John 19:32

32 The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been put on a stake beside Yeshua, then the legs of the other one;

John 19:32 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:32

Then came the soldiers
Pilate having granted the Jews what they desired; either the soldiers that crucified Christ, and the others with him, and watched their bodies, being ordered by Pilate, went from the place where they sat; or a fresh company, which were sent for this purpose, came from the city:

and brake the legs of the first;
they came unto, which whether it was he that was crucified on his right hand, and was the penitent believer in him, as some have thought, is not certain:

and of the other which was crucified with him;
who, if the former is true, must be he that reviled him; and was this their position, it was a lively emblem of the last day, when the sheep shall stand at the right, and the goats on the left hand of Christ.

John 19:32 In-Context

30 After Yeshua had taken the wine, he said, "It is accomplished!" And, letting his head droop, he delivered up his spirit.

31 It was Preparation Day, and the Judeans did not want the bodies to remain on the stake on Shabbat, since it was an especially important Shabbat. So they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.

32 The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been put on a stake beside Yeshua, then the legs of the other one;

33 but when they got to Yeshua and saw that he was already dead, they didn't break his legs.

34 However, one of the soldiers stabbed his side with a spear, and at once blood and water flowed out.