John 19:23 (WEB)
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
John 19:23–24 (KJV)
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Key words
- ἔλαβον τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦelabon ta himatia autou · Greek
- 'took his garments' — the soldiers strip him of his last possessions.
- χιτὼν ἄραφοςchitōn araphos · Greek
- 'the coat… without seam' — woven in one piece, for which they cast lots (Psalm 22:18).
Why it matters
The soldiers divide Jesus' clothes and cast lots for his tunic. Pitre uses the scene to set up Jesus' last words (pp 161–162): a condemned man could declare his will from the cross, and Jesus has nothing left — no money, no land, not even his clothes. His only remaining earthly 'possession' is his mother, and he gives her away too, dying in complete poverty.