Bible Strands
John 19:28
After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks after entrusting His mother to the beloved disciple and immediately before the sour wine is offered. The statement marks the moment between the final interpersonal act and the climactic completion of the crucifixion narrative.
The words — The Greek εἰδὼς (eidōs) means "knowing," and ἤδη (ēdē) means "now." The text states these terms to show Jesus consciously recognized that all prophesied events were reaching their conclusion.
The thread — The declaration directly fulfills the thirst imagery in Psalm 69:21 and the dried-tongue description in Psalm 22:15. John explicitly ties Jesus’ utterance to the requirement that Scripture must be fulfilled.
Why it lands — The text records Jesus’ physical thirst as a deliberate step toward scriptural completion, not an incidental detail of suffering. It requires the reader to observe how stated human need functions as a mechanism for divine purpose.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Cross-references
- Psalms 69:21 They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.
- Psalms 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.
- John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.
- Luke 22:37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
- Luke 18:31 Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
- John 19:24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.” So that is what the soldiers did.
- John 18:4 Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”
- John 13:1 It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.
- Luke 9:31 They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
- Acts 13:29 When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.