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A place dedicated to infomaniacs.

Significance of the folded burial cloth in Jesus’ tomb

Linen cloth recovered from the Dead Sea.
Image via Wikipedia

Remember when Peter rushed into Jesus’ tomb and saw the burial linen cloth neatly folded (John 20)?  Have you ever wondered why?

The answer lies in the Hebrew tradition of that day.  The folded napkin had to do with the master and servant; every Jewish boy knew this tradition.  When the servant set the master’s dinner table, it was exactly how the master wanted it.  The table was furnished perfectly and then the servant would wait out of sight until the master finished eating.  The servant wouldn’t dare touch the table until the master was finished.

If the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, mouth, beard, and then he would wad the napkin and toss it on to the table.  The servant then knew it was time to clear the table.  In those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m done.”  But if the master rose from the table and folded his napkin next to the plate, the servant wouldn’t dare touch the table because…the folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”

Jesus IS COMING BACK!!!

UPDATE: The source is probably from here.  But where they got their source is unknown.  Another website that disclaims this theory.  I would like some historians, scholars, theologians, etc to post their thoughts about the cloth surrounding the above scripture.  True or not, I enjoy different perspectives (as my magazine indicates!).  Tradition or not, it is written in Matthew 24:30 that He is returning.

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If you know more ’significant’ biblical facts, please share them.

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April 2, 2009 - Posted by 1websurfer | Christianity, trivia | , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

4 Comments »

  1. This blog’s great!! Thanks :) .

    Comment by matt | April 2, 2009 | Reply

    • Thank you so much for your comment, Matt.

      Comment by 1websurfer | April 2, 2009 | Reply

  2. Just curious where you found this information… I love to study/read and haven’t heard of this before. It’s awesome! Please pass on to me your resources!

    Comment by Mike Baskett | April 3, 2009 | Reply

    • Thank you, Mike, for inquiring. I got the information from someone who got it from someone who got it from… I will, however, find the source. And will update the post when I have it. Stay tuned…

      Comment by 1websurfer | April 3, 2009 | Reply


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