Devine Scripture

Mark 15:19

What does Mark 15:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 15:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 15:19 means

The soldiers beat Jesus’ head with a reed, spit on him, and kneel mockingly in false worship. These acts compound the humiliation; the reed is a feeble mock-scepter, the spitting a sign of contempt, and kneeling a parody of homage. The added violence underscores soldiers’ cruelty and the depth of Jesus’ suffering and degradation. This scene, while showing human cruelty, also reveals Jesus’ patient endurance and the fulfilment of the servant who is scorned and abased for others’ sake.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they gave him blows on the head with a stick and put shame on him and, going down on their knees, gave him worship.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they were smiting him on the head with a reed, and were spitting on him, and having bent the knee, were bowing to him,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they struck his head with a reed: and they did spit on him. And bowing their knees, they adored him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and, bending the knee, did him homage.

Context

This continues immediately after the soldiers’ mock salute. Their blows and spitting show escalating brutality. The incident deepens the irony of the soldiers’ mock worship, before they remove the purple and prepare Jesus to be led out for crucifixion, emphasizing the contrast between appearance and reality of his kingship.

v.18and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

v.19This passage

v.20And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him.

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 52:14

    Like as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men),

  • Luke 22:63

    And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him.

  • Romans 14:10

    But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.

  • Luke 18:32

    For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon:

  • Mark 14:65

    And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the officers received him with blows of their hands.

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