John 19 42

John 19:42 kjv

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

John 19:42 nkjv

So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

John 19:42 niv

Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John 19:42 esv

So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

John 19:42 nlt

And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

John 19 verses

John 19 42 Meaning

John 19:42 explains the immediate reason for Jesus' burial in a specific location. Due to the impending Sabbath, designated as the "Jews' Preparation Day," and the convenient proximity of a newly cut tomb in a garden nearby, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus expediently placed Jesus' body in that tomb. This verse highlights both the urgency imposed by religious law and the practical arrangements that providentially situated Jesus' body for His subsequent resurrection.

John 19 42 Context

John 19:42 concludes the narrative of Jesus' burial. The preceding verses (John 19:38-41) detail Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple, courageously asking Pilate for Jesus' body, and Nicodemus assisting with the anointing spices. John 19:31 had already established the critical timing: the Jewish authorities wanted the crucified bodies removed before the Sabbath, especially because that particular Sabbath was a "high day" (likely indicating a double Sabbath or the Passover Sabbath). Jewish law (Deut 21:23) stipulated that executed bodies should not remain unburied overnight, emphasizing the urgency to act before sundown marked the beginning of the Sabbath. This historical and cultural context underscores the haste with which Jesus was interred, and the convenience of the nearby, unused tomb, a detail that further highlights divine providence in fulfilling prophecy regarding Jesus' burial.

John 19 42 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν, oun): This conjunction indicates a logical conclusion or a summary of prior circumstances. It links this action directly to the preceding narrative of Joseph and Nicodemus preparing the body and the established timing.
• because of (διὰ, dia): A preposition indicating the reason or cause. It clarifies why Jesus was laid in this specific tomb and with such haste.
• the Jews' (τῶν Ἰουδαίων, tōn Ioudaiōn): Emphasizes the Jewish cultural and religious context, specifically the laws and traditions governing the timing of the Sabbath. It's not just "Preparation Day" generally, but their particular observance.
• Preparation Day (Παρασκευὴν, Paraskeuēn): Refers to the day before the Sabbath (Friday), when people "prepared" for the cessation of all work required on the Sabbath. Here, it signifies the absolute deadline for burial activities.
• and because (καὶ ὅτι, kai hoti): Introduces a second, distinct reason, emphasizing its equal importance to the first.
• the tomb (τὸ μνημεῖον, to mnēmeion): Literally, a "memorial" or "monument," referring to the burial place, usually a cave or rock-cut chamber. John has already established it as a new tomb in a garden (John 19:41).
• was nearby (ἐγγὺς ἦν, engys ēn): Highlights the practical convenience. This proximity saved crucial time and facilitated the rapid burial required by the religious calendar, directly connecting to the preceding reason of "Preparation Day." This detail signifies divine foresight and precision.
• they laid (ἔθηκαν, ethēkan): From the verb tithēmi, meaning "to place, put, lay down." It's a simple, factual statement of the action performed by Joseph and Nicodemus (implied from prior verses). It denotes finality for the moment.
• Jesus (τὸν Ἰησοῦν, ton Iēsou): The subject of the action; the body of the crucified Lord.
• there (ἐκεῖ, ekei): Refers to the specific nearby tomb already described, signifying the final resting place before the resurrection.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore because of the Jews' Preparation Day": This phrase highlights the Jewish religious calendar as the primary driver for the haste. The timing dictated by their law necessitated immediate action. The Passover Sabbath made this an especially strict day.
• "and because the tomb was nearby": This provides a secondary, but crucial, practical reason. The convenient location of a ready and available tomb ensured that the burial could occur before the Sabbath, making divine providence evident in the specific arrangements for Jesus' interment.
• "they laid Jesus there": This concise statement summarizes the immediate conclusion of the Passion narrative for Jesus' body. The active participants (Joseph and Nicodemus) swiftly completed the necessary rituals and placement, bringing to a close the day's events.

John 19 42 Bonus section

The speed and circumstances of Jesus' burial, dictated by the "Preparation Day" and the "nearby tomb," were essential for fulfilling prophecies. While He died as a criminal, the prophecy in Isa 53:9 stated He would be "with a rich man in his death." Joseph of Arimathea, a rich and respected man, provided his own new tomb. This precise timing and location meant Jesus' body was secure and undisturbed, verifiable by witnesses, setting the perfect stage for His resurrection on the third day. The urgency of the burial due to the approaching Sabbath ensured that there was no delay that could cast doubt on the timing of His resurrection later that week. It emphasizes God's meticulous control over seemingly mundane details to achieve His redemptive plan.

John 19 42 Commentary

John 19:42 efficiently draws together the critical factors surrounding Jesus' burial. The dual reasons—the urgency of the "Preparation Day" (before the Sabbath, likely the special Passover Sabbath) and the providential location of a nearby, accessible tomb—demonstrate the convergence of human adherence to law and divine orchestration. This verse underscores the speed and practicality of the burial. Joseph and Nicodemus, working under significant time pressure, ensured that Jesus' body was placed in a proper, uncontaminated burial site just before the Sabbath began. This detailed historical and cultural account lays the factual groundwork for the subsequent discovery of the empty tomb, emphasizing the real, historical nature of Jesus' death and temporary entombment.