John 19:33

33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead by this time, and so his legs were not broken;

John 19:33 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:33

But when they came to Jesus
Whom they passed by before, and now returned to; this they did not out of tenderness to him, but that he might be the longer in his torture, and whom they reserved till last, that they might use him with the greater cruelty and barbarity:

and saw that he was dead already;
as they might, from the bowing down of his head, the ghastliness of his countenance, the falling of his jaws, and other signs:

they brake not his legs;
there being no occasion for it, nor would it have answered any end, were they ever so spiteful and malicious against him; though the true reason was, and which restrained them from it, divine providence would not suffer them to do it.

John 19:33 In-Context

31 Now it was the day of getting ready for the Passover, and so that the bodies might not be on the cross on the Sabbath (because the day of that Sabbath was a great day), the Jews made a request to Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 So the men of the army came, and the legs of the first were broken and then of the other who was put to death on the cross with Jesus:

33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead by this time, and so his legs were not broken;

34 But one of the men made a wound in his side with a spear, and straight away there came out blood and water.

35 And he who saw it has given witness (and his witness is true; he is certain that what he says is true) so that you may have belief.