John 19:3 kjv
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
John 19:3 nkjv
Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands.
John 19:3 niv
and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they slapped him in the face.
John 19:3 esv
They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands.
John 19:3 nlt
"Hail! King of the Jews!" they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.
John 19 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 27:27-31 | Then the soldiers... stripped him... putting a scarlet robe on him, and... kneeling... they mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! | Parallel account of soldiers' mockery |
| Mark 15:16-20 | The soldiers led Jesus away... arrayed him in purple... twisted a crown of thorns... saying, Hail, King of the Jews! | Parallel account of soldiers' mockery |
| Luke 23:11 | Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him, dressed him in an elegant robe... sent him back to Pilate. | Another instance of Christ's mockery by earthly rulers/soldiers |
| Luke 23:36-37 | The soldiers also came up and mocked him, offering him wine vinegar and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” | Continued mockery by soldiers at the cross |
| Psa 2:6-7 | "I have installed my King on Zion... You are my Son; today I have begotten you." | Prophecy of God establishing His King despite earthly opposition |
| Psa 22:6-7 | "But I am a worm and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people." | Prophecy of the Messiah's humiliation and contempt |
| Psa 69:19-20 | "You know my disgrace, my shame and my dishonor... My heart is breaking with reproach." | Prophetic lamentations reflecting the depth of Christ's humiliation |
| Isa 50:6 | "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting." | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant enduring physical abuse and disgrace |
| Isa 53:3-5 | "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering... pierced for our transgressions." | Prophecy of the Messiah's suffering, rejection, and vicarious atonement |
| Zech 9:9 | "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!... See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey." | Prophecy of the Messiah's humble kingship contrasted with earthly power |
| John 18:33-37 | Pilate said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered... "My kingdom is not of this world." | Pilate's interrogation on Jesus' kingship, setting the context |
| John 19:14-15 | "Behold your King!" But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" "We have no king but Caesar!" | Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus as King in favor of Caesar |
| John 19:19-22 | Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." | Pilate's definitive inscription confirming, ironically, Jesus' royal claim |
| Phil 2:6-8 | Christ Jesus... emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant... humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. | Christ's profound humiliation and obedience unto death |
| 1 Tim 6:15 | "the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords" | Declaration of Jesus' true ultimate sovereignty and kingship |
| Rev 19:16 | On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. | Revelation of Christ's future triumphant reign as ultimate King |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." | Christ's patient endurance of suffering without retaliation |
| Acts 2:23 | "This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death." | The suffering was part of God's sovereign plan |
| Acts 4:27-28 | For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. | All earthly powers unwittingly fulfill God's divine purpose |
| Rom 5:6-8 | For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly... God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | Christ's sacrificial death for humanity, despite our sin and contempt |
| Heb 12:2 | "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame." | Jesus endured the humiliation of the cross for a greater purpose |
John 19 verses
John 19 3 Meaning
John 19:3 describes the Roman soldiers' act of extreme mockery and physical abuse directed at Jesus following His scourging. They ironically greeted Him with a sardonic salute, "Hail, King of the Jews!", mimicking a royal address, while simultaneously striking Him with their hands. This act underscored their utter contempt and played into the false charges of sedition brought against Him by the Jewish leaders, all while fulfilling ancient prophecies concerning the suffering Messiah.
John 19 3 Context
John chapter 19 describes the final stages of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate and the events leading to His crucifixion. Immediately preceding verse 3, Pilate has had Jesus scourged, possibly as a concession to the Jewish leaders, hoping it would satisfy them and avert crucifixion (John 19:1). Following the scourging, the Roman soldiers take Jesus into the Praetorium and begin their cruel mockery (John 19:2), culminating in the specific acts described in verse 3. This episode takes place within the broader Passion narrative, highlighting the profound humiliation, rejection, and physical suffering endured by Jesus. Historically, Roman soldiers were known to subject prisoners to cruel forms of degradation, especially those perceived as challenging Roman authority, as a "king" of a conquered people might be. The Jewish leaders' accusation against Jesus (that He claimed to be king) intersected with Roman imperial fears of insurrection, setting the stage for this cruel parody.
John 19 3 Word analysis
- And said (ἔλεγον - elegon): This verb is in the imperfect tense, indicating a repeated or continuous action. They weren't just saying it once, but were continuously speaking it as they mocked Him. This highlights the sustained nature of their ridicule.
- Hail (Χαῖρε - Chaire): This is a standard Greek greeting, equivalent to "Greetings!" or "Rejoice!". However, in this context, it is charged with profound sarcasm and contempt. It was typically used to salute emperors or persons of high status, thereby rendering its use here as a cruel mockery of Jesus' alleged claim to kingship, given His bruised and helpless state. It serves as an ironic homage.
- King of the Jews (Ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων - Ho basileus tōn Ioudaiōn): This title was central to the accusations against Jesus, representing a potential challenge to Roman authority (hence Pilate's concern). To the Jewish religious leaders, it represented blasphemy. In the soldiers' mouths, it is an epithet of derision, contrasting His current appearance with the expected majesty of a king. Paradoxically, it accurately names His true, though misunderstood, identity and rightful reign.
- and they smote him (καὶ ἐτύπτον αὐτὸν - kai etypton auton): The verb "smaste" is also in the imperfect tense, signifying repeated or continuous striking, blows or slaps. This indicates ongoing physical assault, adding to the prior scourging. The action of striking sharply contrasts with the verbal salutation of "Hail," exposing the malicious intent behind their words.
- with their hands (τῇ χερσίν - tē chersin): This phrase specifies the method of striking, emphasizing that the blows were direct, personal slaps or punches using their hands. It underscores the intimate and demeaning nature of the physical assault, making it more personal and humiliating than blows delivered with instruments.
Words-group analysis:
- "Hail, King of the Jews!": This complete phrase represents a highly potent expression of mockery. It's a parody of a royal acclamation, intentionally using words of honor to inflict ultimate dishonor. The contrast between the salutation and Jesus' appearance accentuates the soldiers' contempt, highlighting the radical difference between their earthly perception of power and Jesus' divine, spiritual kingship. This mocking proclamation ironically affirms Jesus' true royal identity even amidst His humiliation.
- "and they smote him with their hands": This physical action, immediately juxtaposed with the verbal "hail," powerfully demonstrates the depth of their contempt. It is not merely an act of discipline but of debasement. The repetition implied by the imperfect tense, and the specificity of "with their hands," points to sustained, personal, and undignified violence. This physical abuse served as an intentional psychological and physical torment, reducing Jesus to an object of sport and disdain in their eyes, embodying the suffering prophesied for the Messiah.
John 19 3 Bonus section
- The actions described in John 19:3 contribute to the portrayal of Jesus as the Suffering Servant figure foretold in Isaiah 53. Every aspect of His suffering, including this humiliation, was part of God's divine plan to redeem humanity.
- This scene ironically validates Jesus' true identity. While the soldiers intended it as derision, the title "King of the Jews" would be the very inscription Pilate later placed on the cross (John 19:19), ensuring its proclamation despite Jewish leaders' objections.
- The contrast between the soldiers' perception of power (rooted in physical might and subjugation) and Jesus' kingship (rooted in spiritual truth, humility, and sacrificial love) is profound. This passage highlights the spiritual battle and the kingdom of God's subversive nature to earthly kingdoms.
- The mocking ceremony here (the "purple robe" and "crown of thorns" from parallel accounts) further emphasizes the theatrical and cruel nature of their ridicule, akin to dressing up a jester, only for one claiming ultimate authority.
John 19 3 Commentary
John 19:3 offers a stark portrayal of Jesus' profound humiliation during His Passion. Following His brutal scourging, the Roman soldiers take it upon themselves to amplify His torment through a sadistic parody of a coronation. Their sardonic "Hail, King of the Jews!" is not a genuine acclamation but a calculated insult, stripping the very concept of kingship of its dignity and imposing it, with cruel irony, upon a defenseless, bleeding man. This verbal assault is immediately accompanied by physical blows "with their hands," signifying personal, degrading acts of violence rather than a formal punishment. This dual assault – verbal mockery combined with physical abuse – serves to underscore the utter contempt and scorn Jesus endured. It reveals the blindness of humanity to true spiritual authority, preferring worldly power structures over a King who conquers through humility and sacrifice. Ultimately, this scene fulfills numerous Old Testament prophecies regarding the suffering Messiah who would be despised and rejected. Jesus' silent endurance of this unjust, painful mockery (as implied by other Gospel accounts and His general demeanor) powerfully illustrates His self-emptying love and perfect obedience to His Father's will, paving the way for the salvation of humankind.