John 19:3
New International Version
and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

New Living Translation
“Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.

English Standard Version
They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

Berean Standard Bible
And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.

Berean Literal Bible
And they began coming up to Him and saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they kept giving Him blows with the palm.

King James Bible
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

New King James Version
Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

New American Standard Bible
and they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapped Him in the face again and again.

NASB 1995
and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face.

NASB 1977
and they began to come up to Him, and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him blows in the face.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they were coming to Him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were giving Him slaps in the face.

Amplified Bible
and they kept coming up to Him, saying [mockingly], “Hail, King of the Jews [Good health! Peace! Long life to you, King of the Jews]!” And they slapped Him in the face.

Christian Standard Bible
And they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews! ” and were slapping his face.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping His face.

American Standard Version
and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.

Contemporary English Version
They came up to him and said, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" They also hit him with their fists.

English Revised Version
and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They went up to him, said, "Long live the king of the Jews!" and slapped his face.

Good News Translation
and came to him and said, "Long live the King of the Jews!" And they went up and slapped him.

International Standard Version
They kept coming up to him and saying, "Long live the king of the Jews!" Then they began to slap him on the face.

Majority Standard Bible
And they kept saying, ?Hail, King of the Jews!? and slapping Him in the face.

NET Bible
They came up to him again and again and said, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly in the face.

New Heart English Bible
And they kept coming up to him and saying, "Greetings, King of the Jews." and they struck him with their hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Weymouth New Testament
Then they began to march up to Him, saying in a mocking voice, "Hail King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with the palms of their hands.

World English Bible
They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and said, “Hail! The King of the Jews”; and they were giving Him slaps.

Berean Literal Bible
And they began coming up to Him and saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they kept giving Him blows with the palm.

Young's Literal Translation
and said, 'Hail! the king of the Jews;' and they were giving him slaps.

Smith's Literal Translation
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they gave him blows with a rod.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they were approaching him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.

New American Bible
and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.

New Revised Standard Version
They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they said, Peace be to you, O king of the Jews! and they struck him on his cheeks.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were saying, “Hail to you, King of the Judeans”, and they were hitting him on his cheeks.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and said: Hail, King of the Jews. And they struck him with their open hands.

Godbey New Testament
and came to Him and continued to say, Hail, King of the Jews! and they gave Him slaps.

Haweis New Testament
and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they gave him slaps on the face with their hands.

Mace New Testament
hail king of the Jews! said they, and struck him on the cheeks.

Weymouth New Testament
Then they began to march up to Him, saying in a mocking voice, "Hail King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with the palms of their hands.

Worrell New Testament
and they kept coming to Him, and saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they were giving Him blows with a rod.

Worsley New Testament
and threw a purple robe about Him, and said, "Hail king of the Jews," and struck Him with their hands.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. 3And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face. 4Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.”…

Cross References
Matthew 27:29-30
And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” / Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.

Mark 15:17-19
They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head. / And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” / They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.

Luke 22:63-65
The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. / They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” / And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Psalm 22:7-8
All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Psalm 69:19-20
You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You. / Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Matthew 26:67-68
Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him / and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

Mark 14:65
Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

Luke 23:11
And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

John 18:22-23
When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?” / Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

Acts 5:41
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. / Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Micah 5:1
Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Hail.

Matthew 26:49
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Matthew 27:29
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!

Luke 1:28
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

King.

John 19:19-22
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS…

John 18:33
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

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John 19
1. Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and beaten.
4. Pilate is desirous to release him,
15. but being overcome with the outrage of the crowd, he delivers him to be crucified.
23. They cast lots for his garments.
25. He commends his mother to John.
28. He dies.
31. His side is pierced.
38. He is buried by Joseph and Nicodemus.














They kept coming up to Him
This phrase indicates a continuous action, suggesting that the mockery was relentless and ongoing. The Greek verb used here, "ἤρχοντο" (ērchonto), is in the imperfect tense, emphasizing the repeated and sustained nature of the soldiers' actions. Historically, this scene takes place during Jesus' trial before Pilate, where Roman soldiers, known for their brutality, would have been accustomed to mocking those they considered beneath them. This relentless approach underscores the depth of humiliation Jesus endured, fulfilling the prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53.

and saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'
The phrase "Hail, King of the Jews!" is deeply ironic. The soldiers mockingly use the title "King of the Jews," which is a title of honor and messianic expectation. The Greek word "Χαῖρε" (chaire) translates to "Hail" or "Rejoice," a greeting of respect and honor, yet here it is used sarcastically. This mockery fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 22:7, where it is foretold that the Messiah would be scorned and ridiculed. The soldiers' mockery unwittingly acknowledges Jesus' true identity, as He is indeed the King, not only of the Jews but of all creation.

And they slapped Him in the face
The act of slapping Jesus in the face is a profound insult and a physical manifestation of their contempt. The Greek word "ῥαπίσματα" (rhapismata) refers to a slap or a blow, often used to demean and humiliate. In the cultural and historical context of the time, such an act was a severe affront to one's dignity. This physical abuse is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 50:6, where the suffering servant offers His back to those who beat Him and His cheeks to those who pull out His beard. This act of violence against Jesus highlights His willingness to endure suffering and humiliation for the sake of humanity's redemption.

(3) And said, Hail, King of the Jews.--The reading of the better MSS. is, and they kept coming to Him and saying . . . It is a description of the mock reverence which they paid Him. They kept drawing near and bowing before Him. (Comp. Matthew 27:29.)

They smote him with their hands.--Comp. Note on John 18:22.

(3) That St. John is not careful to give the time more than roughly "about the sixth hour." The hours of that day may well be confused, for their sorrow would have made minutes seem as hours, and the sun, which on other days marked the hours, was on that day itself darkened. St. Matthew is equally uncertain at what exact time there was the cry with a loud voice (Matthew 27:46), and St. Luke does not give the exact time when the darkness commenced (Luke 23:44).

Verse 3. - They kept on coming to him, and saying to him, in sportive mockery of his supposed Kingship, and utter scorn of the nation whose Messianic hope they derided, Hail, King of the Jews! They did a sham obeisance to him, having elected him, as Roman guards often did, an "imperator" on the field of battle. The offerings which they presented to him were not the kiss of homage, but ῤαπίσματα. They kept on offering him blows on the face, strokes with the hand or with rods (cf. John 18:22, note). Hengstenberg, recalling here (Matthew 27:29) that they put a reed in his hand, symbol of a scepter, supposes that he refused to hold it, in consequence of which they took it from him, and smote him with it. The awful indignity was a wondrous prophecy. Nay, from that very hour he began to reign. That crown of thorns has been more lasting than any royal diadem. Those cruel insults have been the title-deeds of his imperial sway, by which he has mastered the nations. He was wounded, bruised, for the iniquities of us all. The representatives of the outside world thus share expressly in the shame and ban by which the Hebrew theocracy is crushed, and the prince of this world is judged. "They know not what they do;" but Jew and Roman are guilty before God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they went up
ἤρχοντο (ērchonto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

Him {again and again},
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

saying,
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Hail,
Χαῖρε (Chaire)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5463: A primary verb; to be 'cheer'ful, i.e. Calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation, be well.

King
Βασιλεὺς (Basileus)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935: A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews!”
Ἰουδαίων (Ioudaiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

slapping Him in the face.
ἐδίδοσαν (edidosan)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.


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