Arthur-Robin wrote: ↑Tue Feb 24, 2026 2:33 am
I don't believe Jesus was wrapped in the Shroud because John clearly says that Jesus, like Lazarus also was too, was wrapped in strips of linen and a face cloth, not one shroud (and veronica)? Though I haven't checked the interlinear to make sure the translation is accurate.
"Strips of linen" would be a mistranslation. There are actually only a few translations that say that.
The verses that mention this about Jesus being wrapped are Luke 24:12, John 19:40, John 20:5, John 20:6, and John 20:7.
John 24:12
(KJV) 24:12 -Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
(WEB) 24:12 -But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the
strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.
(NET) 24:12 -But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the
strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.
(ESV) 24:12 -But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
(NASB) 24:12 -Nevertheless, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and when he stooped and looked in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
(NIV) 24:12 -Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the
strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
(HCSB) 24:12 -Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened.
(NRSV) 24:12 -But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
(NABRE) 24:12 -But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.
WEB, NET, and NIV say strips.
John 19:40
(KJV) 19:40 -Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
(WEB) 19:40 -So they took Jesus’ body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
(NET) 19:40 -Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in
strips of linen cloth according to Jewish burial customs.
(ESV) 19:40 -So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
(NASB) 19:40 -So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
(NIV) 19:40 -Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in
strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
(HCSB) 19:40 -Then they took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.
(NRSV) 19:40 -They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.
(RSV) 19:40 -They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
(NABRE) 19:40 -They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
NET and NIV say strips.
John 20:5
(KJV) 20:5 -And he stooping down, [and looking in,] saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
(WEB) 20:5 -Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in.
(NET) 20:5 -He bent down and saw the
strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in.
(ESV) 20:5 -And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
(NASB) 20:5 -and he stooped to look in, and *saw the linen wrappings lying there; however he did not go in.
(NIV) 20:5 -He bent over and looked in at the
strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
(HCSB) 20:5 -Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in.
(NRSV) 20:5 -He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
(RSV) 20:5 -and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
(NABRE) 20:5 -he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
NET and NIV say strips.
John 20:6
(KJV) 20:6 -Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
(WEB) 20:6 -Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
(NET) 20:6 -Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the
strips of linen cloth lying there,
(ESV) 20:6 -Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
(NASB) 20:6 -So Simon Peter also *came, following him, and he entered the tomb; and he *looked at the linen wrappings lying there,
(NIV) 20:6 -Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the
strips of linen lying there,
(HCSB) 20:6 -Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.
(NRSV) 20:6 -Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,
(RSV) 20:6 -Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying,
(NABRE) 20:6 -When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
NET and NIV say strips.
John 20:7
(KJV) 20:7 -And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
(WEB) 20:7 -and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
(NET) 20:7 -and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus’ head, not lying with the
strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself.
(ESV) 20:7 -and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
(NASB) 20:7 -and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings but folded up in a place by itself.
(NIV) 20:7 -as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
(HCSB) 20:7 -The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself.
(NRSV) 20:7 -and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
(RSV) 20:7 -and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
(NABRE) 20:7 -and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Only the NET Bible says strips.
In these passages, the Greek word used in
othonion and it's in the plural form. So, linen cloths would be more appropriate as seen in most modern translations.
Since the shroud was in two pieces - the main shroud and the long side strip - this would qualify as more than one piece of cloth.
The implication of reading "strips of linen" is Jesus was wrapped like an Egyptian mummy. But the Jews did not practice this for burials.
The plural, οθονια, seldom refers to such small pieces or strips of cloth, however.
The noted New Testament philologist, Frederick W. Danker, has expressed
doubt that οθονια in the New Testament refers to strips of cloth or bandages
such as formerly used in Egypt as part of the mummification process.
As already stated, it is doubtful that the body of Jesus would have been
wrapped in strips of cloth, in the manner of Pharaonic mummies. A major
consideration is the element of time on erev Shabbat, or Friday afternoon. In
present-day Jerusalem, everything closes down that afternoon a good three or
four hours before sundown. Even non-observant Jews and non-Jews are well
advised to be off the streets in certain neighborhoods. (In the early eighties, a
woman was stoned in the ultra-religious quarter of Mea Shearim while on the
street at 1:30 on a Friday afternoon.) We have no evidence that observance
was more lenient in the first century.
The body of Jesus - as a Jew of a religious family - would have been
wrapped in a long sheet and tied with strips of cloth at the neck, at the wrists
and feet, and at the torso, and as here, at the knees.
Moreover, mummies of the Hellenistic period in Egypt were not
wrapped in strips of cloth as in more ancient times. Instead, extraordinary
lengths of coarse linen were wrapped around a small coffin encasing the body
in an intricate rhomboid pattern.
https://www.shroud.com/pdfs/n62part7.pdf
So the process was most likely:
- Body laid on large sheet
- One side folded over
- Side strip wrapped around the large sheet encircling the body to secure the shroud
