παρασκευή

the day before the Sabbath

Definition

The word παρασκευή (paraskeyē) primarily means 'the day of preparation,' specifically the day before the Sabbath (Friday) when Jews would prepare food and complete other tasks forbidden on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:23). In the Gospels, it consistently refers to the Friday on which Jesus was crucified, the day of preparation for the Passover Sabbath (John 19:14, 31). This preparation included not only routine Sabbath tasks but also the urgent work of taking Jesus' body down from the cross and placing it in a tomb before sundown (Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54). The term thus anchors the crucifixion narrative firmly within Jewish ritual timekeeping.

Biblical Usage

Παρασκευή is used exclusively in the Passion narratives of all four Gospels, always in reference to the day of Jesus' crucifixion. It appears six times, with a consistent pattern: it identifies the specific day (Friday) and emphasizes the urgency of burial before the Sabbath began at sunset. For example, in Matthew 27:62 and John 19:42, it sets the temporal context for the sealing of the tomb and the burial of Jesus. The usage in John 19:14 is particularly significant, as it specifies this day of preparation was for the Passover, highlighting a major feast.

Etymology

Derived from the verb παρασκευάζω (paraskeuazō, G3903), meaning 'to prepare, make ready.' It is a compound of παρά (para, 'beside, for') and a root related to 'equipment' or 'preparation' (σκευή). The noun form thus literally means 'a preparing' or 'that which is made ready.' In Jewish Hellenistic culture, its meaning narrowed to designate the specific day of preparation for the Sabbath.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it precisely locates Jesus' death on the day of preparation for the Passover (John 19:14). This timing presents Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), whose sacrifice was prepared according to divine timing. Understanding this term enriches reading by connecting the crucifixion's historical Friday to the Old Testament ritual system, emphasizing fulfillment and deliberate, sacrificial preparation.

In first-century Jewish culture, 'the day of preparation' (Friday) was a busy day of household and communal work to honor the Sabbath rest command. All cooking, cleaning, and tasks requiring fire had to be completed before sunset. The Gospels' use of this term would immediately signal to a Jewish audience the pressing time constraint for Jesus' burial, making Joseph of Arimathea's actions (Mark 15:42-46) both pious and legally necessary.

ἑτοιμασία (hetoimasia, G2091) — a more general term for 'preparation' or 'readiness,' not tied to a specific day. σάββατον (sabbaton, G4521) — the Sabbath itself, for which the παρασκευή was the preparatory day.

Word Details

Scripture References