Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”
Parallel translations
- WEB After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”
- KJV After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
- BSB After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
- NKJV After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
- NASB After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, *said, “I am thirsty.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Knowing all was accomplished, Jesus says 'I am thirsty' to fulfill Scripture. His thirst shows both his true humanity and his obedience to God's word.
Overview
Aware that his redemptive work is complete, Jesus voices a final need that fulfills Scripture, likely Psalm 69:21 or 22:15. His genuine thirst affirms that he truly suffered in the flesh, not in appearance only. Even his dying words unfold in conscious obedience to the Father's revealed plan.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 69:21They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
- Ps 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
- John 19:30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.
- Luke 22:37For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me has an end.”
- Luke 18:31He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
- John 19:24Then they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to decide whose it will be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, “They parted my garments among them. For my cloak they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.
- John 18:4Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went out, and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”
- John 13:1Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
- Luke 9:31who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
- Acts 13:29When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
- Luke 12:50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 19:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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