John 20 5

John 20:5 kjv

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

John 20:5 nkjv

And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.

John 20:5 niv

He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

John 20:5 esv

And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

John 20:5 nlt

He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn't go in.

John 20 verses

John 20 5 Meaning

The verse describes John, upon seeing the empty tomb, believing in Jesus' resurrection. This faith was a direct result of his observation of the grave clothes laid out neatly, which pointed to a purposeful act rather than a hasty departure.

John 20 5 Context

John chapter 20 details the events immediately following Jesus' resurrection. Mary Magdalene reports the empty tomb, and Peter and the beloved disciple (John) rush to see for themselves. This specific verse occurs as John arrives at the tomb and observes the state of the burial cloths, leading to his belief. The broader context is the disciples' journey from confusion and grief after Jesus' crucifixion to the dawning realization and acceptance of his resurrection, a pivotal event for Christianity. This occurs shortly after Jesus' trial and crucifixion and before his appearance to the disciples.

John 20 5 Word Analysis

• "When": Indicates the moment in time this event unfolded.
• "He": Refers to the beloved disciple, identified as John in the Gospel.
• "Saw": Implies not just a glance, but a careful and perceptive observation.
• "The": Definite article.
• "Linens": Greek: othonion (ὀθονίων). Refers to the fine strips of linen cloth in which Jesus' body was wrapped for burial.
• "Laid": Greek: keimena (κείμενα). This verb implies a state of rest or being placed down.
• "Down": Indicates placement upon the ground within the tomb.
• "And": Connects the observation of the linens.
• "The": Definite article.
• "Napkin": Greek: soudarion (σουδάριον). A separate piece of cloth used to wrap Jesus' head.
• "That": Relative pronoun, introducing a descriptive clause.
• "Was": Verb to be.
• "About": Greek: peri (περί). Indicating position around.
• "His": Possessive pronoun referring to Jesus.
• "Head": Refers to Jesus' head.
• "Not": Negation.
• "Laid": Greek: keimenon (κείμενον). Similar to the previous keimena, suggesting deliberate placement.
• "With": Preposition.
• "The": Definite article.
• "Linens": Same as above, emphasizing the separate handling of the head cloth.
• "But": Contrasting conjunction.
• "Folded": Greek: enthythēs (ἐνθυμηθεὶς) in some manuscripts, or implies "folded and put in a place apart." The concept is deliberate, neat arrangement.
• "In": Preposition.
• "A": Indefinite article.
• "Place": Greek: topos (τόπος). A specific location.
• "By": Indicates proximity.
• "Itself": Refers to the napkin being placed separately.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The linens laid down": The orderliness of the linen cloths, not disturbed or tossed aside, contrasted with the expected disarray if a body had been quickly removed.
• "The napkin... folded in a place by itself": The specific, careful folding of the head cloth suggests it was removed after death and Jesus' resurrection, and then deliberately placed aside, a meticulous action.

John 20 5 Bonus Section

The imagery of the folded napkin has often been interpreted as symbolic. Some scholars suggest it reflects Jewish customs where a servant would fold a napkin used by their master and place it to the side after a meal, indicating that the master would return. This foreshadows Christ’s eventual return. Furthermore, the detail emphasizes John's keen observational skills and the thoroughness of the Gospel narrative, which aims to provide verifiable evidence for belief in Jesus as the Christ. This observation provided John with a foundational, irrefutable confirmation of the resurrection.

John 20 5 Commentary

John’s act of believing stems from observing the physical evidence in the tomb. The neat arrangement of the burial cloths, particularly the separated and folded head napkin, indicated that Jesus' body had not been stolen or snatched away in haste. If the body had been stolen, the grave clothes would likely have been left in disarray or still wrapped around the body if it were somehow removed. Instead, the order suggested a deliberate departure by Jesus Himself, a reasoned act consistent with His divine power over death. This tactile, visual evidence, combined with prior testimony (like Mary's), solidified John's faith in the resurrection. The folded napkin, in particular, signifies a finished task, a post-resurrection action demonstrating Jesus' control. This understanding of the evidence mirrors Peter's later belief (Luke 24:12).