King James Version

What Does John 20:7 Mean?

John 20:7 in the King James Version says “And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself .” — study this verse from John chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself .”

John 20:7 · KJV

Context

5

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7

And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself .

8

Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John records this specific detail about the grave clothes found in Jesus's empty tomb. The Greek word for "napkin" (soudarion, σουδάριον) refers to a face cloth or head covering used in Jewish burial customs to bind the jaw shut and cover the face. The linen clothes (othonia, ὀθόνια) were long strips used to wrap the body with spices (John 19:40).

The significance lies in the careful arrangement: the head cloth was "wrapped together" (entetuligmenon, ἐντετυλιγμένον—rolled up or folded) and placed separately from the body wrappings. This detail refutes the theft theory—grave robbers wouldn't waste time carefully arranging burial cloths. The orderly scene suggests Jesus's body passed through the wrappings without disturbing them, leaving the collapsed grave clothes in position while the head cloth remained in its original location, still wrapped but now empty.

Theologically, this detail demonstrates John's eyewitness testimony—he remembers specific visual details from that transformative morning. The careful arrangement reflects Jesus's sovereignty even in resurrection; this wasn't a frantic escape but a deliberate, ordered departure. Some interpreters see symbolic significance: removing the head covering symbolizes death's defeat, as death could no longer veil Christ's face. The empty, arranged grave clothes testify that Jesus conquered death, rose bodily, and left evidence convincing eyewitnesses of resurrection reality. This small detail carries apologetic weight, supporting resurrection historicity through circumstantial evidence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

John's Gospel records events of Sunday morning, the first day of the week following Jesus's Friday crucifixion and Saturday Sabbath rest (John 20:1). Jewish burial customs involved washing the body, anointing with spices (myrrh, aloes), wrapping in linen strips, and covering the face with a separate cloth. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had performed hasty burial preparations before Sabbath began (John 19:38-42), placing Jesus in a new tomb carved from rock.

Archaeological discoveries of first-century Jewish tombs in Jerusalem confirm burial practices described in the Gospels: stone-cut chambers with benches for body preparation, rolling stones sealing entrances, and ossuaries for secondary burial. The Turin Shroud, while controversial regarding authenticity, demonstrates ancient burial cloth patterns consistent with Gospel accounts. Roman guards had sealed and secured the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66), making the empty tomb and undisturbed grave clothes even more remarkable.

Early Christian apologetics emphasized resurrection eyewitness testimony, with 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 listing numerous witnesses. The empty tomb and grave clothes became foundational evidence for resurrection preaching. Jewish opponents never produced Jesus's body—instead claiming disciples stole it (Matthew 28:11-15), an explanation contradicted by the arranged grave clothes and disciples' transformation from fearful fugitives to bold martyrs. Church history records countless testimonies of transformed lives based on resurrection reality, flowing from the historical event John witnessed and carefully documented, including this small but significant detail of the folded face cloth.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do small details in resurrection accounts strengthen confidence in the historical reliability of the Gospels?
  2. What does the orderly arrangement of grave clothes reveal about Jesus's character and the nature of His resurrection?
  3. How should the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus affect our understanding of Christian hope for our own resurrection?
  4. In what ways does resurrection evidence address modern skepticism about Christianity's supernatural claims?
  5. How can we effectively use historical evidence like the empty tomb and grave clothes in evangelistic conversations?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 20 words
καὶ1 of 20

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τὸ2 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

σουδάριον3 of 20

“the napkin”

G4676

a sudarium (sweat-cloth), i.e., towel (for wiping the perspiration from the face, or binding the face of a corpse)

ὃ4 of 20
G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

ἦν5 of 20

“that was”

G2258

i (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)

ἐπὶ6 of 20

“about”

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

τῆς7 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

κεφαλῆς8 of 20

“his head”

G2776

the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively

αὐτοῦ9 of 20
G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

οὐ10 of 20

“not”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

μετὰ11 of 20

“with”

G3326

properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)

τῶν12 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὀθονίων13 of 20

“the linen clothes”

G3608

a linen bandage

κείμενον14 of 20

“lying”

G2749

to lie outstretched (literally or figuratively)

ἀλλὰ15 of 20

“but”

G235

properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

χωρὶς16 of 20
G5565

at a space, i.e., separately or apart from (often as preposition)

ἐντετυλιγμένον17 of 20

“wrapped together”

G1794

to entwine, i.e., wind up in

εἰς18 of 20

“in”

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

ἕνα19 of 20

“by itself”

G1520

one

τόπον20 of 20

“a place”

G5117

a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas g5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e., location (as a position, home, tract, etc

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of John. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

John 20:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to John 20:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 11:44

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