King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Complete Jewish Bible:
also the cloth that had been around his head, lying not with the sheets but in a separate place and still folded up.
Berean Standard Bible:
The cloth that had been around Jesus’ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths.
American Standard Version:
and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G2532} the napkin{G4676}, that{G3739} was{G2258} about{G1909} his{G846} head{G2776}, not{G3756} lying{G2749} with{G3326} the linen clothes{G3608}, but{G235} wrapped together{G1794} in{G1519} a place{G5117} by itself{G1520}{G5565}.
Cross-References (KJV):
John 11:44
- And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for John 20:7
John 20:7 is a verse from the New Testament that describes a scene following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the broader context, this verse is part of the narrative where Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb of Jesus on the first day of the week after his crucifixion. Upon finding the stone rolled away from the entrance, she runs to inform Peter and the beloved disciple (often identified as John) that Jesus' body has been taken away.
The specific detail mentioned in John 20:7 pertains to the burial cloths that were used to wrap Jesus' body. In Jewish burial customs of the time, a body would be wrapped in linen cloths, and a separate cloth, or napkin, would be placed over the head. When Peter and the beloved disciple enter the tomb, they observe that the napkin used for Jesus' head is not with the other linen clothes but is instead "wrapped together in a place by itself." This careful arrangement of the napkin has been interpreted in various ways by theologians and scholars.
Some suggest that the neatly folded napkin indicates that Jesus' body did not decay or corrupt but was resurrected in a glorified state. Others see it as a sign of the orderliness and deliberate nature of Jesus' departure from the tomb, pointing to the resurrection as a divine act rather than the work of grave robbers or someone else removing the body. This detail, along with the positioning of the grave clothes, has been used to argue against the claim that the disciples stole Jesus' body, as the act of stealing would likely have been hasty and disordered.
The historical context of this verse is set during the Roman occupation of Judea, where Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection occurred. The resurrection is a central theme of Christianity and is celebrated by Christians as the pivotal event that validates Jesus' teachings and his identity as the Son of God. John 20:7, with its focus on the burial cloths, contributes to the testimony of the empty tomb, which is foundational to the Christian faith and its proclamation of Jesus' victory over death.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G4676
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σουδάριον
Transliteration: soudárion
Pronunciation: soo-dar'-ee-on
Description: of Latin origin; a sudarium (sweat-cloth), i.e. towel (for wiping the perspiration from the face, or binding the face of a corpse):--handkerchief, napkin. - Strong's Number: G3739
There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅς
Transliteration: hós
Pronunciation: ho
Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ. - Strong's Number: G2258
There are 416 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἦν
Transliteration: ēn
Pronunciation: ane
Description: imperfect of εἰμί; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were. - Strong's Number: G1909
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπί
Transliteration: epí
Pronunciation: ep-ee'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively). - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G2776
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κεφαλή
Transliteration: kephalḗ
Pronunciation: kef-al-ay'
Description: from the primary (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively:--head. - Strong's Number: G3756
There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐ
Transliteration: ou
Pronunciation: ookh
Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος. - Strong's Number: G2749
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κεῖμαι
Transliteration: keîmai
Pronunciation: ki'-mahee
Description: middle voice of a primary verb; to lie outstretched (literally or figuratively):--be (appointed, laid up, made, set), lay, lie. Compare τίθημι. - Strong's Number: G3326
There are 445 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μετά
Transliteration: metá
Pronunciation: met-ah'
Description: a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between ἀπό or ἐκ and εἰς or πρός; less intimate than ἐν and less close than σύν):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence. - Strong's Number: G3608
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὀθόνιον
Transliteration: othónion
Pronunciation: oth-on'-ee-on
Description: neuter of a presumed derivative of ὀθόνη; a linen bandage:--linen clothes. - Strong's Number: G235
There are 635 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀλλά
Transliteration: allá
Pronunciation: al-lah'
Description: neuter plural of ἄλλος; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet. - Strong's Number: G1794
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐντυλίσσω
Transliteration: entylíssō
Pronunciation: en-too-lis'-so
Description: from ἐν and (to twist; probably akin to εἱλίσσω); to entwine, i.e. wind up in:--wrap in (together). - Strong's Number: G1519
There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰς
Transliteration: eis
Pronunciation: ice
Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively). - Strong's Number: G5117
There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τόπος
Transliteration: tópos
Pronunciation: top'-os
Description: apparently a primary word; a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas χώρα is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard:--coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where. - Strong's Number: G1520
There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἷς
Transliteration: heîs
Pronunciation: hice
Description: a primary numeral; one:--a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some. See also εἷς καθ’ εἷς, μηδείς, μία, οὐδείς. - Strong's Number: G5565
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χωρίς
Transliteration: chōrís
Pronunciation: kho-rece'
Description: adverb from χώρα; at a space, i.e. separately or apart from (often as preposition):--beside, by itself, without.