Luke 23:54

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.

American Standard Version (1901)

And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

Bible in Basic English

Now it was the day of making ready and the Sabbath was coming on.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And it was the day of the Parasceve, and the sabbath drew on.

Free Bible Version

It was preparation day and the Sabbath would soon begin.

Geneva Bible 1599

And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drewe on.

King James (Authorized) Version

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

One Unity Resource Bible

It was the Preparation Day (Nissan 14), and the festival Sabbath ·To cease· was drawing near.

Translation for Translators

They had to do it quickly because that was Friday, the day when people prepared things for the Jewish day of rest. ◄The Sabbath/The day of rest► was about to start at sunset, so they had to finish burying Jesus’ body before sunset.

Unlocked Literal Bible

It was the Day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

Noah Webster Bible

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

World English Bible

It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.

Young's Literal Translation

And the day was a preparation, and sabbath was approaching,

Context

The Burial of Jesus

⁵³Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.

Summary

This verse describes the aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion, stating that Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb cut in stone where no one had been laid before. It highlights the respect and care shown to Jesus even in His death, fulfilling the prophecy that He would be buried with the rich. This act of laying Jesus in a new tomb also symbolizes the beginning of a new era, foreshadowing His resurrection and victory over death.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

And the Sabbath drew on - Or, The Sabbath was lighting up, επεφωσκε, i.e. with the candles which the Jews light just before six in the evening, when the Sabbath commences. The same word is used for the dawning of the day, Mat 28:1. Wakefield. The Jews always lighted up candles on the Sabbath; and it was a solemn precept that, "if a man had not bread to eat, he must beg from door to door to get a little oil to set up his Sabbath light." The night of the Sabbath drew on, which the Jews were accustomed to call the light. See Lightfoot.

Luke 23:54

The Burial of Jesus

⁵³Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.