John 19 · Verse 13

John 19:13

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
John 19:13, King James Version

John 19:13 in other translations

BSBWhen Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha.
WEBWhen Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement”, but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.”
ASVWhen Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
YLTPilate, therefore, having heard this word, brought Jesus without--and he sat down upon the tribunal--to a place called, ‘Pavement,' and in Hebrew, Gabbatha;
DARBYPilate therefore, having heard these words, led Jesus out and sat down upon the judgment-seat, at a place called Pavement, but in Hebrew Gabbatha;
BBESo when these words came to Pilate's ear, he took Jesus out, seating himself in the judge's seat in a place named in Hebrew, Gabbatha, or the Stone Floor.
WebsterWhen Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down on the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

What does John 19:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 19:12-16

12-16. And from thenceforth--particularly this speech, which seems to have filled him with awe, and redoubled his anxiety. Pilate sought to release him--that is, to gain their consent to it, for he could have done it at once on his authority. but the Jews cried--seeing their advantage, and not slow to profit by it. If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend, &c.--"This was equivalent to a threat of…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Judgment-seat. The tribunal or place of pronouncing sentence. He came here to deliver him, in due form of law, into the hands of the Jews.

Pavement. This was an area or room of the judgment-hall whose floor was made of small square stones of various colours. This was common in palaces and houses of wealth and splendour. Mt 9:2.

Gabbatha. This word is not elsewhere used. It comes from a word signifying to be elevated. The name given to the place by the Hebrews was conferred from its being the place of the tribunal, as an elevated place.

(n) "When Pilate therefore heard" Prov 29:25, Acts 4:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 The Pavement - Λιθοστρωτον, literally, a stone pavement: probably it was that place in the open court where the chair of justice was set, for the prefects of provinces always held their courts of justice in the open air, and which was paved with stones of various colors, like that of Ahasuerus, Est 1:6, of red, blue, white, and black marble; what we still term Mosaic work, or something in imitation of it; such as the Roman pavements frequently dug up in this and other countries, where the Romans have had military stations. Gabbatha - That is, an elevated place; from גבה gabah, high, raised up; and it is very likely that the judgment seat was considerably elevated in the court, and that the governor went up to it by steps; and perhaps these very steps were what was called the Pavement. John does not say that Lithostroton, or the Pavement, is the meaning of the word Gabbatha; but that the place was called so in the Hebrew. The place was probably called Lithostroton, or the Pavement: the seat of judgment, Gabbatha, the raised or elevated place. In several MSS. and versions, the scribes not understanding the Hebrew word, wrote it variously, Gabbatha, Gabatha, Kapphatha, Kappata, Gennetha, Gennaesa, and Gennesar. Lightfoot conjectures that the pavement here means the room Gazith in the temple, in which the grand council, called the Sanhedrin, held their meetings.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 19:1-18

Little did Pilate think with what holy regard these sufferings of Christ would, in after-ages, be thought upon and spoken of by the best and greatest of men. Our Lord Jesus came forth, willing to be exposed to their scorn. It is good for every one with faith, to behold Christ Jesus in his sufferings. Behold him, and love him; be still looking unto Jesus. Did their hatred sharpen their endeavours against him? and…

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John 19:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHo<the>G3588
οὖνounThereforeG3767
ΠιλᾶτοςPilatosPilateG4091
ἀκούσαςakousashaving heardG191
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
λόγωνlogōnwordsG3056
τούτωνtoutōntheseG3778
ἤγαγενēgagenbroughtG71
ἔξωexōoutG1854
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐκάθισενekathisensat downG2523
ἐπὶepiuponG1909
βήματοςbēmatosjudgment seatG968
εἰςeisatG1519
τόπονtopona placeG5117
λεγόμενονlegomenonbeing namedG3004
Λιθόστρωτον,Lithostrōton[the] Stone Pavement,G3038
ἙβραϊστὶHebraistiin HebrewG1447
δὲdenowG1161
Γαββαθα.GabbathaGabbatha.G1042

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 19:13

  • Psalms 82:5-7

    They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

  • Matthew 27:19

    When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

  • Isaiah 51:12-13

    I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?

  • Amos 4:7

    And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

  • Luke 12:5

    But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

  • Psalms 94:20-21

    Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

  • John 19:8

    When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

  • Isaiah 57:11

    And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

  • Acts 4:19

    But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

  • Psalms 58:1-2

    To the chief Musician, Al–taschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

  • Proverbs 29:25

    The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:8

    If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
heard.
8; Pr 29:25; Isa 51:12,13; 57:11; Lu 12:5; Ac 4:19
and sat.
Ps 58:1,2; 82:5-7; 94:20,21; Ec 5:8; Am 4:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 19:12

    And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cesar.

  • John 19:13

    When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

  • John 19:14

    And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

Read all of John 19

John 19:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Pilato, oyendo este dicho, llevó fuera á Jesús, y se sentó en el tribunal en el lugar que se dice Lithóstrotos, y en hebreo Gabbatha.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pilate donc, ayant entendu ces paroles, amena Jésus dehors, et s’assit sur le tribunal, dans le lieu appelé le Pavé, et en hébreu Gabbatha;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als nun Pilatus diese Worte hörte, führte er Jesum hinaus und setzte sich auf den Richterstuhl an einen Ort, genannt Steinpflaster, auf hebräisch aber Gabbatha.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Pilatus autem cum audisset hos sermones, adduxit foras Jesum: et sedit pro tribunali, in loco qui dicitur Lithostrotos, hebraice autem Gabbatha.