SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:23
Cuando los soldados hubieron colgado a Jess del madero, tomaron sus vestidos, e hicieron cuatro partes (a cada soldado una parte); y la tnica; mas la tnica era sin costura, toda tejida desde arriba.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 19:23
Verse 23. To every soldier a part] So it appears there were four soldiers employed in nailing him to and rearing up the cross. The coat was without seam] Several have seriously doubted whether this can be literally understood, as they imagine that nothing with sleeves, &c.
can be woven without a seam. But Baun, de Vest. Sacer. Heb. l. 1, c. 16, has proved, not only that such things were done by the ancients, and are still done in the east, but himself got a loom made, on which these kinds of tunics, vents, sleeves, and all, were woven in one piece. See much on this subject in Calmet. The clothes of a Hindoo are always without a seam; and the Brahmins would not wear clothes that were otherwise made. Besides, the Hindoos have no regular tailors.
Our Lord was now in the grand office of high priest, and was about to offer the expiatory victim for the sin of the world. And it is worthy of remark that the very dress he was in was similar to that of the Jewish high priest. The following is the description given of his dress by Josephus, Ant. b. iii. c. 7, s. i5: "Now this coat (citwn) was not composed of two pieces, nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders and sides, but it was one long vestment, so woven as to have an opening for the neck; not an oblique one, but parted all along the back and breast; it was also parted where the hands were to come out." A little before, the same author says, that "the high priest had a long robe of a blue colour, which hung down to the feet, and was put over all the rest." It is likely that this was the same with that upper garment which the soldiers divided among them, it being probably of a costly stuff. I may just add here, that I knew a woman who knit all kinds of clothes, even to the sleeves and button holes, without a seam; and have seen some of the garments which she made; that the thing is possible I have the fullest proof. For an explanation of citwn and imation which we translate cloak, and coat, see the note on Luke vi. 29.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus , etc.] The crucifixion of Christ was at the request and solicitation of the Jews, was ordered by the Roman governor, and performed by the Roman soldiers; the sinful men into whose hands Christ was to be delivered: took his garments ; which they had stripped his body of, crucifying him naked; as what properly belonged to them, it being usual then, as now, for executioners to have the clothes of the persons they put to death; these were his inner garments: and made four parts, to every soldier a part ; for it seems there were four of them concerned in his execution, and who were set to watch him: and also his coat ; or upper garment; now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout : in such an one the Jews say Moses ministered: and of this sort and make was the robe of the high priest, said to be of woven work, ( Exodus 28:32) upon which Jarchi remarks, jjmb alw , and not with a needle; it was all woven, and without any seam: and so the Jews say in general of the garments of the priests: the garments of the priests are not made of needlework, but of woven work; as it is said, ( Exodus 28:32). Abai says, it is not necessary (i.e. the use of the needle) but for their sleeves; according to the tradition, the sleeve of the garments of the priests is woven by itself, and is joined to the garment, and reaches to the palm of the hand.
So that this was an entire woven garment from top to bottom, excepting the sleeves, which were wove separately and sewed to it; of this kind also was his coat, which Jacob Iehudah Leon says f731 , was a stately woollen coat of a sky colour, wholly woven, all of one piece, without seam, without sleeves; such a garment Christ our great High Priest wore, which had no seam in it, but was a curious piece of texture from top to bottom. The very learned Braunius says, he has seen such garments in Holland, and has given fine cuts of them, and also of the frame in which they are wrought. What authority Nonnus had to call this coat a black one, or others for saying it was the work of the Virgin Mary, I know not.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-30 - Here are some remarkable circumstances of Jesus' death, more full related than before. Pilate would not gratify the chief priests by allowing the writing to be altered; which was doubtless owing to secret power of God upon his heart, that this statement of our Lord' character and authority might continue. Many things done by the Roma soldiers were fulfilments of the prophecies of the Old Testament. All things therein written shall be fulfilled. Christ tenderly provided for his mother at his death. Sometimes, when God removes one comfort from us, he raises up another for us, where we looked not for it. Christ' example teaches all men to honour their parents in life and death; to provide for their wants, and to promote their comfort by every means in their power. Especially observe the dying word wherewith Jesus breathe out his soul. It is finished; that is, the counsels of the Fathe concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled. It is finished; all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the sufferings of the Messiah, were accomplished. It is finished; the ceremonial law is abolished; the substance is now come, and all the shadows are done away. It is finished; an end is made of transgressio by bringing in an everlasting righteousness. His sufferings were no finished, both those of his soul, and those of his body. It is finished; the work of man's redemption and salvation is now completed His life was not taken from him by force, but freely given up.
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 T-NPM ουν 3767 CONJ στρατιωται 4757 N-NPM οτε 3753 ADV εσταυρωσαν 4717 5656 V-AAI-3P τον 3588 T-ASM ιησουν 2424 N-ASM ελαβον 2983 5627 V-2AAI-3P τα 3588 T-APN ιματια 2440 N-APN αυτου 846 P-GSM και 2532 CONJ εποιησαν 4160 5656 V-AAI-3P τεσσαρα 5064 A-APN μερη 3313 N-APN εκαστω 1538 A-DSM στρατιωτη 4757 N-DSM μερος 3313 N-NSN και 2532 CONJ τον 3588 T-ASM χιτωνα 5509 N-ASM ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S δε 1161 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM χιτων 5509 N-NSM αρραφος 729 A-NSM εκ 1537 PREP των 3588 T-GPM ανωθεν 509 ADV υφαντος 5307 A-NSM δι 1223 PREP ολου 3650 A-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Four parts. All the Synoptists relate the parting of the garments. The four pieces to be divided would be, the head-gear, the sandals, the girdle, and the tallith or square outer garment with fringes. Delitzsch thus describes the dress of our Lord: "On His head He wore a white sudar, fastened under the chin and hanging down from the shoulders behind. Over the tunic which covered the body to the hands and feet, a blue tallith with the blue and white fringes on the four ends, so thrown over and gathered together that the gray, red-striped undergarment was scarcely noticeable, except when the sandal-shod feet came into view" ("A Day in Capernaum").Coat (citwna). Or tunic. See on Matt. v. 40.
Without seam (arjrJafov, or arafov). Only here in the New Testament. From aj, not, and rJaptw, to sew together. Like the tunic of the High-Priest. Only John records this detail.
Woven (ufantov). Only here in the New Testament.
