Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 20:7
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
7. the napkin ] See on Joh 11:44: the same word is used here.
about his head ] Literally, upon His head: there is no need to mention His name. The writer is absorbed in his subject.
in a place by itself ] Literally, apart into one place.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 7. Wrapped together in a place by itself.] The providence of God ordered these very little matters, so that they became the fullest proofs against the lie of the chief priests, that the body had been stolen away by the disciples. If the body had been stolen away, those who took it would not have stopped to strip the clothes from it, and to wrap them up, and lay them by in separate places.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the napkin that was about his head,…. The word
, rendered “napkin”, is thought to be originally Latin, and signifies an handkerchief, with which the sweat is wiped off the face, and so it is used in Ac 19:12 but Nonnus says it is a common word with the Syrians, and the word is used in the Syriac version; and which he renders, , “the girdle, or binding of the head”, for with this the head and face of the dead person were bound; see Joh 11:44. Now Peter, by going into the sepulchre, and looking about him, and examining things more strictly and narrowly, observed that which neither he nor John had taken notice of, when only stooping they looked in: and that is, that this head binder, or napkin, was
not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself: and was plainly the effect of thought, care, and composure; and clearly showed, that the body was not taken away in a hurry, or by thieves, since everything lay in such order and decency; and which was done, either by our Lord himself, or by the angels.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The napkin ( ). Already in 11:44 which see. This napkin for the head was in a separate place.
Rolled up (). Perfect passive participle, predicate accusative like , from , late verb, to wrap in, to roll up, already in Matt 27:59; Luke 23:53. It was arranged in an orderly fashion. There was no haste.
By itself (). Old adverb, “apart,” “separately.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Napkin [] . See on Luk 19:20.
Wrapped together [] . Rev., much better, rolled up. The orderly arrangement of everything in the tomb marks the absence of haste and precipitation in the awakening and rising from the dead.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the napkin, that was about his head,” (kai to soudarion ho hen epi tes kephales autou) “And the kerchief which was on his head,” covering the forehead, eyes, nose, and mouth, similar to that used in Lazarus’ burial, that the Lord asked be removed when He raised him, Joh 11:44.
2) “Not lying with the linen clothes,” (ou meta ton othonion keimenon) “Was not lying with the wrapping sheets,” the strips of linen, Joh 20:6; Joh 1:14. This was evidence that the body had not been hastily snatched or stolen away.
3) “But wrapped together, in a place by itself.” (alla choris entetuligmenon eis hena topon) “But it was lying aside or apart by itself, tidily wrapped up,” or rolled up, as done by one with calm composure, not by a grave robber. These eye-witness details are recounted by John only, of the Gospel writers, later confirmed, 1Jn 1:1-5.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
7. And the napkin which was about his head. When the Evangelist says, that a napkin was wrapped about his head, this refutes the falsehood of the Papists, who pretend that the whole body was sewed up in one linen garment, which they hold out to the wretched populace, calling it “the holy winding-sheet.” (194) I say nothing about their gross ignorance of the Latin language, which led them to suppose that the word napkin — denoting what was used for wiping the sweat from the face, such as a handkerchief (195) — signified a covering for the whole body; nor do I say any thing about their impudence in boasting that they have this very napkin in five or six different places. But this gross falsehood is intolerable, because it openly contradicts the evangelical history. To this is added a fabulous miracle, which they have contrived, to this effect, that the likeness of Christ’s body continued to be visible in the linen cloth. I appeal to you, if such a miracle had been wrought, would nothing have been said about it by the Evangelist, who is so careful to relate events which were not of so great importance? Let us be satisfied with this simple view of the matter, that Christ, by laying aside the tokens of death, intended to testify that he had clothed himself with a blessed and immortal life.
(194) “ L’appelant le sainct suaire.”
(195) “ Comme pourroit estre un couvre-chef.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) And the napkin, that was about his head.Comp. Note on Joh. 11:44.
Not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together . .This was not seen from without (Joh. 20:5), but was in a separate place, perhaps on the inner side of the sepulchre. In this description and in this verse the minute knowledge and remembrance of an eye-witness reaches its climax. The very fact that the napkin was folded did not escape the writers eye, nor fade from his memory.
Then went in also that other disciple . . .If the vivid details of this picture impress us with the fact that we are in the presence of an eye-witness, none the less do the traits of character remind us of all that we know from other sources of the actors in the scene. The bold impetuosity of St. Peter, and the gentle reverence of St. John, are represented in him who quickly entered into the sepulchre, and in him who stood gazing into it, and afterwards went in. He went in, therefore, as the original exactly means, because he heard from Peter of what he had seen.
And he saw, and believed.The gentler character was also the more receptive, and this appears to be intimated in this verse. Nothing is said of St. Peters faith, but St. John seems to unveil for us the inner history of his own spiritual life. The word for see is different from either of those used before in Joh. 20:5-6. (Comp. Luk. 10:23.) It is not that he saw, as from a distance, nor yet that he beheld that which was immediately presented to the gaze; it is not that he saw in any merely physical sense, but that he saw with the eye of the mind, and grasped the truth which lay beneath the phenomena around him. He saw, and he who had believed before, found in this fact the stepping-stone to a higher faith. (Comp. Note on Joh. 2:11.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Wrapped in a place by itself That the clothes and napkin were carefully folded and deposited, indicated that there had been no violence or pillage. The whole was as if a sleeper had risen from his couch, arranged the clothes, and departed.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Ver. 7. And the napkin that was about his head ] These grave clothes were evidences of our Saviour’s resurrection, and are therefore mentioned by the evangelist. But what shift made Paleottus, Archbishop of Bonony, for matter, who wrote a great book of the shadow of Christ’s dead body in the sindon or linen cloth, wherein it was wrapped! This book was also commented upon by the professor of divinity there. Had not these men little to do? Did they not, as one saith,
” Magno conatu magnas nugas agere?
Tenet insanabile multos-Seribendi Cacoethes.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 20:7 . What he saw was significant; the linen wrappings lying, and the napkin which had been on His head not lying with the linen cloths, but separately folded up in a place by itself. The first circumstance was evidence that the body had not been hastily snatched away for burial elsewhere. Had the authorities or any one else taken the body, they would have taken it as it was. The second circumstance gave them even stronger proof that there had been no hurry. The napkin was neatly folded and laid “into one place,” the linens being in another. They felt in the tomb as if they were in a chamber where one had divested himself of one set of garments to assume another. [Euthymius is here interesting and realistic.] , sudarium, from sudo, I sweat.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
napkin. See Joh 11:44.
about = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
with. Greek. meta. App-104.
wrapped together = rolled, or coiled round and round. Greek. entuliseo. Used elsewhere, only in Mat 27:59. Luk 23:53, of the linen cloth. Here it implies that the cloth had been folded round the head as a turban is folded, and that it lay still in the form of a turban. The linen clothes also lay exactly as they were when swathed round the body. The Lord had passed out of them, not needing, as Lazarus (Joh 11:44), to be loosed. It was this sight that convinced John (Joh 20:8).
in = into. Greek. eis. App-104.
a place by itself = one place apart.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 20:7
Joh 20:7
and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.-Peter, coming up without hesitation, entered the tomb and found the cloths folded carefully, showing deliberation and care in disposing of them. [This napkin doubtless held the mouth closed. Its position and condition shows a calm preparation to leave the tomb instead of a hasty removal of the body.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Joh 11:44
Reciprocal: Luk 24:3 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
The order in which the clothes and napkin were neatly folded and laid back, indicates that no confusion or violence was present when Jesus was ready to depart from the tomb. The linen clothes was all the clothing the body of Jesus wore as he was laid away in this tomb, as all of his own raiment was taken from him before he was crucified. (See the notes at Mat 27:35.) We are not told how he obtained clothing suitable for public appearances, but we know he was wearing some ordinary kind, for Mary thought he was the gardner when she saw him (verse 15).