What is the meaning of the urgent napkin found in the dig of Jesus? I received an web forward that states it was a blog post that Jesus will return. Any kind of truth come this?


This question arises from the “Folded Napkin” story the circulates on the Internet, especially about the time the Easter. It’s about the towel that was wrapped around Jesus’ head and also was found in the north tomb.

Is over there a hidden message in the folded napkin story?

Read the web forwarded story in that entirety. Climate we’ll look at how the compares to scripture to determine it’s validity.

You are watching: The story of the folded napkin

“The folded Napkin”

Why go Jesus wrinkles the linen funeral cloth after ~ His resurrection? I never noticed this….

The Gospel of man (John 20:7) tells united state that the napkin, i m sorry was put over the face of Jesus, to be not simply thrown aside like the grave clothes. The bible takes an entire verse come tell us that the napkin was nicely folded, and also was put at the head of the stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it to be still dark, mary Magdalene pertained to the tomb and found the the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and also the other disciple, the one who Jesus loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and also I don’t understand where they have put him!’

Peter and the various other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple the end ran Peter and also got there first. The stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, however he didn’t go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He additionally noticed the linen wrappings lied there, if the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head to be folded up and also lying to the side.

Was the important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a small bit about Hebrew legacy of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and also Servant, and also every Jewish young knew this tradition.

When the servant collection the dinner table for the master, he made sure that that was precisely the method the understand wanted it. The table to be furnished perfectly, and also then the servant would certainly wait, simply out that sight, till the master had finished eating, and the servant would certainly not challenge touch the table, until the understand was finished…

Now if the grasp were excellent eating, the would climb from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and also clean his beard, and would wad up the napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then recognize to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m finished.”

But if the master gained up indigenous the table, and folded his napkin, and also laid it beside his plate, the servant would not challenge touch the table, since the urgent napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”

Is the story true?

The straightforward answer is, no. The story does not have actually biblical or historic support to imply it is true. In fact there is much reasoning to conclude that it is just a fabricated story to assistance the truth that Jesus will certainly return. This was likely contrived through the “Let’s help God Society” (not a real group, however you understand what i mean), as a method to justify our id of the 2nd coming that the lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look at why this story is untrue and why it is damaging, so friend will understand why you need to not forward this if it come in your inbox.

Translation Variances – the Napkin/Face Cloth

Only the King James Version uses the native “napkin” to explain the fabric face cloth. Keep in mind that the web story speak of a “folded napkin” and also yet the KJV says the napkin was “wrapped,” no folded.

John 20:7 and also the napkin, that was about his head, no lying through the linen clothes, but wrapped with each other in a place by itself.

The Greek word, soudarion, translated “napkin” in the KJV, is interpreted as handkerchief in the NKJV, and face/grave towel in ESV, NASB, and others. The Greek word is characterized in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance that the holy bible as:

soudarion, soo-dar’-ee-on; the Lat. Or.; a sudarium (sweat-cloth), i.e. Bath towel (for clean everything the perspiration native the face, or binding the face of a corpse):–handkerchief, napkin.

The indigenous soudarion offered in john 20:7 is plainly meant to be interpreted as a interment cloth. There is nothing to suggest that this was a table napkin. The only method to get the indigenous “napkin” native the text is to use the King James translation of words sourdarion and it should be understood that in 1611 England the word napkin go not refer to a table napkin. It described a piece of towel for wrapping. Even in the UK today, a nappy (shortened type of napkin) describes a folded towel diaper for a baby, no a table napkin. A fabric table napkin is referred to as a serviette in England. For this reason the KJV’s 1611 indigenous “napkin” way a fabric or towel.

Additionally, words soudarion appears three various other times, no one of which shows table use:

When Jesus resurrected Lazarus, he come forth from the tomb v his challenge wrapped through a soudarion (KJV, napkin: john 11:44)

The slave whose master offered him a lb hid that wrapped in a soudarion (KJV, napkin: Luke 19:20)

Paul’s handkerchiefs (soudariion) that were lugged to the sick and had strength to heal and also exorcise demons (Acts 19:12).

Translation Variances – wrapped or Folded

Was the cloth about Jesus’ challenge wrapped or folded? The KJV offers the indigenous wrapped, no folded. The NKJV uses the word folded, however with the word handkerchief not napkin.

John 20:7 (NKJV) and also the handkerchief that had actually been about His head, no lying v the linen cloths, however folded with each other in a location by itself.

The ESV provides folded, and the NASB offers rolled. Neither supplies the indigenous napkin but rather use face cloth.

John 20:7 (ESV) and also the confront cloth, which had actually been on Jesus’ head, not lying through the linen cloths but folded increase in a ar by itself. 

John 20:7 (NASB) and also the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying v the linen wrappings, but rolled increase in a location by itself.

The Greek word translated in various methods as “wrapped” (KJV), “folded” (NKJV, ESV) and “rolled” (NASB) is:

1794. Entulisso, en-too-lis’-so; native G1722 and tulisso (to twist; prob. Akin come G1507); to entwine, i.e. Wind increase in:–wrap in (together).

Most plainly indicated from the paper definition is that the face fabric was wrapped around Jesus‘ head, because in an additional passage wherein it clearly speaks of folding cloth a different Greek word is used:

Hebrews 1:12 and as a vesture shalt thou wrinkles lock up, and also they shall it is in changed: however thou art the same, and also thy years shall no fail.

The Greek indigenous helisso is only uncovered in this one verse. The is properly analyzed as “fold” in referral to urgently a garment. Futhermore, the word entulisso (used in recommendation to the cloth around Jesus’ head) is consistently interpreted “wrapped” in all translations in theses verses:

Matthew 27:59 and when Joseph had actually taken the body, he wrapped  that in a clean linen cloth

Luke 23:53 and he took it down, and wrapped  it in linen, and also laid it in a sepulchre the was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 

It’s clean to check out that numerous English translations must be merged in bespeak to acquire a folded table napkin because that the story that circulates around the Internet. 


A an easy and literal analysis of biblical messages tell us that the napkin/face fabric was wrapped roughly the head the Jesus once His body was all set for funeral by Joseph and also Nicodemus (John 19:38-40). Jesus’ body was then to adjust in the dig (John 19:41-42) and, once the disciples observed the grave cloths, the napkin/face cloth was uncovered “wrapped (entulisso) together in a place by itself” (John 20:7)— meaning, that was uncovered where it to be last inserted in the tomb, the location where Jesus’ head lay. It remained there “wrapped together” however empty, “in a ar by itself”— meaning, separate from the towel that wrapped the body.

The native wrapped tells us that the napkin was never unwrapped and removed native Jesus’ head. Jesus’ human body was increased from the tomb by the holy Spirit and also the dig clothes simply continued to be where his body had been laid, intact, still wrapped as they had been around His body.

If Jesus had actually removed the napkin (face cloth) and then urgently it, the same Greek word provided in Hebrews 1:12 (helisso) would have actually been used in the gospel account rather of entulisso (wrapped). The story that claims Jesus climbed from the dead and folded the face cloth, to leaving a blog post telling the He would return, is just fabricated (pun intended). It is no biblically supported.

It shows up that whoever wrote this story offered several various translations come contrive a folded napkin. If the is not enough to discredit this metropolitan legend that circulates around the Internet, this must wrap it up (pun intended).

Historical support Missing

The human being in Israel at the moment of Christ walk not usage table napkins. They provided their hand to eat and they would use a piece of bread come wipe your greasy fingers and also their mouth. They would certainly then fall the piece of bread top top the floor for the dogs to consume (see mark 7:28). Greek writings and plays additionally offer historical proof that bread was used to wipe the hands and mouth after eating. Table napkins originated in ancient Rome and also the more quickly English referrals for the use of table napkins as a European practice are found approximately 1385-1385 AD.

Another “Let’s aid God” Story

If the translate in variances and the unreliable claims of a table napkin custom room not enough to guide that “The urgently Napkin” web forward is no true, then here’s an additional version the will cast more doubt. This web forward offers an additional “spin” ~ above the urgently napkin story. It likewise is one amusing, but untrue and also unbiblical, story.

During Jesus’ time there to be one means a carpenter permit the contractor understand a task was finished. A signature, so come speak.

 Imagine a warm afternoon in Galilee. Jesus has completed the last pieces that a task he has functioned on for number of days. The hair the his strong forearms is matted through sawdust and also sweat. His challenge is shiny through heat. That takes a final–and welcome–drink the cool water indigenous a animal leather bag.

 Then, standing to the side of his work, that pours water end his face and also chest, splashing it over his arms to clean himself before his trip home. Through a nearby towel, that pats his face and also arms dry.

 Finally, Jesus folds the towel neatly in half, and then folds that in half again. The sets it on the perfect work and walks away. Later, whoever come to check the occupational will see the towel and understand its basic message. The occupational is finished.

 Christ’s disciples, the course, knew this carpenter’s tradition. ~ above a Sunday of sorrow, 3 years after ~ Jesus had set aside his carpenter tools, Peter will crouch come look into an north tomb and see only the linens that the risen Lord has left behind.

 A smile will certainly cross Peter’s face as his woe is replaced by hope, because that he will check out the plunder that had covered Jesus’ face. It has actually been urgently in half, climate folded in fifty percent again and left nicely on the floor that the tomb.

Peter understands. The carpenter has left behind a simple message. That is finished.


We don’t need a “folded napkin” story come tell united state that Jesus is return or a “folded towel” story come tell us that “it is finished.” We have Jesus’ word that His atoning sacrifice was adequate to salary the penalty because that our sins and also that it was finished on the cross. We additionally know the Jesus fulfilled the prophecies and promises that His an initial coming and also will likewise fulfill those that His 2nd coming. Jesus will certainly return again (John 14:1-4, Titus 2:13, Revelation 19:11).

See more: Ocean Spray Cranberry Orange Relish Discontinued, Ocean Spray Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish Recipe

Jesus said, “It is finished.”

Jesus said, “I will come again.”

That settles it. We think it. 



A Room v a view of Eternity—The Last will & testimony of Jesus Christ take a seat at the Master"s table. Learn around the wide range He gives to every who room His. This publication will bless and encourage you, provide you hope, and aid you live in the happiness of her salvation and also the wealth of Christ that are yours.