19:40a

So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices: This clause indicates that Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus’ body and began to prepare it for burial. Because they already took the body down from the cross in 19:38e, the verb took here may be left implied. For example:

The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices (Contemporary English Version)

So: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is a conjunction that indicates results and is often translated as “therefore.” Use an expression that is natural in your language.

they: This pronoun refers to Joseph and Nicodemus. In some languages it may be necessary to mark the following verbs as dual.

wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices: It was the custom of the Jews to wrap dead bodies in cloths with spices scattered inside. This is what Joseph and Nicodemus did. For example:

They wrapped the body with linen cloth and the myrrh and aloes.
-or-
They wrapped linen cloths with the spices around his body

linen cloths: The word linen refers to a fabric made from a plant called flax. Linen was a good-quality cloth that was known for being white. If linen is unknown in your culture and language, it may be natural to say:

fine cloths

You could supply a footnote. For example:

The Greek text says “linen cloths.” Linen was a valuable cloth/material made from the flax plant.

with the spices: The phrase the spices refers back to the mixture of myrrh and aloes. These were not spices used in cooking but rather used in making perfumes. Use a term that is suitable for something used in perfume that may be put on a dead body. For example:

to which the perfume had been added (Kankanaey Back Translation)
-or-
which contained the mixed medicine (Otomi Back Translation)

19:40b

according to the Jewish burial custom: This is background information. The author knew that some of his audience were not familiar with how the Jews buried a dead body. So he explained that what Joseph and Nicodemus did to Jesus’ body was what Jews usually did. For example:

which was how the Jewish people buried their dead (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
That is how the Jews regularly prepared a dead body before they put it in a tomb

General Comment on 19:40a–b

In some languages it is more natural to say first that they followed traditional Jewish customs and then give the details. For example:

40b Following Jewish burial custom, 40a they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. (New Living Translation (2004))

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