Mark 15 29

Mark 15:29 kjv

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

Mark 15:29 nkjv

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,

Mark 15:29 niv

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,

Mark 15:29 esv

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

Mark 15:29 nlt

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. "Ha! Look at you now!" they yelled at him. "You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days.

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 29 Meaning

Mark 15:29 describes Jesus' extreme humiliation on the cross, as passers-by publicly derided and mocked Him. They expressed contempt through gestures (wagging their heads) and words, distorting His earlier statement about the temple. Their scoffing ironically repeated the accusation that had been part of His false trial, showing their complete spiritual misunderstanding of His person, His divine authority, and the true meaning of His words concerning the temple and His resurrection.

Mark 15 29 Context

Mark 15:29 is situated at the heart of the crucifixion narrative, immediately following Jesus being nailed to the cross and His garments being divided (Mk 15:24-28). It emphasizes the public spectacle of Jesus' death and the profound depths of His humiliation. His crucifixion was not a private affair but a public execution designed for maximum disgrace. This verse highlights that even during His agonizing suffering, the common people passing by, not just His accusers or the Roman soldiers, joined in the taunts. The accusation about the temple links back to the false testimonies given during His trial before the Sanhedrin (Mk 14:58; Mt 26:61). Historically, the temple was the center of Jewish worship and national identity; any perceived threat against it was taken as a grave blasphemy or sedition, fueling the populace's derision.

Mark 15 29 Word analysis

• And those who passed by: (Greek: καὶ οἱ παραπορευόμενοι - kai hoi paraporeuomenoi). Refers to the ordinary spectators, emphasizing the public nature of the mockery and the widespread rejection. They "pass by" the true Son of God, oblivious to His salvific mission.
• derided him: (Greek: ἐβλασφήμουν αὐτὸν - eblasphēmoun auton). Literally "blasphemed him," meaning they reviled or slandered Him, speaking abusively. This is not mere disagreement but contemptuous, disrespectful speech that undermines His authority and claims, suggesting an attack on His divine status.
• wagging their heads: (Greek: κινοῦντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν - kinountes tas kephalas autōn). A specific ancient gesture of mockery, scorn, and malicious triumph. This is a direct echo of Old Testament prophecies of the suffering righteous one (Psa 22:7; 109:25; Job 16:4), indicating the prophetic fulfillment of Jesus' humiliation.
• Aha!: (Greek: Οὐά - Oua). An interjection expressing triumphant scorn, similar to "Ha!" or "See there!" It conveys a malicious satisfaction in His perceived defeat.
• You who would destroy the temple: (Greek: ὁ καταλύων τὸν ναὸν - ho katalyōn ton naon). This directly references the distorted accusation against Jesus at His trial (Mk 14:58). Katalyōn means "destroying," "tearing down," or "demolishing." The accusers understand "temple" (ναὸν - naon) to mean the physical Jerusalem temple. They twist His prophetic words (Jn 2:19-21), presenting Him as a blasphemous threat to God's holy dwelling place.
• and rebuild it in three days: (Greek: καὶ οἰκοδομῶν ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις - kai oikodomōn en trisin hēmerais). While they recall this part of His statement correctly, they use it with scorn, assuming it to be an impossible and absurd boast, given His present helplessness. Ironically, this phrase points to the miraculous reality of His resurrection, which occurred on the third day.

Words-group Analysis:

• Derided him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Aha!”: This sequence highlights a multi-sensory public spectacle of contempt: verbal abuse (derided), scornful gesture (wagging heads), and an audible scoffing sound (Aha!). This combination magnifies the depth of Jesus' public humiliation, making Him a spectacle of mockery.
• "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days": This specific accusation underscores the profound irony and misunderstanding of the Jewish leaders and populace. They accuse Jesus based on a twisted literal interpretation of His words about destroying His body (the temple) and raising it up on the third day through resurrection (Jn 2:19-21). This also subtly foreshadows the actual destruction of the physical temple in AD 70, which Jesus prophesied (Mt 24:1-2), and the establishment of a new covenant "temple" in His resurrected body (Heb 9:11-12). Their words, intended as ridicule, unwittingly echo and distort divine truth.

Mark 15 29 Bonus section

The irony in Mark 15:29 extends beyond the direct fulfillment of resurrection. The "passers-by" symbolize those who reject salvation despite walking right past it. Their public taunt functions as a distorted public confession of Jesus' actual power. While intending to shame Him for His perceived failure to destroy and rebuild the temple literally, they unwittingly testify to His miraculous power over death and His future role as the foundation of the new, spiritual temple (His church). This serves as a powerful biblical reminder of divine sovereignty; even the blasphemies of men can be providentially allowed and redirected to subtly affirm God's ultimate plan and purpose, as Psa 76:10 states, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you..."

Mark 15 29 Commentary

Mark 15:29 profoundly illustrates the utter humiliation and spiritual blindness surrounding Jesus' crucifixion. The mockery of the passers-by, joining the soldiers and leaders, underscores the complete public scorn. Their "wagging of heads" is a deliberate allusion to the Psalms, casting Jesus as the ultimate suffering servant whose predicted agony is being fulfilled in their very presence. The taunt regarding the temple, directly echoing the false accusations at His trial, reveals a profound misunderstanding: they focus on a physical temple while missing Jesus' true identity as the living temple, the one in whom God dwells fully, and the one whose resurrected body would inaugurate the new covenant reality. Their ridicule is steeped in irony, as their scoffing words about "rebuilding in three days" accurately, albeit unwittingly, point to His glorious resurrection, the very act that would validate His claims. This scene shows that even at His most vulnerable, amidst extreme pain and public degradation, Jesus continued to bear the false accusations and spiritual blindness of humanity, a testament to the depth of His sacrificial love. This passage serves to emphasize the truth of Isa 53:3: "He was despised and rejected by men...". It reminds believers that true faith may encounter derision from a world that misunderstands God's power and plan.