Matthew 27 31

Matthew 27:31 kjv

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:31 nkjv

And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

Matthew 27:31 niv

After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:31 esv

And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:31 nlt

When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 31 Meaning

Matthew 27:31 describes the actions of the Roman soldiers immediately after they had finished mocking Jesus as a "King of the Jews." They removed the scarlet robe they had put on Him for their cruel sport and put His own customary clothes back on Him. Following this, they led Him out of the Praetorium, or judgment hall, towards the place of execution, which was crucifixion. This verse marks the transition from the soldiers' humiliating games to the grim reality of the official execution process.

Matthew 27 31 Context

This verse is part of the Passion Narrative in Matthew, following the betrayal, arrest, trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, and the scourging. Specifically, Matthew 27:31 immediately follows the detailed description (vv. 27-30) of the Roman soldiers in the Praetorium (Pilate's headquarters) brutally mocking Jesus. They had clothed Him in a scarlet robe, given Him a crown of thorns and a reed scepter, and sarcastically hailed Him as "King of the Jews," spitting on Him and striking Him. Verse 31 signals the conclusion of this sadistic "game" and the formal commencement of the walk to execution. Historically, Roman crucifixions were public spectacles, designed not only to execute but also to humiliate the condemned and serve as a deterrent to others. The act of restoring His own clothes would make Him clearly identifiable as the condemned individual to the watching crowd, an element of public display intrinsic to Roman punishment.

Matthew 27 31 Word analysis

• And after that (Καὶ ὅτε): This transitional phrase signifies a sequential progression from the previous events. It directly connects the conclusion of the mockery with the subsequent action of preparing for execution, showing a distinct shift in the soldiers' agenda.
• they had mocked (ἐμπείξαντες - empaixantes): This Greek participle, meaning "having mocked" or "made sport of," conveys the cruel, derisive, and abusive nature of their actions. It highlights the deliberate intention to humiliate and ridicule Jesus' claim (real or perceived by them) to kingship, reducing Him to an object of scorn.
• him: Refers to Jesus, the central figure of the mockery and the coming crucifixion.
• they took off from him (ἐξέδυσαν αὐτόν - exedysan auton): From ekdyō (to take off, strip off). This is a direct reversal of their earlier act in Matthew 27:28 where they "stripped him and put" the robe on him. The removal of the "royal" attire marks the end of their sadistic charade.
• the robe (τὴν χλαμύδα - tēn chlamyda): This specific Greek term refers to a soldier's scarlet or purple cloak, not a king's royal purple, underscoring the nature of their mockery as deriving from their own military context. Its removal signifies the end of the play acting, preparing Him for the real act of crucifixion.
• and put (καὶ ἐνέδυσαν - kai enedysan): From endyō (to put on, clothe). This indicates another deliberate act of dressing, demonstrating the soldiers' continued control over Jesus' person and presentation.
• his own raiment (τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ - ta himatia autou): Himation (plural) refers to His regular outer garments. Restoring His own clothes made Him identifiable to the public as the specific condemned individual for execution. This act, while seeming benign, was part of the process of public degradation and ensuring recognition for the official sentence.
• on him: Again, referring to Jesus.
• and led him away (καὶ ἀπήγαγον αὐτόν - kai apēgagon auton): From apagō (to lead away, carry off). This word often carries the connotation of leading a person, particularly a prisoner, to judgment or execution. It implies Jesus' compliance, not resistance, in fulfillment of prophecy (e.g., Isa 53:7). It initiates the public procession to Golgotha.
• to crucify him (εἰς τὸ σταυρῶσαι - eis to staurōsai): From staurow (to crucify). This verb specifies the brutal form of execution determined by Pilate. It's the ultimate goal of their leading Him away, emphasizing the violent and fatal conclusion to the entire Passion narrative. The full intent of Roman power is now being carried out.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And after that they had mocked him": This phrase clearly demarcates the end of the soldiers' "sport." Their purpose of mockery has been fulfilled; now the state's purpose of execution takes over.
• "they took off from him the robe, and put his own raiment on him": This pair of actions emphasizes the deliberate transition from the mocking performance to the preparation for official execution. The "mocking" costume is removed, and His identity as the condemned prisoner is re-established by His own clothing, enabling Him to be paraded publicly to His death.
• "and led him away to crucify him": This final clause states the stark, terrible purpose of the procession. It encapsulates the full trajectory of the Roman condemnation and moves the narrative directly toward the execution itself, confirming Jesus' predictions of His crucifixion.

Matthew 27 31 Bonus section

The soldiers' actions in Matthew 27:27-31 can be seen as fulfilling several prophetic themes related to the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) and the Psalmist (Psalm 22). The specific acts of putting on and taking off robes emphasize the human agents' full control over the Son of God's physical presentation during His humiliation. The details like putting His own clothes back on before the procession might also be interpreted as part of standard Roman protocol for public executions to ensure proper identification of the condemned by the populace, who would typically gather along the route. This was not an act of mercy but rather part of the complete dehumanization and legal identification for a spectacle designed to terrorize.

Matthew 27 31 Commentary

Matthew 27:31 serves as a crucial turning point in the Passion narrative. After exhausting their cruel sport, the Roman soldiers transition from arbitrary abuse to methodical execution. The stripping of the scarlet robe and the re-dressing in Jesus' own clothes marks the end of the theatrical mockery and the grim onset of the public death procession. This act underscores their power and control, removing the temporary costume of a mock king to present the identifiable criminal destined for Golgotha. The phrase "led him away to crucify him" concisely states the terrible reality: Jesus, though innocent, is being deliberately moved towards the most agonizing and shameful form of execution. This verse highlights the relentless march towards the fulfillment of divine prophecy through the cruel instruments of human justice, showing Jesus' unresisting obedience even to this final, public humiliation. It underscores His identification not just with humanity, but with humanity at its most broken and despised, ultimately leading to His supreme act of sacrifice.