These are the triumphant words of Jesus on the cross, before he surrendered his spirit to God, in "The Passion Translation." I was reading this chapter this morning and these words hit me, as they were a bit different from the usual translations. At the footnote I found a plausible explanation.
"The Passion Translation" often uses the Aramaic version of the New Testament instead of or together with the Greek Text. Normally the Aramaic text will fill out or give additional meaning to the Greek text in this translation. The footnote to John 19:20, "It is finished, my bride!", refer to a Hebrew word, kalah. I assume it is taken from the Hebrew New Testament and I would like to share the full footnote with my readers:
"This is from the Hebrew word kalah, a homonyn that can mean "fulfilled (completed)," and "bride." Jesus finished the work of our salvation for his bride. The translation has combined both concepts. For a facinating study of the Hebrew word used for "bride" and "finished," with its universe of meaning, see Strong's Concordance, Hb 3615, 3616, 3617, 3618, ad 3634. Although the completed work of salvation was finished on the cross, he continues to work through his church today to extend God's kingdom realm on the earth and glorify the Father through us. He continues to work in us to accomplish all that his cross and resurrection have purchased for us, his bride. His cross fulfilled and finished the prophecies of the Messiah's first coming to the earth. There was nothing written that was not fulfilled and now offered to his bride."
Hallelujah! What a greeting from God this morning: "It is finished, my bride! The work of salvation is completed. Our Saviour has won a perfect redemption for us. We have been ransomed once and for all by the precious blood of Jesus Christ – the unblemished Lamb of God who was sacrificed for us.
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