John 19:40

40 And they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with sweet smelling ointments [and bound it in linen clothes with sweet ointments, or spices], as it is [the] custom to Jews for to bury.

John 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.

John 19:40 In-Context

38 But after these things Joseph of Arimathaea prayed Pilate, that he should take away the body of Jesus, for that he was a disciple of Jesus, but privily for dread of the Jews. And Pilate suffered. And so he came [Therefore he came], and took away the body of Jesus.

39 And Nicodemus came also, that had come to him first by night, and brought a medley of myrrh and aloes, as it were an hundred pound. [Soothly and Nicodemus came, that had come first to Jesus by night, bearing a medley of myrrh and aloes, as an hundred pound.]

40 And they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with sweet smelling ointments [and bound it in linen clothes with sweet ointments, or spices], as it is [the] custom to Jews for to bury.

41 And in the place where he was crucified, was a garden, and in the garden a new grave, in which yet no man was laid. [Soothly in the place where he was crucified, was a yard, and in the yard a new grave, in which not yet any man was put.]

42 Therefore there they put Jesus, for the vigil of Jews? feast [for the making ready of Jews], for the sepulchre was nigh.