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John 19 · a question people ask

John tells that when one of the soldiers pierced Jesus's side, "immediately blood and water came out" (19:34). What does it mean?

In the text

John doesn't explain it, and these notes don't. He tells what happened: "However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (19:34). Then he speaks of the one who has seen: "He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe" (19:35). Then he gives two Scriptures (19:36-37). The verse doesn't name the one who has seen, and these notes don't either. Of the four Gospels, only John tells of the spear and the blood and water.

The verses

“However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. For these things happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.” Again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.””
John 19:34-37 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of John 19

John 19: It is finished

In the WEB's John, the words crucify and cross come only in this chapter. Pilate says three times, “I find no basis for a charge against him” (18:38; 19:4, 19:6). And in the Greek, the finished of “seeing that all things were now finished” (19:28) is the same word as Jesus's “It is finished!” (19:30).

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions