Luke 23 37

Luke 23:37 kjv

And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

Luke 23:37 nkjv

and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."

Luke 23:37 niv

and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

Luke 23:37 esv

and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"

Luke 23:37 nlt

They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 37 Meaning

Luke 23:37 captures a moment of intense mockery during Jesus' crucifixion. Roman soldiers, offering Him sour wine, challenge Him, stating, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." This statement highlights the profound irony and misperception surrounding Jesus' identity and mission, contrasting the world's expectation of a powerful, self-preserving king with Jesus' redemptive act of self-sacrifice. His refusal to descend from the cross demonstrates the true nature of His kingship and His unique method of salvation, proving His ultimate power through vulnerability.

Luke 23 37 Context

Luke 23 details Jesus' passion, including His trials, condemnation, and crucifixion. Before verse 37, Jesus has been led to Golgotha, nailed to the cross, and offered forgiveness to His persecutors (v. 34). The Jewish rulers have already scoffed at Him (v. 35), challenging His identity as "the Christ, the Chosen of God," and demanding He save Himself. Verse 36 describes Roman soldiers approaching with sour wine (oxos), initiating their own mockery. Luke 23:37 is their direct verbal taunt, aligning with the scorn from others, and setting the stage for the challenge from one of the crucified criminals (v. 39). Historically, Roman soldiers used derision during executions to debase the condemned. The inscription "King of the Jews" above His head, placed by Pilate, became a specific focal point for the varied mockery from all present.

Luke 23 37 Word analysis

• If (εἰ – ei): This conditional particle introduces a challenge, implying doubt rather than a confirmed truth. It sets up a test of Jesus' claims based on worldly power expectations.

• thou/you (σύ – sy): A direct, singular personal pronoun, underscoring the accusatory and individual nature of the address to Jesus.

• be (εἶ – ei): The present indicative form of "to be," directly connecting "you" to the subsequent title as a perceived present state.

• the King (ὁ βασιλεὺς – ho basileus): The definite article highlights the specific, public title often associated with Jesus, "the King," from basileus meaning sovereign ruler. It refers to the title Pilate ordered on the cross.

• of the Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων – tōn Ioudaion): A possessive genitive that specifies the domain of His perceived kingship. This was the charge of sedition used by Rome and the point of theological contention for Jewish leaders.

• save (σῶσον – sōson): An aorist imperative verb, a command for immediate, decisive action. From sōzō, meaning "to save, deliver, preserve." The mockers use it in a physical, temporal sense of escaping death.

• thyself (σεαυτόν – seauton): A reflexive pronoun, directing the act of saving back to Jesus. It emphasizes the human expectation that one with power would prioritize self-preservation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "If thou be the King of the Jews": This phrase encapsulates the central challenge to Jesus' identity and claims. It implies that if His kingship were truly potent, He would demonstrate power by protecting Himself from the cross, contrasting the human understanding of royal authority with God's ultimate plan.
  • "save thyself": This imperative demands a tangible display of power for personal deliverance. It reveals the world's profound misunderstanding of Jesus' mission; His refusal to save Himself from the cross is the very means by which He saves humanity from sin and death, subverting conventional notions of strength.

Luke 23 37 Bonus section

The consistent pattern of Jesus' ministry shows Him healing and providing for others, but never using His miraculous power for personal benefit or escape from suffering (e.g., in the wilderness temptation). His decision to not save Himself from the cross represents the apex of this self-denying pattern, signifying His role as the sacrificial Lamb, whose atoning death is dependent on His enduring the full curse of the cross. The mockers unknowingly confirmed the necessity of His suffering by demanding what He could not do and simultaneously save humanity.

Luke 23 37 Commentary

Luke 23:37 articulates a deeply ironic moment on the cross. The soldiers' challenge, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself," embodies a universal human expectation that power serves self-preservation and visible glory. This worldly wisdom stands in stark contrast to the divine wisdom unfolding at Calvary. Jesus' profound silence and unwavering endurance in the face of this taunt reveal that His kingship operates on an entirely different plane—one of humble service and ultimate self-sacrifice. His refusal to descend from the cross was not a sign of weakness, but the very act of ultimate love and divine strength necessary to accomplish humanity's salvation. This verse therefore powerfully demonstrates the core paradox of the Christian faith: God's strength is made perfect in weakness, and true victory is achieved through selfless suffering for others.