Matthew 27:39 kjv
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Matthew 27:39 nkjv
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads
Matthew 27:39 niv
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads
Matthew 27:39 esv
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads
Matthew 27:39 nlt
The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.
Matthew 27 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 15:29 | And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the..." | Parallel account of mockery at the crucifixion. |
| Luke 23:35 | And the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others..." | General public mockery and scoffing. |
| Psalm 22:7 | All who see Me mock Me; They sneer with the lip, they wag the head... | Prophetic fulfillment of derision against Messiah. |
| Psalm 109:25 | I also have become a reproach to them; When they look at me, they shake their heads. | Prophetic imagery of being a scornful sight. |
| Isaiah 53:3 | He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant's humiliation. |
| Job 16:4 | I also could speak as you do... I could shake my head at you. | Illustrates shaking head as a gesture of derision. |
| Jeremiah 18:16 | ...all who pass by it will be astonished and shake their heads. | Wagging heads in astonishment and sorrow (here used for derision). |
| Lamentations 2:15 | All who pass by clap their hands at you; They hiss and shake their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem... | Head-wagging as scornful mockery of distress. |
| Matthew 27:40 | "You who destroy the temple... save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." | Clarifies the nature of the verbal reviling. |
| Matthew 27:41-43 | Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, "He saved others..." | Religious leaders join in the reviling and challenging His claims. |
| Hebrews 12:2-3 | ...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame... | Jesus' endurance of public shame and opposition. |
| 1 Peter 2:23 | who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten... | Jesus' silent endurance of abuse without retaliation. |
| Isaiah 50:6 | I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not... | Prophetic description of physical and verbal abuse. |
| Philippians 2:7-8 | ...but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness... | Christ's self-abasement and obedience to the point of a shameful death. |
| John 1:11 | He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. | Broad rejection of Christ by His people. |
| Romans 3:10-18 | There is none righteous, no, not one... Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have... | Describes the fallen human nature leading to such hostility. |
| Acts 3:14-15 | But you denied the Holy and the Just One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you... | Accusation against those who rejected Jesus and desired His death. |
| Psalm 35:15-16 | But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; They gathered against me, And I did not know... | Experience of malicious joy from attackers. |
| Galatians 3:13 | Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... | Jesus bore the shame and curse of crucifixion. |
| Zechariah 12:10 | And I will pour on the house of David... Then they will look on Me whom they pierced. | Prophetic future recognition contrasting present scorn. |
| Luke 16:14 | Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. | Derision by religious leaders throughout His ministry. |
| Luke 22:63-65 | Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him... and they struck Him on the face and asked... | Soldier's mockery of Jesus before the crucifixion. |
Matthew 27 verses
Matthew 27 39 Meaning
Matthew 27:39 describes the profound public humiliation endured by Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross. It illustrates how ordinary bypassers actively mocked Him with verbal abuse ("reviled Him") and a universally recognized gesture of scorn ("wagging their heads"). This passage highlights the extreme depth of rejection and contempt directed at the Son of God during His atoning sacrifice.
Matthew 27 39 Context
Matthew 27:39 is set in the immediate aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion on Golgotha. The prior verses describe His arrival at the place of the skull, the offer of gall mixed with wine (which He refused), the nailing to the cross, the division of His garments, and the inscription of His charge. This specific verse begins the account of the prolonged public mockery and reviling that Jesus endured while dying. The surrounding verses in Matthew 27 (40-44) elaborate on the specific words of mockery from the chief priests, scribes, elders, and even the criminals crucified beside Him. Historically, crucifixion was not just a method of execution but a public display of shame and humiliation designed to deter rebellion. The "passers-by" would have been the general populace, accustomed to such sights, yet joining in the spectacle with scorn.
Matthew 27 39 Word analysis
- And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction connecting this scene of mockery to the immediately preceding events of the crucifixion, signifying continuity in Jesus' suffering.
- those who passed by (οἱ παραπορευόμενοι - hoi paraporeuomenoi): This phrase literally means "the ones going alongside" or "the ones walking by." It indicates general spectators, common people who happened to be on the road, emphasizing that the scorn came not just from specific enemies but from the indifferent or hostile crowd. Their presence highlights the public nature of Jesus' humiliation.
- reviled (ἐβλασφήμουν - eblasphēmoun): The verb is in the imperfect tense, suggesting ongoing or repeated action of reviling. The Greek term blasphemeo here means to speak impiously, rail against, abuse, or slander. While blasphemia often refers to insulting God, here it refers to the grave insults and abuse hurled at Jesus, implying a denial of His claims to divine authority or messiahship, especially as elaborated in the subsequent verses (e.g., "Son of God," "King of Israel").
- Him (αὐτὸν - auton): Refers directly to Jesus, the object of intense and public scorn.
- wagging (κινοῦντες - kinountes): A participle meaning "shaking," "moving," or "waving." This specific physical action is a well-established gesture in ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures.
- their heads (τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν - tas kephalas autōn): The complete phrase "wagging their heads" is a strong expression of disdain, contempt, scorn, mockery, or even malevolent triumph over someone in distress. This particular gesture has deep roots in Old Testament prophecy, used to depict scorn directed at the afflicted righteous or nations in judgment, making its appearance here profoundly significant in fulfilling Scripture.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And those who passed by": This phrase underlines the pervasive nature of Jesus' rejection. It was not just the Jewish leaders or the Roman soldiers, but the common folk, casual observers, who joined in the condemnation. It speaks to humanity's widespread rejection of divine truth when confronted with it in its most humble and suffering form.
- "reviled Him, wagging their heads": This combination of verbal abuse and physical gesture signifies utter contempt. The "reviling" constitutes active, verbal attack on Jesus' character and claims, while "wagging their heads" adds a layer of non-verbal, often culturally understood, mocking derision. The coupling emphasizes the intensity and public nature of the scorn, demonstrating an active participation in His humiliation, fully aligning with prophetic images of the suffering servant.
Matthew 27 39 Bonus section
The consistent depiction of "wagging heads" in the Old Testament, particularly in Psalms 22 and 109, underscores Matthew's deliberate theological intent. It's not merely a descriptive detail but a powerful fulfillment marker, showing how even the smallest gestures directed at Jesus aligned with ancient prophecies of the suffering Messiah. This action highlights a reversal of typical understanding: in some ancient cultures, wagging the head could also indicate distress or sorrow, but here, the context of reviling unequivocally defines it as a gesture of malignant contempt and triumph. It represents the pinnacle of public scorn directed at the One who would save them, ironically for the very people mocking Him.
Matthew 27 39 Commentary
Matthew 27:39 paints a vivid and painful picture of Christ's suffering, extending beyond the physical agony of crucifixion to include profound emotional and psychological torment through public ridicule. The "passers-by" represent the indifferent world, quick to condemn and mock that which it does not understand or that challenges its comfortable worldview. Their reviling and head-wagging fulfill precise Old Testament prophecies (Ps 22:7; 109:25), underscoring that every aspect of Jesus' passion was providentially ordained. This scene reveals the ultimate depth of human sin and the world's hostility towards God's Anointed, yet simultaneously highlights Jesus' silent endurance. He could have retaliated, but His submission to such humiliation was integral to His atoning work, fulfilling His purpose to save humanity through suffering, even by bearing the most debasing public shame.