John 19:28

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

After {G3326} this {G5124}, Jesus {G2424} knowing {G1492} that {G3754} all things {G3956} were {G5055} now {G2235} accomplished {G5055}, that {G2443} the scripture {G1124} might be fulfilled {G5048}, saith {G3004}, I thirst {G1372}.

After this, knowing that all things had accomplished their purpose, Yeshua, in order to fulfill the words of the Tanakh, said, “I’m thirsty.”

After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.

Context

John 19:28 is a pivotal moment in the crucifixion narrative, occurring just before Jesus' death on the cross. Prior to this verse, Jesus has endured immense physical and emotional suffering, including scourging, mockery, and the agony of crucifixion itself. He has already spoken to His mother Mary and John, entrusting her care to him (John 19:27). This verse marks a conscious act by Jesus, demonstrating His awareness that His redemptive work was nearing completion.

Key Themes

  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The verse explicitly states that Jesus' action was "that the scripture might be fulfilled." This highlights the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's suffering and death. Specifically, His declaration of thirst is widely understood to refer to Psalm 69:21, which speaks of receiving gall and vinegar for His thirst.
  • Jesus' Divine Awareness and Sovereignty: The phrase "Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished" underscores His divine knowledge and control, even in the midst of extreme suffering. His cry of "I thirst" is not a desperate plea from one losing control, but a deliberate statement made with full awareness that God's plan was unfolding precisely as intended.
  • The Humanity of Christ: Despite His divine nature and knowledge, Jesus also experienced profound human suffering. His thirst was a very real, physical consequence of crucifixion, a brutal form of execution that led to extreme dehydration. This demonstrates His full humanity, a key aspect of His identification with human suffering and His ability to truly represent humanity as a perfect sacrifice.
  • Completion of Redemptive Work: The knowledge that "all things were now accomplished" points to the near completion of His atoning work. This sets the stage for His final declaration, which culminates in the powerful statement of "It is finished" in John 19:30.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "I thirst" is dipsao (διψάω). While it primarily means a physical craving for water, in a spiritual sense it can also convey a deep longing or spiritual need, as seen in other biblical contexts (e.g., Matthew 5:6). Here, it's primarily the physical, but the theological implications of its fulfillment of prophecy elevate its significance beyond mere bodily sensation.

Practical Application

John 19:28 reminds us that Jesus' suffering was real, profound, and purposeful. His cry of "I thirst" connects His divine mission with His human experience, showing us that He fully entered into our human condition, including its frailties and pains. This verse offers comfort in knowing that Christ's work on the cross was not random or incomplete, but a divinely orchestrated act of love and obedience, fulfilling every prophecy and securing our salvation. It encourages us to trust in the finished work of Christ and to find spiritual satisfaction in Him, who endured such thirst for us.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 69:21

    They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

  • Psalms 22:15

    My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

  • John 19:30

    When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

  • Luke 22:37

    For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

  • John 19:24

    They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

  • Luke 18:31

    ¶ Then he took [unto him] the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

  • John 18:4

    Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

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