Matthew 27 29

Matthew 27:29 kjv

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Matthew 27:29 nkjv

When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Matthew 27:29 niv

and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.

Matthew 27:29 esv

and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Matthew 27:29 nlt

They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!"

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 29 Meaning

Matthew 27:29 describes the cruel mockery inflicted upon Jesus by the Roman soldiers just before His crucifixion. They fashioned symbols of royalty—a crown and a scepter—out of materials intended to cause pain and ridicule, adorning Him in a theatrical display of contempt. Their actions, though driven by malice, paradoxically declared His true, albeit unrecognized, identity as the King. It illustrates the profound depths of humiliation and suffering Jesus endured as part of His atonement, highlighting human depravity and divine submission.

Matthew 27 29 Context

Matthew 27:29 is part of the Passion Narrative, occurring after Pilate had publicly declared Jesus innocent but then delivered Him to be crucified to appease the crowd (Mt 27:24-26). Following Jesus' scourging (Mt 27:26), the Roman soldiers take Him into the Praetorium, the governor's headquarters, where this scene of elaborate mockery unfolds (Mt 27:27-31). This private humiliation precedes the public procession to Golgotha, intensifying the suffering and preparing for the final public spectacle. Historically, Roman soldiers were known for their brutality and for mocking prisoners, especially those claiming kingly titles against Roman authority, viewing such claims as sedition. The Jewish leaders' charge against Jesus was primarily based on His perceived claim to kingship (Jn 19:7-12), making this mockery particularly relevant to their accusations and the reasons for His condemnation.

Matthew 27 29 Word analysis

• And when they had platted: The Greek verb is plexantes (πλέξαντες), a participle from plekō, meaning "to weave, braid, plait." This implies a deliberate and intricate effort to construct the "crown," not a casual act. It denotes calculated malice and intentional design to inflict both physical pain and profound psychological humiliation.
• a crown: The Greek word is stephanon (στέφανον), which can refer to a wreath or a crown, often associated with victory, honor, or royalty (e.g., athletic crowns, imperial crowns). Here, it is twisted from its traditional meaning, becoming an instrument of torment and ridicule. It is an "anti-crown," a stark contrast to the true crown of glory Jesus possesses and will one day wear.
• of thorns: The Greek is akanthōn (ἀκανθῶν), referring to thorny plants. This has Old Testament echoes. Thorns are directly associated with the curse upon the ground in Genesis 3:18 following the Fall of man, symbolizing pain, futility, and humanity's fallen state. By wearing this "crown of thorns," Jesus symbolically takes upon Himself the very curse of humanity, transforming a symbol of condemnation into a prefigurement of salvation.
• they put it upon his head: This action is direct and physically painful. The head, the seat of reason, authority, and honor, is where the king's crown rests. Placing the crown of thorns on Jesus' head is a deliberate debasement, mocking His divine intellect, kingly authority, and unique status as the Son of God.
• and a reed: The Greek is kalamon (κάλαμον). A reed is a hollow, slender stalk, often found by rivers. It is fragile, insignificant, and brittle. Here, it functions as a mock scepter, a symbol of royal power. By replacing a magnificent scepter with a flimsy reed, the soldiers ridiculed Jesus' alleged power and authority, reducing His claim to kingship to utter impotence in their eyes.
• in his right hand: The right hand was culturally significant as the hand of strength, power, and authority. Placing the flimsy reed in His right hand further intensified the mockery, contrasting His perceived powerlessness with the expected strength of a king.
• and they bowed the knee before him: The Greek phrase is ekampsan gonata (ἐκάμψαν γόνατα). This is a customary gesture of worship, homage, and submission offered to royalty or divinity. The soldiers twisted this sacred gesture into a grotesque parody, performing it derisively. This ironic bowing foreshadows the universal, genuine bowing that will one day occur before Christ (Php 2:10). Their mocking homage unwittingly testified to the divine truth that He is indeed King.
• and mocked him: The Greek is enepaizon (ἐνέπαιζον), from empaizō, meaning "to mock, ridicule, scoff at, make sport of." The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing, continuous action, suggesting persistent, sustained ridicule. This was not a single action but a prolonged ordeal of mental, emotional, and spiritual abuse designed to degrade and humiliate.
• saying, Hail, King of the Jews!: The greeting Chaire (Χαῖρε) or "Hail" was a formal address typically reserved for rulers, emperors (e.g., "Hail, Caesar!"). Applying it to Jesus was a deliberate act of ridicule, associating His humble appearance with a majestic title in stark contrast. The title "King of the Jews" (ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ho Basileus tōn Ioudaiōn) was the specific charge leveled against Jesus by the Jewish authorities before Pilate. In their cruel jest, the soldiers spoke an unintended truth: Jesus truly is the King, both of Israel and of all nations. The profound irony lies in their unawareness that their mockery perfectly captured the theological truth of His identity and destiny.

Matthew 27 29 Bonus section

• The elaborate staging of the soldiers—dressing Jesus, giving Him props, performing mock homage—suggests a theatrical intent to publically disgrace Him before His execution.
• The "King of the Jews" title appears throughout Matthew's passion narrative (Mt 27:11, 29, 37, 42), highlighting its centrality to the accusations against Jesus and the nature of His claims. Pilate’s own inscription above the cross also bears this title.
• The silence of Jesus throughout this entire ordeal of mockery (not recorded as speaking a word here) underscores His meekness and full submission to His Father's will, echoing prophetic passages of the silent Suffering Servant (Is 53:7).
• The scene represents not merely Roman cruelty, but a deeper spiritual antagonism against Christ's true authority. Humanity's rejection of its rightful King is vividly displayed.
• This intense humiliation directly contrasts with Christ's heavenly glory and rightful place as Lord of lords, preparing the reader for His eventual triumph over death and subsequent enthronement in power and majesty.

Matthew 27 29 Commentary

Matthew 27:29 portrays a scene of intense theological significance. Beyond the immediate physical torture and psychological abuse, it reveals deeper spiritual realities. The Roman soldiers, symbols of human authority and worldly power, unknowingly participate in fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of the suffering Messiah (e.g., Is 53). By fashioning a crown of thorns and a mock scepter, they paradoxically underscore Jesus' true royalty. The "crown of thorns" is an anti-crown, a symbol of humiliation that becomes a sign of Christ's victory over the curse of sin, fulfilling the Gen 3:18 prophecy that the ground would yield thorns and thistles as a result of the fall. The "reed" for a scepter and the "bowing the knee" in derision further highlight the disparity between man's limited perception of power and God's infinite might manifested in vulnerability. The ultimate irony lies in their shouted greeting, "Hail, King of the Jews!" In their scorn, they proclaimed a profound truth that would soon be evident to the universe. This act of mocking royalty is an inversion of creation's due worship, but through Christ's endurance, this ultimate humiliation becomes the very means of His exaltation, demonstrating His sacrificial love and perfect obedience that leads to mankind's redemption.