Matthew 27:34
What does Matthew 27:34 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 27:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 27:34 means
They offer Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink, but after tasting it he refuses. This mixture—intended to dull pain or as a narcotic—was likely offered as a mercy to condemned men. Jesus’ refusal shows his conscious choice to face suffering fully awake, not to escape or dull it, fulfilling the idea of a willing sacrifice. His tasting but refusal highlights his endurance and deliberate acceptance of the cup of suffering entrusted to him by the Father.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949They gave him wine mixed with bitter drink: and after tasting it, he took no more.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862they gave him to drink vinegar mixed with gall, and having tasted, he would not drink.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890they gave to him to drink vinegar mingled with gall; and having tasted [it], he would not drink.
Context
This verse takes place at Golgotha (v. 33) just before crucifixion. It contrasts common practices that might ease death with Jesus’ deliberate refusal, underscoring his voluntary submission to suffering. This choice prepares the reader for the crucifixion itself and Jesus’ costly offering of himself (vv. 35–44).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 27:48
And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
- Mark 15:23
And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
- John 19:28
After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.
- Psalms 69:21
They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
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