John - 19:3



3 They kept saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they kept slapping him.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of John 19:3.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.
And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows.
and said, 'Hail! the king of the Jews;' and they were giving him slaps.
Then they began to march up to Him, saying in a mocking voice, "Hail King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with the palms of their hands.
And they kept coming and saying, Long life to the King of the Jews! And they gave him blows with their hands.
And they were approaching him and saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly.
They kept coming up to him and saying, "Long live the king of the Jews!" and they gave him blow after blow with their hands.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And said, hail, King of the Jews!.... Some copies before this clause read, "and they came unto him"; and so read the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, Coptic, and Ethiopic versions; that is, they came and prostrated themselves before him; bowed the knee unto him, and addressed him in a mock way, as if he was an earthly monarch just come to his crown, and whom they wished long to live; thus mocking at his kingly office, and despising him under that character, as many do now: some will not have him to reign over them, but reject him as King; and others, though in words they own him to be King, yet disregard his commands, and act no better part than these scoffing soldiers did:
and they smote him with their hands: upon his cheeks, as the Syriac version reads it. These, and many other affronts they gave him; in all which they were indulged by Pilate, and was a pleasing scene to the wicked Jews, whose relentless hearts were not in the least moved hereby, though Pilate hoped they would; and which was his view in allowing the soldiers to use such incivilities and indecencies to him.

And said, Hail, King of the Jews!--doing Him derisive homage, in the form used on approaching the emperors. "And they spit upon Him, and took the reed and smote Him on the head" (Matthew 27:30). The best comment on these affecting details is to cover the face.

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