Mark 15:27 kjv
And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
Mark 15:27 nkjv
With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.
Mark 15:27 niv
They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Mark 15:27 esv
And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
Mark 15:27 nlt
Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Mark 15 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 53:12 | Therefore I will give him a portion among the great... because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bare the sin of many... | Prophecy of Messiah numbered with transgressors |
| Ps 22:16 | Dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and my feet... | Describes being surrounded by the wicked |
| Mt 27:38 | Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. | Parallel account of the crucifixion |
| Lk 23:32-33 | Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. | Parallel account of the crucifixion |
| Jn 19:18 | There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. | Parallel account, positioning |
| Mk 15:28 | And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, "He was numbered with the transgressors." | Mark's own explicit fulfillment statement |
| Lk 22:37 | For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” | Jesus refers to fulfillment of Isa 53:12 |
| Mk 14:41 | ...the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. | Jesus given over to sinful men |
| Lk 23:39-43 | One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him... But the other criminal rebuked him... Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” | Interaction with the thieves, grace revealed |
| Mt 25:33-34 | He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’ | Symbolic placement of right and left |
| Dt 21:23 | for a hanged man is cursed by God. | Crucifixion seen as accursed in Jewish law |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! | Jesus' ultimate humility and obedience |
| Heb 12:2 | Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame... | Enduring the shame of the cross |
| Isa 52:13-14 | See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness— | Prophecy of suffering Servant |
| Mk 15:26 | The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. | Contrast with proclaimed charge on cross |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” | Christ bearing the curse for humanity |
| Mk 15:7 | Barabbas, who was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. | Meaning of 'thieves' often 'insurrectionists' |
| Num 25:4 | And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” | Public execution, hanging as a deterrent |
| Ez 23:46 | For thus says the Lord God: “Bring up a host against them, and make them a horror and a spoil. And the host shall stone them and cut them to pieces with their swords. And their sons and their daughters they shall kill, and their houses they shall burn with fire. | Judgment involving severe, public punishment |
| Jer 19:10-11 | Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you, and shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it can never be mended.’ | Symbolic acts of public judgment |
Mark 15 verses
Mark 15 27 Meaning
Mark 15:27 describes a key moment in Jesus' crucifixion: His being crucified alongside two criminals. This placement underscores His deliberate public humiliation and association with the lowest elements of society as orchestrated by the Roman authorities. The arrangement, with one on His right and one on His left, highlights the spectacle and serves to further denigrate His claim of kingship, ironically fulfilling ancient prophecy concerning His suffering among transgressors.
Mark 15 27 Context
Mark chapter 15 vividly portrays the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Prior to verse 27, Jesus has been condemned by Pilate, scourged, mocked by Roman soldiers, and led out to Golgotha, the place of the Skull. Simon of Cyrene has been compelled to carry His cross. This immediate context emphasizes the deliberate suffering and humiliation imposed upon Jesus by both Roman and Jewish authorities. The act of crucifying Him between two criminals highlights His treatment not as a Messiah or innocent man, but as a condemned insurrectionist or violent brigand, fitting the Romans' intent to crush any perceived challenge to their authority.
Mark 15 27 Word analysis
- And with him (καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ - kai syn autō): This phrase emphasizes association. Jesus is not alone in His execution but deliberately grouped with criminals. This connection highlights the shame and degradation imposed upon Him, placing Him in the company of those society deems most abhorrent.
- they crucify (σταυροῦσιν - staurousin): The verb signifies the Roman method of execution by crucifixion. The present tense can indicate the ongoing process of setting up the crosses or an immediate past continuous action, emphasizing the act itself. It refers to the Roman soldiers carrying out the order.
- two thieves (δύο λῃστὰς - duo lēstas):
- δύο (duo): Simply means "two."
- λῃστὰς (lēstas): While often translated "thieves" or "robbers," this Greek term carries a stronger connotation in the historical context of first-century Judea. It frequently refers to violent brigands, bandits, or even insurrectionists/rebels, who might have engaged in armed resistance against Roman rule or aristocratic Jewish leaders. Barabbas (mentioned in Mk 15:7) is also identified as a lestes. Therefore, their presence underscores the Roman authorities' intent to portray Jesus as a leader of rebellion, worthy of the same public, shameful death as violent lawbreakers, rather than as a common petty thief.
- the one on his right hand, and the other on his left (ἕνα ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύμων αὐτοῦ - hena ek dexiōn kai hena ex euōnymōn autou):
- right hand (dexiōn): Symbolically, the right hand often denotes a position of honor, power, or blessing in biblical and ancient cultures.
- left hand (euōnymōn): The left hand, conversely, can signify less honor or judgment.
- In this specific context, being positioned between these two criminals ironically highlights Jesus' abject humiliation. He is placed in the center of condemned men, not as a leader, but as one who fully participates in the shame and disgrace, surrounded by transgression. This physical arrangement serves the dual purpose of public mockery by Roman authorities and, profoundly, the fulfillment of prophecy from Isaiah 53:12, where the suffering Servant is "numbered with the transgressors." It is the ultimate display of His identity being distorted and His public image degraded to the lowest possible level.
Mark 15 27 Bonus section
- The silence of Jesus throughout much of the crucifixion narrative in Mark contrasts sharply with the public and loud execution surrounding Him, emphasizing His meek submission to the divine will despite immense injustice.
- While Mark focuses on the fulfillment of prophecy regarding association with "transgressors," the synoptic parallel in Luke (23:39-43) uniquely expands upon the two criminals, revealing their differing responses to Jesus—one reviling Him, the other seeking grace. This provides profound insight into the redemptive purpose of Christ's suffering, extending salvation even to the condemned at their last breath.
- The positioning of the "king" between "rebels" served as a powerful Roman political statement: resistance ends in ignominious death. This inversion of royal imagery for Jesus underscored the perceived triumph of earthly powers over His kingdom claim, even as His spiritual triumph unfolded.
Mark 15 27 Commentary
Mark 15:27 precisely places Jesus not only among those crucified but specifically "between" or "with" two criminals, one on His right and one on His left. This arrangement was intentional, aiming to maximize His dishonor. By crucifying Him alongside lēstai—a term often referring to violent insurrectionists or bandits rather than mere petty thieves—the Roman authorities framed Jesus as a dangerous rebel and a leader of sedition, thus justifying His extreme punishment to the populace. This fulfills the ancient prophecy of the Suffering Servant being "numbered with the transgressors" (Isa 53:12). The verse starkly illustrates the depth of Jesus' humility, suffering, and identification with the most condemned, transforming what was intended as utter shame into a profound statement of God's redemptive plan to bear the sins of humanity.