CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/19-33.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/43_Jhn_19_33.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 19:33 - Jesus' Side is Pierced" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/19-33.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/19-33.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/19.htm">Chapter 19</a> > Verse 33</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/19-32.htm" title="John 19:32">◄</a> John 19:33 <a href="/john/19-34.htm" title="John 19:34">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/john/19.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/john/19.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/19.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/19.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/19.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/19.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />But having come to Jesus, when they saw Him already having been dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/19.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/19.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/19.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />but after they came to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/19.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/19.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/19.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/19.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/19.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/19.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/19.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/19.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead, and they did not break his legs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/19.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/19.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn't break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/19.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they did not break his legs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/19.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/19.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/19.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/19.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/19.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/19.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Then they came to Jesus Himself: but when they saw that He was already dead, they refrained from breaking His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/19.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/19.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and having come to Jesus, when they saw Him already having been dead, they did not break His legs;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/19.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />But having come to Jesus, when they saw Him already having been dead, they did not break His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/19.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and having come to Jesus, when they saw him already having been dead, they did not break his legs;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/19.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And upon having come to Jesus, when they saw him already dead, they brake not his legs:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/19.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/19.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But after they had approached Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/19.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/19.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/19.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they did not break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/19.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />When they came to Yeshua, they saw that he had died already and they did not break his legs.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/19.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/19.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />But having come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/19.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />But when they came to Jesus, as they saw that he was already dead, they brake not his legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/19.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />then they came to Jesus, and finding that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/19.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Then they came to Jesus Himself: but when they saw that He was already dead, they refrained from breaking His legs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/19.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />but, when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was already dead, they broke not His legs;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/19.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />as they saw He was dead already, they did not break his legs:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/19-33.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=6930" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/19.htm">Jesus' Side is Pierced</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">32</span>So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other. <span class="reftext">33</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">when</a> <a href="/greek/2064.htm" title="2064: elthontes (V-APA-NMP) -- To come, go. ">they came</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">to</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsoun (N-AMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: eidon (V-AIA-3P) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">and saw that</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">He</a> <a href="/greek/2235.htm" title="2235: ēdē (Adv) -- Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now.">was already</a> <a href="/greek/2348.htm" title="2348: tethnēkota (V-RPA-AMS) -- To die, be dying, be dead. A strengthened form of a simpler primary thano than'-o; to die.">dead,</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/2608.htm" title="2608: kateaxan (V-AIA-3P) -- To break down (in pieces), crush, break into. From kata and the base of rhegnumi; to rend in pieces, i.e. Crack apart.">they did not break</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ta (Art-ANP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4628.htm" title="4628: skelē (N-ANP) -- The leg (from the hip downwards). Apparently from skello; the leg.">legs.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">34</span>Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/34-20.htm">Psalm 34:20</a></span><br />He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/12-46.htm">Exodus 12:46</a></span><br />It must be eaten inside one house. You are not to take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/9-12.htm">Numbers 9:12</a></span><br />they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/12-10.htm">Zechariah 12:10</a></span><br />Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-9.htm">Isaiah 53:9</a></span><br />He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/22-16.htm">Psalm 22:16</a></span><br />For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/69-21.htm">Psalm 69:21</a></span><br />They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-5.htm">Isaiah 53:5</a></span><br />But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/13-7.htm">Zechariah 13:7</a></span><br />Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-35.htm">Matthew 27:35</a></span><br />When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/15-24.htm">Mark 15:24</a></span><br />And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/23-33.htm">Luke 23:33</a></span><br />When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-29.htm">John 1:29</a></span><br />The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-36.htm">John 1:36</a></span><br />When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-14.htm">John 3:14-15</a></span><br />Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, / that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/19-28.htm">Already</a> <a href="/john/19-32.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/john/19-32.htm">Break</a> <a href="/luke/24-35.htm">Breaking</a> <a href="/john/19-32.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/john/19-32.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/john/19-17.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/john/12-14.htm">Found</a> <a href="/john/19-32.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/19-32.htm">Legs</a> <a href="/haggai/1-10.htm">Refrained</a> <a href="/john/19-27.htm">Time</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/20-1.htm">Already</a> <a href="/acts/27-35.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/john/21-12.htm">Break</a> <a href="/john/21-4.htm">Breaking</a> <a href="/acts/2-46.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/john/19-36.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/john/19-40.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/acts/4-12.htm">Found</a> <a href="/john/19-34.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/revelation/10-1.htm">Legs</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/1-23.htm">Refrained</a> <a href="/john/20-9.htm">Time</a><div class="vheading2">John 19</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-1.htm">Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and beaten.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-4.htm">Pilate is desirous to release him, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-15.htm">but being overcome with the outrage of the crowd, he delivers him to be crucified.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-23.htm">They cast lots for his garments.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-25.htm">He commends his mother to John.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-28.htm">He dies.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-31.htm">His side is pierced.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">38. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/19-38.htm">He is buried by Joseph and Nicodemus.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/john/19.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>But when they came to Jesus</b><br />This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the crucifixion narrative. The Roman soldiers, tasked with ensuring the death of those crucified, approach Jesus. The Greek word for "came" (ἦλθον, ēlthon) implies a deliberate action, highlighting the soldiers' duty to confirm death. This moment fulfills the divine plan, as Jesus' death is not by human intervention but by His own volition, aligning with His declaration in <a href="/john/10-18.htm">John 10:18</a>, "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord."<p><b>and saw that He was already dead</b><br />The soldiers' observation that Jesus was "already dead" is crucial. The Greek word for "saw" (εἶδον, eidon) suggests a careful examination, indicating that the soldiers were experienced in recognizing death. This detail underscores the reality of Jesus' death, countering any claims that He merely swooned or fainted. Historically, Roman executioners were skilled in their craft, ensuring that crucifixion victims were indeed dead before being taken down.<p><b>they did not break His legs</b><br />The decision not to break Jesus' legs fulfills Old Testament prophecy and typology. The practice of breaking legs, known as crurifragium, was a method to hasten death by preventing the victim from pushing up to breathe. The Greek word for "break" (κατέαξαν, kateaxan) indicates a violent action. However, in Jesus' case, this was unnecessary, fulfilling <a href="/psalms/34-20.htm">Psalm 34:20</a>, "He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken." This also aligns with the Passover lamb typology in <a href="/exodus/12-46.htm">Exodus 12:46</a>, where no bone of the sacrificial lamb was to be broken, symbolizing Jesus as the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/19.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(33) <span class= "bld">And saw that he was dead already,</span> . . . The only explanation of their not breaking the legs of Jesus seems to be that the purpose of the <span class= "ital">crurifragium</span> was to ensure death, or, in any case, prevent the possibility of escape. Crucifixion itself would not necessarily cause death for several days, nor, indeed, at all; but Jesus had by His own will committed His spirit to His Father.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/19-33.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when</span><br /><span class="grk">ὡς</span> <span class="translit">(hōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> </span><span class="str2">Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they came</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐλθόντες</span> <span class="translit">(elthontes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2064.htm">Strong's 2064: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come, go. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπὶ</span> <span class="translit">(epi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> </span><span class="str2">On, to, against, on the basis of, at. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jesus</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰησοῦν</span> <span class="translit">(Iēsoun)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and] saw that</span><br /><span class="grk">εἶδον</span> <span class="translit">(eidon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> </span><span class="str2">Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτὸν</span> <span class="translit">(auton)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was already</span><br /><span class="grk">ἤδη</span> <span class="translit">(ēdē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2235.htm">Strong's 2235: </a> </span><span class="str2">Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">dead,</span><br /><span class="grk">τεθνηκότα</span> <span class="translit">(tethnēkota)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2348.htm">Strong's 2348: </a> </span><span class="str2">To die, be dying, be dead. A strengthened form of a simpler primary thano than'-o; to die.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they did not break</span><br /><span class="grk">κατέαξαν</span> <span class="translit">(kateaxan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2608.htm">Strong's 2608: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break down (in pieces), crush, break into. From kata and the base of rhegnumi; to rend in pieces, i.e. Crack apart.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">His</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(autou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">legs.</span><br /><span class="grk">σκέλη</span> <span class="translit">(skelē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4628.htm">Strong's 4628: </a> </span><span class="str2">The leg (from the hip downwards). Apparently from skello; the leg.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/19-33.htm">John 19:33 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/19-33.htm">NT Gospels: John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/19-32.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 19:32"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 19:32" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/19-34.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 19:34"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 19:34" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>