Feedback on John 20:7

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I just received an e-mail regarding this scripture.I found it pretty interesting. I’m not knowledgable of Jewish ritual/tradition. Can someone verify if this would be the case. I don’t want to get caught up in the semantics of words but I did notice that in different transalations of the bible it either had “folded” or “rolled”.

**WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed
over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was
neatly folded and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
Early Sunday morning,while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb
and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran
and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.
She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t
know where they have put him!’
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other
disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and
saw the linen cloth lying there , but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter
arrived and went inside.
He also noticed the linen wrappings l ying there, while the cloth
that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.
Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In
order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to
understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every
Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table
for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master
wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would
wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the
servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.
Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe
his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the
wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done.’ But if the master got up from the
table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant
knew that the folded napkin meant, ‘I’m not finished yet.’
The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’**
 
this is the first I heard of such a custom. Ask your emailer for his source.

I am thinking if someone were to steal the body they would not have taken any care in handling the clothe. But, someone waking up may make the bed so to speak.
 
Does anyone know of a good online bible commentary or study aid when searching out these types of details regarding scripture?
 
TheHem said:
I just received an e-mail regarding this scripture.I found it pretty interesting. I’m not knowledgable of Jewish ritual/tradition. Can someone verify if this would be the case. I don’t want to get caught up in the semantics of words but I did notice that in different transalations of the bible it either had “folded” or “rolled”.

**WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed
over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
Early Sunday morning,while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.
She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other
disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there , but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside.
He also noticed the linen wrappings l ying there, while the cloth
that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.
Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In
order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.
Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done.’ But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, ‘I’m not finished yet.’
The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’**
Click to expand...
The Greek word used here is ‘entetuligmenon’, the root word of which is ‘entulisso’ which can both mean “to wrap up” or “to roll up”.

As for the Hebrew tradition above, the only information coming from that period concerning napkins was from the Talmud:
In ancient Jerusalem, there was a custom to have a cloth hanging on the door, as some kind of flag. When it was hanging, guests would know that it was meal-time and they could come in and eat. When it was removed, it was a sign that the meal had ended.
Click to expand...
There are no contemporary records about napkin folding though.
 
TheHem said:
I just received an e-mail regarding this scripture.I found it pretty interesting. I’m not knowledgable of Jewish ritual/tradition. Can someone verify if this would be the case. I don’t want to get caught up in the semantics of words but I did notice that in different transalations of the bible it either had “folded” or “rolled”.

**WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed
over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was
neatly folded and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
Early Sunday morning,while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb
and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran
and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.
She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t
know where they have put him!’
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other
disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and
saw the linen cloth lying there , but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter
arrived and went inside.
He also noticed the linen wrappings l ying there, while the cloth
that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.
Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In
order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to
understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every
Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table
for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master
wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would
wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the
servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.
Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe
his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the
wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done.’ But if the master got up from the
table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant
knew that the folded napkin meant, ‘I’m not finished yet.’
The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’**
Click to expand...
I don’t believe this is correct and I addressed it in another thread. I’ll look for my answer and post it here.
 
In ancient Jerusalem, there was a custom to have a cloth hanging on the door, as some kind of flag. When it was hanging, guests would know that it was meal-time and they could come in and eat. When it was removed, it was a sign that the meal had ended. aish.com/rabbi/ATR_browse.asp?l=n&offset=4

That’s the only thing I was able to find reagrding napkins (it is found in the Talmud). I never heard of the tradition of folding a napkin to let the servant know you were coming back. Why Jesus would do this, if it were a tradition, I couldn’t guess. The tomb is not a dining room.
 
Jesus was a good Jewish boy Who Listened to his Mother and she taught him to fold His napkin after He was finished with it!😃
 
Thanks for clearing that up Valke2.

I also thought the anecdote is a bit fishy. I did not know 1st century Jews used table napkins/signals before I read this…😉

Why would Jesus confuse a burial napkin (actually more of a sweat rag) with a table napkin?
 
patrick457 said:
Thanks for clearing that up Valke2.

I also thought the anecdote is a bit fishy. I did not know 1st century Jews used table napkins/signals before I read this…😉

Why would Jesus confuse a burial napkin (actually more of a sweat rag) with a table napkin?
Click to expand...
Besides with Jews, it is ALWAYS a given that we will be coming back to the dinner table 🙂
 
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