John 19:14

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

And {G1161} it was {G2258} the preparation {G3904} of the passover {G3957}, and {G1161} about {G5616} the sixth {G1623} hour {G5610}: and {G2532} he saith {G3004} unto the Jews {G2453}, Behold {G2396} your {G5216} King {G935}!

it was about noon on Preparation Day for Pesach. He said to the Judeans, “Here’s your king!”

It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”

Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!

Commentary

Commentary on John 19:14 (KJV)

John 19:14 describes a pivotal moment during the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, immediately preceding His crucifixion. This verse is rich with chronological and thematic significance, highlighting both the precise timing of Jesus' sacrifice and the profound irony of His presentation to the very people who would reject Him.

Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of Jesus' passion, specifically His final appearance before Pontius Pilate. Pilate, having found no fault in Jesus, attempts multiple times to release Him, but the Jewish leaders insist on His crucifixion. The scene described here is Pilate's final attempt to appeal to the crowd, presenting Jesus in a crown of thorns and purple robe, saying, "Behold the Man!" (John 19:5). When this fails, he brings Jesus out again, leading to the declaration in verse 14.

  • "And it was the preparation of the passover": This crucial detail dates the event to the day before the Sabbath and the Passover feast itself, meaning it was Friday, the day on which all preparations for the Sabbath and the sacred Passover meal would be made. This timing powerfully connects Jesus to the Passover Lamb, whose blood was shed for the deliverance of Israel. Jesus' sacrifice is presented as the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover, inaugurating a new covenant through His blood.
  • "and about the sixth hour": John's timing (around noon, if using Roman time, or the sixth hour from sunrise, which would be midday) is significant. It places Jesus' public condemnation and delivery to crucifixion at a very public moment, in the full light of day. While some interpret "sixth hour" differently from Synoptic accounts, John's emphasis often highlights the theological significance of events. This was the hour when the Passover lambs were traditionally being slaughtered in the Temple, further underscoring Jesus as the true sacrifice.
  • "and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!": Pilate's declaration is deeply ironic and provocative. He knew that the charge against Jesus was His claim to be "King of the Jews." By presenting Jesus, scourged and humiliated, Pilate sarcastically challenges the Jewish leaders, highlighting their hypocrisy and the absurdity of their rejection of a "king" who stands condemned by Rome. This echoes Pilate's earlier conversation with Jesus about His kingdom (John 18:37).

Key Themes

  • The Kingship of Christ: Despite His apparent defeat and humiliation, Jesus is indeed King. Pilate's ironic statement inadvertently declares a profound truth. Jesus' kingship is not of this world (not political or military), but spiritual and eternal, as He testified.
  • Divine Timing and Fulfillment: The specific mention of "the preparation of the passover" emphasizes that Jesus' crucifixion was not a random event but occurred at the precise, divinely appointed time to fulfill Old Testament prophecies and establish Him as the ultimate Lamb of God.
  • Rejection of the Messiah: The Jewish leaders' response to Pilate's "Behold your King!" is a resounding "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" (John 19:15), culminating in their declaration, "We have no king but Caesar." This profound rejection is a central tragic theme in John's Gospel (John 1:11).

Linguistic Insights

  • The term for "preparation" is Greek paraskeuē (παρασκευὴ), which specifically refers to the day before the Sabbath (Friday), when preparations for the Sabbath rest were made. In this context, it takes on added significance as the preparation for the Passover feast as well.
  • The "sixth hour" (ὥρα ἕκτη - *hōra hektē*) in John's Gospel is often interpreted as Roman time, meaning midday (12:00 PM), in contrast to the Jewish reckoning which would place it at 6:00 PM. This would mean Jesus was condemned around noon, and the crucifixion itself began shortly thereafter.

Practical Application

John 19:14 calls us to consider who we acknowledge as King in our lives. Unlike the crowd who rejected their true King for an earthly ruler, believers are called to confess Jesus as Lord and King, even when His reign seems paradoxical or counter-cultural. The precision of God's timing in Jesus' sacrifice reminds us that God is sovereign over all circumstances, even suffering and injustice, working His perfect plan for redemption. We are to behold Jesus not just as a historical figure, but as our reigning King, whose sacrifice on the cross provides our freedom and new life.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 27:62 (5 votes)

    Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

  • John 19:5 (4 votes)

    Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man!

  • John 19:42 (3 votes)

    There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation [day]; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

  • Mark 15:25 (3 votes)

    And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

  • Mark 15:33 (2 votes)

    ¶ And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

  • Mark 15:34 (2 votes)

    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  • Mark 15:42 (2 votes)

    ¶ And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,