John 20:7

7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place 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 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.