John 20:7

7 and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself.

John 20:7 Meaning and Commentary

John 20:7

And the napkin that was about his head
The word (soudarion) , rendered "napkin", is thought to be originally Latin, and signifies an handkerchief, with which the sweat is wiped off the face, and so it is used in ( Acts 19:12 ) but Nonnus says it is a common word with the Syrians, and the word (ardwo) is used in the Syriac version; and which he renders, (kefalhv zwsthra) , "the girdle, or binding of the head", for with this the head and face of the dead person were bound; see ( John 11:44 ) . Now Peter, by going into the sepulchre, and looking about him, and examining things more strictly and narrowly, observed that which neither he nor John had taken notice of, when only stooping they looked in: and that is, that this head binder, or napkin, was

not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by
itself:
and was plainly the effect of thought, care, and composure; and clearly showed, that the body was not taken away in a hurry, or by thieves, since everything lay in such order and decency; and which was done, either by our Lord himself, or by the angels.

John 20:7 In-Context

5 Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

6 Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there,

7 and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself.

8 Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed.

9 No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.