John 19:34

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

But {G235} one {G1520} of the soldiers {G4757} with a spear {G3057} pierced {G3572} his {G846} side {G4125}, and {G2532} forthwith {G2117} came there out {G1831} blood {G129} and {G2532} water {G5204}.

However, one of the soldiers stabbed his side with a spear, and at once blood and water flowed out.

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water.

Commentary

John 19:34 describes a pivotal moment immediately following the death of Jesus on the cross, offering profound theological and historical significance. The verse states, "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

Context

This event occurs after Jesus has already yielded His spirit (John 19:30). The Jewish leaders, not wanting bodies to remain on the cross during the Sabbath (especially a high Sabbath), requested Pilate to have the legs of the crucified broken. This practice, called crurifragium, hastened death by preventing the condemned from pushing up to breathe. When the soldiers came to Jesus, they found Him already dead, so they did not break His legs, thereby fulfilling a specific Old Testament prophecy (John 19:36). However, to confirm His death and ensure He was truly deceased, one soldier performed this final act of piercing His side.

Key Themes

  • Verification of Death: The piercing of Jesus' side served as an undeniable confirmation of His physical death. This was crucial to counter any future claims that He merely fainted or survived the crucifixion, validating the reality of His resurrection.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: John emphasizes that this act fulfilled the prophecy from Zechariah 12:10, referenced in John 19:37: "They shall look on him whom they pierced."
  • Symbolism of Blood and Water: The outflow of "blood and water" is highly symbolic and has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history:
    • Blood: Represents the atoning sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). It signifies the new covenant established through His sacrifice and the redemption we have in Him (Ephesians 1:7).
    • Water: Often symbolizes purification, cleansing, new life, and the Holy Spirit. It points to Christian baptism (Titus 3:5) and the spiritual cleansing that comes through Christ (Ephesians 5:26). Combined, blood and water can signify the dual nature of salvation: justification (through His blood) and sanctification (through the Spirit, symbolized by water).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "pierced" is nuxas (νύξας), which means to prick, pierce, or stab. It denotes a decisive and forceful action. The immediate outflow of "blood and water" (Greek: haima kai hydor, αἷμα καὶ ὕδωρ) has been a subject of both medical and theological discussion. Medically, it could indicate a separation of blood components in the pericardial or pleural cavities due to cardiac rupture or fluid accumulation around the heart and lungs, further confirming death. Theologically, its significance far outweighs any medical explanation, pointing to profound spiritual realities.

Reflection and Application

John 19:34 serves as a powerful testament to the completeness of Christ's sacrifice. The spear thrust confirmed His death, leaving no room for doubt about the literal resurrection that followed. The outflow of blood and water reminds us of the two essential aspects of our salvation: the shedding of Christ's blood for our justification and forgiveness of sins, and the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, bringing new life and sanctification. This verse underscores the reality of Jesus' humanity and the depth of His suffering, inviting believers to contemplate the price paid for their redemption and the source of their spiritual renewal.

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

  • 1 John 5:6 (9 votes)

    ¶ This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

  • Zechariah 12:10 (8 votes)

    And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

  • Zechariah 13:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

  • 1 John 5:8 (7 votes)

    And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

  • Ezekiel 36:25 (6 votes)

    ¶ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

  • Revelation 7:14 (5 votes)

    And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

  • Titus 3:5 (5 votes)

    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;