women bringing spices |
| John 12:3 | Then Mary took a pound of costly oil of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. | Anointing with spices |
| John 19:40 | So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in those cloths with the spices, as is the custom of the Jews to bury. | Binding with cloths and spices |
| Matthew 2:11 | and entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they worshiped him. They opened their treasures and offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. | Gifts of spices for Jesus |
| 1 Peter 4:12 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. | trials and suffering |
John 19 verses
John 19 39 Meaning
This verse describes the actions of Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish council, in bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body after his crucifixion. His presence and the substances he brought highlight respect and reverence for Jesus, even in death, contrasting with the hurried burial expected after a crucifixion.
John 19 39 Context
In John chapter 19, Jesus has just been crucified. Following Jewish custom and Roman law for a proper burial, especially before the Sabbath began at sunset, the body needed to be taken down and prepared. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and respected member of the Sanhedrin who was secretly a follower of Jesus, requested Pilate’s permission to take Jesus’ body. This verse details the joint effort of Joseph and Nicodemus in preparing Jesus for burial. Nicodemus, previously introduced in John 3 as a perplexed seeker who visited Jesus at night, now publicly identifies himself with Jesus through this act of burial preparation. This contrast highlights his growing faith and commitment. The preparation involves burial cloths and aromatic spices, reflecting Jewish burial customs and showing immense respect for the deceased, particularly in this instance for Jesus.
John 19 39 Word analysis
Nicodemus: A Greek name. A specific individual identified as a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin.
also: Indicates his participation alongside Joseph.
came: Implies his arrival at the scene.
by: Demonstrates his close association and active role.
night: Refers to the time of his initial visit to Jesus in John 3, suggesting a previous relationship and perhaps a developing boldness.
there: Locational indicator, pointing to the place where Jesus' body was.
myrrh: Greek, smyrnēn. A precious, fragrant resin from certain trees, often used in perfumes, incense, and for embalming.
aloes: Greek, alōēn. A fragrant resin or wood, also used for embalming and perfuming.
twenty hundredweight: This translates from the Greek litras, meaning pounds, or a measure of weight, often understood as around 100 Roman pounds (approximately 32.7 kg or 72 lbs). The quantity signifies a significant amount, demonstrating a costly and generous preparation.
of the pure myrrh: Indicates the quality and unadulterated nature of the myrrh, emphasizing the preciousness of the offering.
which: Relative pronoun linking the quantity to the substance.
had / brought: Past perfect tense, showing this action preceded the actual wrapping.
of the costly myrrh: Reinforces the expense and value of the substance.
Nicodemus and Joseph's actions: Joint efforts in a sacred duty.
The preparation: Significant quantity of expensive spices for a respectful burial.
Jewish burial customs: Adherence to traditions involving spices and linen.
John 19 39 Bonus section
The specific mention of "hundredweight" or "litras" might indicate a more accurate weight measurement relevant to first-century Roman or Jewish standards for embalming materials. The pairing of myrrh and aloes was not uncommon in high-status burials, emphasizing the richness and ceremonial nature of the preparation, as seen in ancient Egyptian and later Roman customs which influenced Jewish practices, particularly for prominent figures. Nicodemus's wealth is implied by his ability to contribute such expensive materials, echoing the magi's gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus.
John 19 39 Commentary
The joint action of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus in preparing Jesus' body for burial is deeply symbolic. Nicodemus, who once approached Jesus furtively, now participates openly in a duty of immense respect. The generous amount of myrrh and aloes, valuable and fragrant spices, underscores the honor they believed Jesus deserved. This act of expensive embalming contrasts sharply with the hurried and dishonorable death Jesus experienced on the cross. It fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9 that Jesus would be buried with the rich. This detailed account of the burial preparation emphasizes the reality of Jesus' physical death and the beginnings of his final honor, preceding his glorious resurrection. It also highlights that even among the religious elite, there were those who recognized and mourned Jesus as the Messiah, securing him a burial fit for a king, not a condemned criminal.