John 19:37

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

John 19:37 · 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

37

Quotation · Zechariah 12:10

Go to Zechariah 12:10

Where the Hebrew says “they will look on me, whom they pierced,” John says “they will look on the one whom they pierced.”

Formula: καὶ πάλιν ἑτέρα γραφὴ λέγει “and again another Scripture says” (John 19:37)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: καὶ πάλιν ἑτέρα γραφὴ λέγει Ὄψονται εἰς ὃν ἐξεκέντησαν

Hebrew (Masoretic text): וְשָׁפַכְתִּי עַל בֵּית דָּוִיד וְעַל יוֹשֵׁב יְרוּשָׁלִַם רוּחַ חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים וְהִבִּיטוּ אֵלַי אֵת אֲשֶׁר דָּקָרוּ וְסָפְדוּ עָלָיו כְּמִסְפֵּד עַל הַיָּחִיד וְהָמֵר עָלָיו כְּהָמֵר עַל הַבְּכוֹר

This passage could not be located with certainty in the transcription of the Septuagint we use, so it is not compared.

John 19:37, word by word

againπάλινpalin

also

Adds something to what was said, on the other hand.

Where else “palin” appears
anotherἑτέραhetera

other, another

Other, another, different.

Where else “hetera” appears
Scriptureγραφὴgraphē

Scripture

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

Where else “graphē” appears
saysλέγειlegei

state

What something written says, like Scripture.

Where else “legei” appears
“They will lookὌψονταιOpsontai

see

To perceive with sight, to look and notice what is in front.

Where else “Opsontai” appears
they piercedἐξεκέντησανexekentēsan

pierce

Pierce, run through.

Where else “exekentēsan” appears

Translation note

Zechariah 12:10.

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 · Zechariah 12:10

Where the Hebrew says “they will look on me, whom they pierced,” John says “they will look on the one whom they pierced.”

See them side by side

John 19:37

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

Zechariah 12:10

10And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitant of Jerusalem a spirit of favor and of supplications; and they will look to me, whom they have pierced; and they will lament over him like the lament over the only one, and grieve bitterly over him as one grieves bitterly over the firstborn.

The context

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

37 · This verse (above)

38After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave permission. So he came and took away his body.

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