Devine Scripture

Matthew 26:67

What does Matthew 26:67 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 26:67 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 26:67 means

The council spits in Jesus’ face, strikes him, and some slap him, mocking and physically abusing him. This act demonstrates contempt and humiliation, not just legal condemnation. Spitting and striking are gestures of derision, meant to degrade the condemned. The physical abuse underscores the viciousness of the leaders’ treatment and their desire to demean Jesus before the crowd. The verse reveals the depth of hostility and the way religious procedure descends into personal cruelty and scorn.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then they put shame on him, and were cruel to him: and some gave him blows, saying,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Then did they spit in his face and buffet him, and others did slap,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him. And others struck his face with the palms of their hands,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him, and some struck him with the palms of their hand,

Context

This verse follows the verdict and records the immediate mistreatment of Jesus by the council. It moves the narrative from legal judgment to physical and verbal humiliation. For readers, the verse highlights the low point of the trial's cruelty and sets up the subsequent mocking demand for prophecy and the volley of abuse that accompanies Jesus’ silence.

v.66what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death.

v.67This passage

v.68saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 15:19

    And they smote his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

  • Matthew 27:30

    And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head.

  • Lamentations 3:45

    Thou hast made us an offscouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

  • Isaiah 53:3

    He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.

  • Numbers 12:14

    And Jehovah said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.

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