SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:39
Entonces vino tambin Nicodemo, el que antes había venido a Jess de noche, trayendo un compuesto de mirra y de loes, como cien libras.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 19:39
Verse 39. Nicodemus] See on chap. iii. 1, &c. Myrrh and aloes] Which drugs were used to preserve bodies from putrefaction. Calmet says that the aloes mentioned here is a liquor which runs from an aromatic tree, and is widely different from that called aloes among us.
Some have objected that a hundred pounds' weight of myrrh and aloes was enough to embalm two hundred dead bodies; and instead of ekaton, a hundred, some critics have proposed to read ekaterwn] a mixture of myrrh and aloes, of about a pound EACH. See Bowyer's Conjectures. But it may be observed that great quantities of spices were used for embalming dead bodies, when they intended to show peculiar marks of respect to the deceased. A great quantity was used at the funeral of Aristobulus; and it is said that five hundred servants bearing aromatics attended the funeral of Herod: see Josephus, Ant. b. xv. c. 3, s. 4; and b. xvii. c. 8, s. 3: and fourscore pounds of spices were used at the funeral of R. Gamaliel the elder. See Wetstein in loc.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 39. And there came also Nicodemus , etc.] To the cross, at the same time as Joseph did; who, whether they were brethren, as some conjecture, and met here by consent, since one prepared one thing, and another, for the interment of Christ, is not certain. This Nicodemus is thought to be the same with Nicodemus ben Gorion, the Talmudists speaks of, who, they say f771 , was one of the three rich men in Jerusalem; as this appears to be a rich man, from the large quantity of myrrh and aloes he brought with him, and which must be very costly. Moreover, they say f772 , that he had another name, which was Boni; and they themselves observe f773 , that Boni was one of the disciples of Jesus, as this Nicodemus was, though a secret one, as Joseph: this is he which at the first came to Jesus by night ; who, when Christ first entered on his ministry, or when he first came unto him, came to him by night to discourse with him about his Messiahship, doctrine, and miracles, ( John 3:1,2) for being one of the Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews, and a Rabbi or master in Israel, he was ashamed or afraid to converse publicly with him; however, he went away a disciple; and though he did not openly profess him, he loved him, and believed in him, and now being dead showed his respect to him: and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight : not himself, but by his servants. This mixture of myrrh and aloes together, and which was a very large quantity, and exceeding costly, was not designed the embalming of his body, and preserving it from putrefaction; for he was not embalmed, though myrrh and cassia and other odours were used in embalming f774 ; but for perfuming it, and in honour and respect unto him: it was sweet smelling myrrh, and an aromatic spice called aloe he brought, and not the common aloe. Nonnus calls it the Indian aloe, which was of a sweet odour; for which reason it was brought. These are both reckoned with the chief spices, ( Song of Solomon 4:14).
Myrrh was one of the principal spices in the anointing oil and holy perfume, ( Exodus 30:23,34). It is a kind of gum or resin called stacte, that issues either by incision, or of its own accord, out of the body or branches of a tree of this name, which grows in Arabia and Egypt; and being of an agreeable smell, was used at funerals: hence those words of Martial -& olentem funera myrrham; and so Nazianzen, speaking of his brother Caesarius, says f776 , he lies dead, friendless, desolate, miserable, smurnhv olighv hxiwmenov , favoured with a little myrrh.
And so the aloe was used to perfume, and to give a good scent, ( Proverbs 7:17) and Christs garments are said to smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia, ( Psalm 45:8). Some have thought, that this was a mixture of the juice of myrrh, and of the juice of the aloe plant, and was a liquid into which the body of Christ was put: but this will not so well agree with the winding of the body in linen, with these in the next verse, where they are called spices. A Jew objects to this relation of the evangelist as unworthy of belief: he affirms, that this was enough for two hundred dead bodies, and that it could not be carried with less than the strength of a mule, and therefore not by Nicodemus. In answer to which, it is observed by Bishop Kidder f778 , that we having nothing but the Jews own word for it, that this was enough for two hundred bodies, and a load for a mule; and that it should be told what was the weight of the litra , or pound, mentioned by the evangelist, ere the force of the objection can be seen; and that it is a thing well known, that among the Jews the bodies of great men were buried with a great quantity of spices: it is said of Asa, that they buried him in his own sepulchre which he had made for himself, in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours, and divers kinds of spices, ( 2 Chronicles 16:14). To which may be added, what is before observed, that this was not brought by Nicodemus himself, but by his servants; and what they did by his orders, and he coming along with them, he may be said to do. Just as Joseph is said to take down the body of Jesus from the cross, wind it in linen, and carry it to his sepulchre, and there bury it; this being done by his servants, at his orders, or they at least assisting in it; and as Pilate is said to put the title he wrote upon the cross, though it was done by others, at his command.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 38-42 - Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Christ in secret. Disciple should openly own themselves; yet some, who in lesser trials have bee fearful, in greater have been courageous. When God has work to do, he can find out such as are proper to do it. The embalming was done by Nicodemus, a secret friend to Christ, though not his constant follower That grace which at first is like a bruised reed, may afterwar resemble a strong cedar. Hereby these two rich men showed the valu they had for Christ's person and doctrine, and that it was not lessene by the reproach of the cross. We must do our duty as the present da and opportunity are, and leave it to God to fulfil his promises in his own way and his own time. The grave of Jesus was appointed with the wicked, as was the case of those who suffered as criminals; but he wa with the rich in his death, as prophesied, Isa 53:9; these tw circumstances it was very unlikely should ever be united in the sam person. He was buried in a new sepulchre; therefore it could not be said that it was not he, but some other that rose. We also are her taught not to be particular as to the place of our burial. He wa buried in the sepulchre next at hand. Here is the Sun of Righteousnes set for a while, to rise again in greater glory, and then to set n more __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ηλθεν 2064 5627 V-2AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ και 2532 CONJ νικοδημος 3530 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM ελθων 2064 5631 V-2AAP-NSM προς 4314 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM ιησουν 2424 N-ASM νυκτος 3571 N-GSF το 3588 T-ASN πρωτον 4413 A-ASN φερων 5342 5723 V-PAP-NSM μιγμα 3395 N-ASN σμυρνης 4666 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ αλοης 250 N-GSF ωσει 5616 ADV λιτρας 3046 N-APF εκατον 1540 A-NUI
Vincent's NT Word Studies
39. Came Nicodemus - came by night. The contrast is marked between his first and his second coming.Mixture (migma). Only here in the New Testament. Some authorities read eligma, a roll.
Pounds. Roman pounds, of nearly twelve ounces. The large quantity may be explained by the intention of covering the entire body with the preparation, and by the fact that a portion was designed for the couch of the body in the grave. Compare the account of the burial of Asa, 2 Chronicles xvi. 14. "Extraordinary reverence in its sorrowful excitement does not easily satisfy itself" (Meyer).
