Greek word · G3608

ὀθόνιον

othonion

bandages

Formally a diminutive (a "little" form) of ὀθόνη, "fine linen, a linen sheet" (the word for the large sheet in Peter's vision, Acts 10:11). By the first century the diminutive force had largely faded. BDAG gives "linen cloth, cloth wrapping".

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 30, 2026

What it means

ὀθόνιον, -ου, τό

(dimin. of ὀθόνη, which see), [in LXX: Judges 14:13 (סָדִין), Hosea 2:5, 9 (פִּשְׁתֶּה)* ;]

a piece of fine linen, a linen cloth; Luke 24:12 (WH, R, mg., om.), John 19:40 20:5-7.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 20:6

Range of meaning: Formally a diminutive (a "little" form) of ὀθόνη, "fine linen, a linen sheet" (the word for the large sheet in Peter's vision, Acts 10:11). By the first century the diminutive force had largely faded. BDAG gives "linen cloth, cloth wrapping". In some medical writing it can mean a linen bandage, and in documentary papyri it refers to linen cloths and garments in general.
Against the English: KJV: "linen clothes" (an older plural of cloth, not garments). BSB/WEB/ESV: "linen cloths". NASB/NLT: "linen wrappings". NIV: "strips of linen". The supplied lexical gloss "bandages" leans the same way as NIV. "Strips" and "bandages" pick one side of an open question.
How it drifted: Two separate problems. (1) KJV's "clothes" was a normal plural of "cloth" in 1611, but today it means clothing. (2) "Strips" and "bandages" call up an Egyptian mummy. Jewish burial (washing, linen wrapping and spices, then laying the body on a rock shelf) was not mummification, and the Greek word does not require narrow bands.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the NT it occurs only in John 19:40; 20:5, 6, 7 and Luke 24:12. Luke says Joseph wrapped the body in a σινδών, a single linen sheet (23:53), yet at the empty tomb Peter sees τὰ ὀθόνια (24:12). This suggests the plural could be a collective word for all the linen grave-wrappings, sheet included. John 19:40 says the body was "bound" (ἔδησαν) in othonia with spices "as is the custom of the Jews to bury". For Lazarus, John uses different words: κειρίαι, "bands", on hands and feet, and a face-cloth (11:44).

From the study of John 20:7

Range of meaning: A piece of fine linen cloth. Lexicons disagree on whether it means 'strips, bandages' or more generally 'linen cloths', possibly including a larger sheet.
Against the English: KJV 'linen clothes' (in older English, 'clothes' meant cloths). Modern versions say 'linen cloths' or 'linen wrappings'. 'Bandages', as in the supplied gloss, may be too specific.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the NT only in Luke 24:12 and John 19:40; 20:5–7. The Synoptic Gospels describe a sindōn, a linen sheet (Mark 15:46). Greek papyri use othonion for linen goods in general.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

Luke 24:12 ὀθόνια linen strips

Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

John · 4

John 19:40 ὀθονίοις in linen cloths

So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
John 20:5 ὀθόνια, linen cloths,

He bent down and looked in at the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
John 20:6 ὀθόνια linen cloths

Simon Peter arrived just after him. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.

Here: The linen burial wrappings. The word is plural and general ("pieces of linen"). Whether it means narrow strips, larger sheets, or both is debated. What matters is that they are still in the tomb.
John 20:7 ὀθονίων linen cloths

The cloth that had been around Jesus’ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths.

Here: The linen grave wrappings that had been wound around the body with spices (19:40). The word may mean strips, or linen pieces in general.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.