Mark 15 18

Mark 15:18 kjv

And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

Mark 15:18 nkjv

and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Mark 15:18 niv

And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!"

Mark 15:18 esv

And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Mark 15:18 nlt

Then they saluted him and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!"

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 18 Meaning

Mark 15:18 describes the Roman soldiers' act of mocking Jesus within the Praetorium. Having dressed Him in mock royal garments and placed a crown of thorns upon His head (Mark 15:17), they completed their cruel parody of kingship by saluting Him with "Hail, King of the Jews!" This act of verbal mockery was intended to humiliate and demean Jesus, ridiculing His claims or the claims made about Him. This scene powerfully underscores the intense suffering, humiliation, and contempt Jesus endured as part of His redemptive work, demonstrating humanity's rejection of the true King.

Mark 15 18 Context

Mark 15:18 is situated within the Roman Praetorium, the governor's residence in Jerusalem, following Jesus' interrogation by Pontius Pilate and the crowd's demand for His crucifixion. Verses 16 and 17 describe the soldiers gathering the whole band, dressing Jesus in a purple robe, and fashioning a crown of thorns for His head. These actions, culminating in the mocking salutation of verse 18, depict a deliberate and prolonged period of humiliation before Jesus was led out to be crucified. The soldiers, likely unaware of the deeper theological significance, were treating a condemned man with contempt, mocking any perceived claim to royalty, which they would have found absurd and insulting to Roman authority. This intense scene precedes Jesus being led away to be crucified (Mark 15:20), emphasizing the physical and emotional agony He endured before His death on the cross.

Mark 15 18 Word analysis

• And began (ἤρξαντο - ērxanto): The Greek aorist tense implies that this was not a fleeting or one-time action but marked the beginning of a continued action of saluting, suggesting an ongoing process of derision by the soldiers. It implies a persistent and possibly sustained taunting.
• to salute (ἀσπάζεσθαι - aspazesthai): The verb typically means to "greet," "embrace," or "welcome." In this context, it is profoundly ironic. What would normally be an act of reverence or respectful welcome for a king is twisted into an act of profound mockery and contempt. It highlights the inversion of respect.
• him: Refers directly to Jesus, the object of their ridicule and scorn.
• with, Hail (χαῖρε - chaire): A standard Greek greeting, equivalent to "greetings" or "rejoice." It was often used when addressing a king or superior (e.g., in Revelation for greeting the saints). Here, its use is sardonic, turning a formal acknowledgment of status into bitter derision. It mimics genuine reverence while embodying utter disdain.
• King (Βασιλεῦ - Basileu): The Greek term for "King." This title was at the core of the political accusation against Jesus (claims of being "King of the Jews" would be treason against Rome) and the spiritual truth of His identity (He is truly King, though not in the worldly sense). The soldiers pronounce the very title Pilate was troubled by, and the very truth Israel largely rejected, yet ironically affirmed on the cross.
• of the Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων - tōn Ioudaiōn): This specific designation highlights the national and ethnic dimension of Jesus' perceived claim. For the Roman soldiers, this was a specific jab at the Jewish people's longing for an independent king and their Messianic expectations. For Jewish leaders, this would be blasphemous or a challenge to their authority. For believers, it affirms His rightful claim over Israel, a kingship misunderstood and rejected by His own.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And began to salute him with": This phrase emphasizes the active, deliberate, and perhaps sustained nature of their mocking. It wasn't a casual remark but a concerted effort by the "whole band" (Mark 15:16) to systematically debase Jesus through a pseudo-ceremonial act. The choice of "salute" amplifies the ironic pretense of reverence.
• "Hail, King of the Jews!": This complete phrase constitutes the central insult. It takes the formal language of royal acclamation and warps it into an instrument of humiliation. The title "King of the Jews," while factual concerning Jesus' lineage and destiny, was perceived by the Romans as seditious and by many Jewish leaders as either an affront or a dangerous political claim. The soldiers' use of this title completes their theatrical "coronation" of ridicule, reducing divine truth to a contemptible jest. The juxtaposition of the glorious title "King" with Jesus' humiliated state serves to mock both His person and the expectations surrounding a "King of the Jews."

Mark 15 18 Bonus section

The profound irony in Mark 15:18 lies in the soldiers unknowingly speaking truth in their mockery. While their intent was purely to degrade, the title "King of the Jews" placed above Jesus' head on the cross (Jn 19:19) served as a public proclamation of His identity, intended by Pilate as an insult to the Jewish authorities, but ultimately serving God's larger purpose. This aligns with biblical patterns where human actions, even wicked ones, are overruled for divine ends (Gen 50:20). The soldiers' scene also serves as a sharp contrast to true worship and allegiance; where genuine subjects bow in reverence, these men scoff and mock, highlighting the spiritual blindness that permeated many during Jesus' earthly ministry. This deliberate performance of mockery was not a random act but part of a calculated sequence of torture aimed at maximum humiliation, amplifying the sacrifice of the King who suffered for His people.

Mark 15 18 Commentary

Mark 15:18 powerfully depicts the Roman soldiers' relentless contempt for Jesus. They do not merely beat Him but systematically break Him down psychologically, reducing His inherent dignity to a grotesque parody. Their mockery of His kingship, initiated with physical abuse and mock regalia (crown of thorns, purple robe), reaches a verbal crescendo with the "Hail, King of the Jews!" Their intent was solely to humiliate, debase, and amuse themselves by ridiculing a condemned prisoner's supposed claims. However, unknown to them, their jeers unwittingly foreshadowed the divine truth—Jesus was and is indeed the King, though His kingdom is not of this world, nor did He exercise His power in a worldly manner at that moment. This act of mocking illustrates human blindness to spiritual reality and humanity's inherent capacity for cruelty towards the innocent. Yet, in God's sovereignty, this humiliation was part of the plan for the King to bear the shame and suffer for His people, demonstrating the depth of His redemptive love through the lowest point of human scorn before His ultimate exaltation. It's a profound irony that the soldiers, in their attempt to strip Jesus of all honor, inadvertently underscored the very truth of His majestic identity, which would ultimately lead to their redemption if they chose to believe.