Later text
John 19:37BSB
And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced.”
Intertextuality Pair
John 19:37 → Zechariah 12:10
Quotation
Earlier text
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
+ 3 more earlier texts
Earlier text
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Earlier text
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
Earlier text
Isaiah 53:5BSB
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Significance
Present passage continues and completes Fourth Evangelist's presentation of Jesus' crucifixion as conforming to pattern laid out in Hebrew Scriptures. Roman soldiers' actions of dividing Jesus' clothes and casting lots for garment (19:23-24), Jesus' indication of thirst (19:28-30), and soldiers' not breaking Jesus' legs but piercing side with spear subsequent to crucifixion (19:34-37) all proceed in keeping with biblical prophecy. Present passage provides second of two texts said to be fulfilled by Romans' actions in 19:34, namely, Zechariah 12:10: "They will look on the One they have pierced." Text also quoted in Revelation 1:7; earlier text in Zechariah 9:9 quoted in John 12:15 with reference to Jesus' kingship. Reference in John 16:32 to Jesus' followers being "scattered" may allude to notion of shepherd being stricken and sheep being scattered in Zechariah 13:7 (quoted by Jesus in Matthew 26:31/Mark 14:27). Zechariah 12:10 reads: "Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son." Results in great mourning in Jerusalem and by family of house of David (12:11-14). Zechariah 12:9-10 part of second oracle, spanning 12:1-14:21, concluding book, focusing by way of divine speech on Yahweh's action against nations.
- Found via
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
- Reference Type
- Direct Quotation
- Connection Method(s)
- Promise-Fulfillment
Text-form: John's ἐξεκέντησαν ("pierced") follows the Hebrew דָּקַר (dāqar), not the LXX's κατωρχήσαντο ("they treated spitefully") — the citation tracks the Masoretic reading of the piercing rather than the Greek.
Related Anchor-Text Networks
Linked Mentions 5