Mark 15:18
What does Mark 15:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 15:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 15:18 means
The soldiers mockingly hail Jesus as “King of the Jews,” imitating regal salutations. Their words are scornful, intended to ridicule the idea of Jesus as king. Yet their taunt unwittingly announces a truth: Jesus is king, though not in the sense they intend. The mockery exposes human attempts to reduce divine truth to a joke. It also intensifies the public humiliation, making Jesus’ path to crucifixion not only physical pain but also shameful derision.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
KJV
King James Version · 1611And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And, as if honouring him, they said, Long life to the King of the Jews!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and began to salute him, `Hail, King of the Jews.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they began to salute him: Hail, king of the Jews.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
Context
This verse follows the act of dressing Jesus in purple and crowning him with thorns. The soldier’s derisive salute heightens the parody of kingship and leads into further physical assaults—striking his head and spitting—an interplay of word and deed that characterizes Roman abuse before the crucifixion procession begins.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 27:42
He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.
- Mark 15:2
And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest.
- Genesis 37:20
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
- Genesis 37:10
And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
- Mark 15:29
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
- Luke 23:36
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar,
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