John 19 5

John 19:5 kjv

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

John 19:5 nkjv

Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!"

John 19:5 niv

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

John 19:5 esv

So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!"

John 19:5 nlt

Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, "Look, here is the man!"

John 19 verses

John 19 5 Meaning

John 19:5 describes the pivotal moment when Pontius Pilate presents Jesus to the Jewish crowd and religious leaders after He has been brutally scourged and subjected to mockery. Adorned with a crown of thorns and a purple robe, Jesus is displayed by Pilate, who declares, "Here is the Man!" Pilate's intention was likely to evoke pity or demonstrate Jesus' harmlessness, attempting to pacify the agitated crowd and secure His release by presenting Him as a humiliated, broken figure who posed no threat. However, this statement holds profound, unintended theological significance, prophetically highlighting Jesus as the quintessential suffering servant, the perfect human, and the true King, whose humiliation precedes His ultimate exaltation.

John 19 5 Context

John chapter 19 describes the climactic events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. Following His arrest and initial interrogation by Annas and Caiaphas, Jesus is brought before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. John 18 details Pilate's initial interactions, where he repeatedly finds no basis for charges against Jesus (John 18:38, 19:4, 19:6). Despite this, and under immense pressure from the Jewish authorities who are pushing for His execution, Pilate has Jesus scourged—a brutal Roman lashing (John 19:1). After the scourging, the Roman soldiers mock Jesus, dressing Him in a purple robe and pressing a crown of thorns onto His head (John 19:2-3). This humiliation is Pilate's next attempt to satisfy the crowd and avoid a death sentence. By presenting Jesus in this disfigured, mocked state, Pilate hopes to elicit pity or demonstrate Jesus’ incapacitation, thus averting a deeper conflict and asserting that such a pathetic figure could not possibly be a King or a revolutionary threat.

John 19 5 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - tote): A transitional adverb indicating a sequence of events. It connects this moment directly to the preceding scourging and mockery of Jesus by the soldiers.
• Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς - ho Iēsous): The central figure, now presented in His most extreme state of physical suffering and humiliation, yet paradoxically, at the pinnacle of His purpose.
• came out (ἔξω ἐξῆλθεν - exō exēlthen): This implies Jesus was brought forth from within the Praetorium (Pilate’s official residence) for public display. It highlights His being revealed to the demanding crowd. The action signifies a public spectacle, intended to move public opinion.
• wearing (φορῶν - phorōn): Literally "bearing" or "carrying." It emphasizes Jesus’ embodiment of His suffering, not just putting on clothes, but carrying the weight of His state.
• the crown of thorns (τὸν ἀκάνθινον στέφανον - ton akanthinon stephanon): A cruel and ironic symbol of kingship.
  • ἀκάνθινον (akanthinon): "thorny" or "made of thorns." It speaks to the sharp, painful reality of the crown, crafted to inflict injury and shame. This relates to the curse in Gen 3:18 where thorns came upon the ground.
  • στέφανον (stephanon): "crown," typically associated with royalty, victory, or honor. Here, it is twisted into an instrument of torment and ridicule, mocking Jesus' claim to be King of the Jews, while ironically foreshadowing His true divine sovereignty over creation.
• and the purple robe (καὶ τὸ πορφυροῦν ἱμάτιον - kai to porphyroun himation): Another element of mockery, emphasizing false royalty.
  • πορφυροῦν (porphyroun): "purple" or "crimson." This color was historically associated with royalty, wealth, and power (e.g., Roman emperors, kings, priests), due to the expense of the dye. Its application to Jesus was intended to heighten the soldiers' cruel joke regarding His kingship.
  • ἱμάτιον (himation): "cloak" or "robe," an outer garment. It completes the costume of ridicule.
• Pilate (ὁ Πιλᾶτος - ho Pilatos): The Roman governor, a figure of worldly authority who, despite his power, is depicted as being caught between political pressure and a flicker of conscience concerning Jesus' innocence.
• said to them (λέγει αὐτοῖς - legei autois): Pilate's direct address to the chief priests, temple guards, and the gathered Jewish crowd, indicating his intention to present Jesus for their consideration.
• “Here is the Man!” (Ἴδε ὁ ἄνθρωπος - Ide ho anthrōpos): This phrase is known by its Latin translation, "Ecce Homo." It is profoundly ironic and multi-layered.
  • Ἴδε (Ide): An imperative meaning "Look!", "Behold!", "See!" It is a command demanding attention, an urgent invitation to observe Jesus. Pilate intends to show a pitiable figure.
  • ὁ ἄνθρωπος (ho anthrōpos): "the man."
    • Pilate's intended meaning: A statement of pity or dismissiveness, emphasizing Jesus' mere humanity, His broken state, His lack of regal appearance, or harmlessness ("He is just a man, not a king or a threat, see how he is broken!").
    • Profound ironic/theological meaning (unintended by Pilate):
      1. The Suffering Servant: He is the ultimate "man of sorrows," the prophetic Suffering Servant of Isa 53, who bears humanity's griefs and sufferings.
      2. The Perfect Humanity: He is "the Man," embodying perfect, true humanity, the Second Adam (Rom 5:12-21, 1 Cor 15:45-49), uncorrupted by sin, offered to redeem the first Adam’s fallen race.
      3. The Son of Man: For John's readers, "the Man" can also resonate with Jesus’ self-designation as the "Son of Man" from Daniel 7:13, a title often associated with ultimate authority and future judgment. Thus, Pilate unknowingly presents the true King and Judge in a state of supreme humiliation, setting the stage for His divine glory.

  Commentary

  John 19:5 captures one of the most poignant moments in the Passion narrative, where Jesus is presented in a state of extreme vulnerability and humiliation. Pilate's utterance, "Here is the Man!" (Ecce Homo), while intended to sway public opinion and elicit pity or simply declare Jesus’ harmlessness, ironically becomes a profound theological statement. Stripped of honor, crowned with thorns, and draped in a mock purple robe, Jesus embodies suffering humanity and also paradoxically reveals His true identity. He is "the Man" foretold by prophets, the ultimate Man of Sorrows, the perfect "Second Adam" representing the entirety of redeemed humanity, and even "the Son of Man" destined for ultimate glory. This scene serves as a stark visual and verbal testament to the contrast between earthly power and divine authority, human cruelty and divine submission, and temporary shame and eternal victory, culminating in His voluntary self-offering.

  Bonus section

  This moment is a powerful visual for Christological reflection. Jesus, crowned with thorns and robed in mocked purple, physically represents both the depth of human depravity and the profound extent of God's redemptive love. The thorns symbolize the curse upon humanity from Genesis, now piercing the head of the One who would bear and reverse that curse. The purple, while mocking, points to His inherent royalty, a kingship not of this world, established through humility and sacrifice rather than worldly power. This verse encapsulates the tension between what is seen (a humiliated man) and what is truly there (the sovereign God-Man).

John 19 5 Bonus section

John 19 5 Commentary