Giovanni 19:40

40 Essi dunque presero il corpo di Gesù e lo avvolsero in pannilini con gli aromi, com’è usanza di seppellire presso i Giudei.

Giovanni 19:40 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:40

Then took they the body of Jesus
It being taken down from the cross, and carried to the designed place of interment; they, Joseph and Nicodemus, either themselves, or by their servants, took the body;

and wound it in linen clothes;
or "swathed", or "wrapped it in linen"; rolled it about the body many times, as was the custom of the eastern nations to do; this was what Joseph prepared:

with the spices;
which they either wrapped up with the linen, or strowed over the body when it was wound up; these Nicodemus brought;

as the manner of the Jews is to bury;
both was usual with them; both to wind up the dead in linen; hence R. Jonathan, alluding to this custom, when R. Isai was taken, and others would have delivered him, said, (wnydob tmh Krky) , "let the dead be wrapped in his own linen ^F4"; and also to bury them with spices; hence we read of "the spices of the dead" in a Jewish canon ^F5:

``they do not say a blessing over a lamp, nor over the spices of idolaters; nor over a lamp, nor over (Mytm lv) (Mymvbh) , "the spices of the dead":''

the use of which, Bartenora on the place says, was to drive away an ungrateful smell. The wrapping up the body of Christ in a fine linen cloth, was a token of his purity and innocence; and significative of that pure and spotless righteousness he had now brought in: the strewing it with spices may denote the fragrancy of Christ's death to Jehovah the Father, in whose sight it was precious, and whose sacrifice to him is of a sweet smelling savour; and also to all sensible sinners, to whom a crucified Christ is precious; since by his death sin is expiated, the law fulfilled, justice satisfied, reconciliation made, security from condemnation obtained, and death is abolished.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 T. Hieros. Ternmot, fol. 46. 2.
F5 Misn. Beracot. c. 8. sect. 6.

Giovanni 19:40 In-Context

38 Dopo queste cose, Giuseppe d’Arimatea, che era discepolo di Gesù, ma occulto per timore de’ Giudei, chiese a Pilato di poter togliere il corpo di Gesù; e Pilato glielo permise. Egli dunque venne e tolse il corpo di Gesù.

39 E Nicodemo, che da prima era venuto a Gesù di notte, venne anche egli, portando una mistura di mirra e d’aloe di circa cento libbre.

40 Essi dunque presero il corpo di Gesù e lo avvolsero in pannilini con gli aromi, com’è usanza di seppellire presso i Giudei.

41 Or nel luogo dov’egli fu crocifisso c’era un orto; e in quell’orto un sepolcro nuovo, dove nessuno era ancora stato posto.

42 Quivi dunque posero Gesù, a motivo della Preparazione dei Giudei, perché il sepolcro era vicino.