John 19:31

Full Chapter

September 17, 2025

KJV

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away.

BSB

It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.

WEB

Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

YLT

The Jews, therefore, that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, since it was the preparation, (for that sabbath day was a great one,) asked of Pilate that their legs may be broken, and they taken away.

F.O.G Original

(31) Then the Judeans because it was preparation day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross in Shabbat because that Shabbat was a great day, asked Pilate that their legs be broken and them, taken away.

F.O.G

F.O.G MSG

³¹Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbathˡ. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs brokenᵐ and the bodies taken down.

Footnotes:

³¹ˡ Special Sabbath: This Sabbath fell during Passover week, making it especially sacred to the Jewish people.

³¹ᵐ Legs broken: Breaking the legs would hasten death by preventing the victim from pushing up to breathe, causing rapid suffocation.