John 19:36

“For these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.””

John 19:36 · direct translation from the Greek
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A soldier pierces his side, and John sees what was written fulfilledThe Cross

With the Greek beneath

36

Quotation · Exodus 12:46

Go to Exodus 12:46

John does not say which passage he quotes. Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 give it as a command about the Passover lamb (“you shall not break”); John says it in the passive: “will not be broken.”

Formula: ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ “so that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:36)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: ἐγένετο γὰρ ταῦτα ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ Ὀστοῦν οὐ συντριβήσεται αὐτοῦ

Hebrew (Masoretic text): בְּבַיִת אֶחָד יֵאָכֵל לֹא תוֹצִיא מִן הַבַּיִת מִן הַבָּשָׂר חוּצָה וְעֶצֶם לֹא תִשְׁבְּרוּ בוֹ

Septuagint (Exodus 12:46 in the Septuagint numbering): ἐν οἰκίᾳ μιᾷ βρωθήσεται, καὶ οὐκ ἐξοίσετε ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας τῶν κρεῶν ἵξω, καὶ ὀστοῦν οὐ συντρίψετε ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ.

In the Septuagint verse that most resembles it, at most 2 consecutive words match the Greek of the NT. The transcription has reading errors, so a match may not show.

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Quotation · Psalms 34:20

Go to Psalms 34:20

John does not say which passage he quotes. Psalm 34:20 says it of the righteous one, and in the passive, as John does: “not one of them is broken.”

Formula: ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ “so that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:36)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: ἐγένετο γὰρ ταῦτα ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ Ὀστοῦν οὐ συντριβήσεται αὐτοῦ

Hebrew (Masoretic text): שֹׁמֵר כָּל עַצְמוֹתָיו אַחַת מֵהֵנָּה לֹא נִשְׁבָּרָה

Septuagint (Psalms 33:21 in the Septuagint numbering): Κύριος φυλάσσει πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῶν, ἐν ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐ συντριβήσεται.

In the Septuagint verse that most resembles it, at most 2 consecutive words match the Greek of the NT. The transcription has reading errors, so a match may not show.

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Quotation · Numbers 9:12

Go to Numbers 9:12

John does not say which passage he quotes. Numbers 9:12 gives it as a command for the Passover of the second month: “nor shall they break any bone of it.”

Formula: ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ “so that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:36)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: ἐγένετο γὰρ ταῦτα ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ Ὀστοῦν οὐ συντριβήσεται αὐτοῦ

Hebrew (Masoretic text): לֹא יַשְׁאִירוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד בֹּקֶר וְעֶצֶם לֹא יִשְׁבְּרוּ בוֹ כְּכָל חֻקַּת הַפֶּסַח יַעֲשׂוּ אֹתוֹ

Septuagint (Numbers 9:12 in the Septuagint numbering): οὐ καταλείψουσιν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πρωί, ὀστοῦν οὐ συντρίψουσιν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ· κατὰ τὸν νόμον τοῦ ποιήσουσιν αὐτό.

In the Septuagint verse that most resembles it, at most 2 consecutive words match the Greek of the NT. The transcription has reading errors, so a match may not show.

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

John 19:36, word by word

happenedἐγένετοegeneto

happen

For an event to occur, for something to take place in history.

Where else “egeneto” appears
the Scriptureγραφὴgraphē

Scripture

Scripture: the sacred text; "the Scriptures", the Old Testament.

Where else “graphē” appears
might be fulfilledπληρωθῇplērōthēi

be fulfilled

For what was foretold to come true.

Where else “plērōthēi” appears
a boneὈστοῦνOstoun

bone

Bone.

Where else “Ostoun” appears
will be brokenσυντριβήσεταιsyntribēsetai

break, crush

Break, crush, shatter.

Where else “syntribēsetai” appears

Translation note

Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 (the Passover lamb); compare Psalm 34:20.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

The death of Jesus

Matthew 27:45-56Mark 15:33-41Luke 23:44-49

See them side by side

John 19:28-37

28After this, Jesus, knowing that all was already finished, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, says, “I am thirsty.” 29A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so putting a sponge full of the sour wine on hyssop, they held it to his mouth. 30So when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. 31So the Jews, since it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath day was a great one), asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken away. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him; 33but when they came to Jesus, as they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35And the one who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36For these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.” 37And again another Scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they pierced.”

Matthew 27:45-56

45Now from the sixth hour darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47And some of those standing there, when they heard it, were saying, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48And at once one of them ran and took a sponge, and filled it with sour wine, and putting it on a reed, he was giving him a drink. 49But the rest were saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah is coming to save him.” 50And Jesus, crying out again with a loud voice, let go of his spirit. 51And look, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were split; 52and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now the centurion and those with him keeping watch over Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things that had happened, were very afraid, saying, “Truly this man was God’s Son.” 55And there were there many women watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him; 56among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Mark 15:33-41

33And when the sixth hour came, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35And some of those standing by, hearing it, were saying, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” 36And someone ran, and filling a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and was giving him a drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah comes to take him down.” 37But Jesus, letting out a loud cry, breathed his last. 38And the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he breathed his last in this way, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son.” 40And there were also women watching from a distance, among whom were both Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, 41who, when he was in Galilee, used to follow him and serve him, and many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

Luke 23:44-49

44And it was already about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45the sun having failed; and the curtain of the sanctuary was torn down the middle. 46And crying out with a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this, he breathed his last. 47And the centurion, seeing what had happened, was glorifying God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous.” 48And all the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle, having seen what had happened, returned home beating their breasts. 49And all his acquaintances stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, seeing these things.

Quotation · Exodus 12:46

John does not say which passage he quotes. Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 give it as a command about the Passover lamb (“you shall not break”); John says it in the passive: “will not be broken.”

See them side by side

John 19:36

36For these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.”

Exodus 12:46

46In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not take any of the meat out of the house outside, and you shall not break a bone of it.

Quotation · Psalms 34:20

John does not say which passage he quotes. Psalm 34:20 says it of the righteous one, and in the passive, as John does: “not one of them is broken.”

See them side by side

John 19:36

36For these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.”

Psalms 34:20

20He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Quotation · Numbers 9:12

John does not say which passage he quotes. Numbers 9:12 gives it as a command for the Passover of the second month: “nor shall they break any bone of it.”

See them side by side

John 19:36

36For these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.”

Numbers 9:12

12They shall not leave any of it until morning, and they shall not break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall keep it.

The context

35And the one who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.

36 · This verse (above)

37And again another Scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they pierced.”

Read all of John 19

To study John 19 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What do the soldiers and Pilate do with Jesus, and what does Pilate write on the sign above the cross? (vv. 1-22)

  2. 2. What it means

    Beside the cross, Jesus entrusts his mother and the beloved disciple to each other's care, and says, “It is finished” (vv. 25-30). What do those moments show?

  3. 3. How I live it

    Even in suffering, Jesus made sure his mother would be cared for (vv. 26-27). Whom in your family or friends could you care for better this week?

How to use it