Devine Scripture

Mark 15:29

What does Mark 15:29 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 15:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 15:29 means

Passersby mock Jesus, wagging their heads and recalling his claim to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. Their taunts are derived from misunderstanding and scorn, using his teaching against him. They challenge him to “save thyself” and come down from the cross—if he truly were powerful, prove it. Their mockery displays ignorance: they judge success by spectacle and miss the deeper reality of resurrection and atonement that Jesus’ words truly anticipate.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And those who went by made sport of him, shaking their heads, and saying, Ha! you who give the Temple to destruction, and put it up again in three days,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And those passing by were speaking evil of him, shaking their heads, and saying, `Ah, the thrower down of the sanctuary, and in three days the builder!

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days buildest it up again:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they that passed by reviled him, shaking their heads, and saying, Aha, thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days,

Context

This follows the crucifixion and the presence of robbers. The passersby’s derision is part of the public scorn Jesus endures. Their taunts echo earlier teachings about the temple, misreading Jesus’ words as a boast rather than a prophecy. Their challenge heightens the contrast between appearance and truth, and it precedes the similar mockery from religious leaders.

v.28

v.29This passage

v.30save thyself, and come down from the cross.

Cross references

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

  • John 2:18

    The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

  • Psalms 69:7

    Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face.

  • Psalms 109:25

    I am become also a reproach unto them: When they see me, they shake their head.

  • Mark 14:58

    We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.

  • Psalms 35:15

    But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; They did tear me, and ceased not:

  • Lamentations 2:15

    All that pass by clap their hands at thee; They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

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