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John 19

John 19:2

The Soldiers Mock Jesus · John 19:1–15
Read John 19

Translations

Modern
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe.
Traditional
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
Literal
And the soldiers, having twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head and cast around Him a purple garment.
Latin
Et milites plectentes coronam de spinis, imposuerunt capiti ejus: et veste purpurea circumdederunt eum.

Original

Greek
English
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe.

Notes

John 19:2

  • The crown of thorns might have come from a date palm tree (compare 12:13–14). There are Greek coin images showing such crowns, with the stems woven and the thorns radiating upward above the crown.

  • The purple robe was probably a soldier's robe. It was dark red, completing the picture of mock royalty.

John 19:1–16

Pilate had Jesus beaten after his sentencing (Mark 15:15). However, John here describes an earlier beating. This was likely Pilate's attempt to show that Jesus had been punished and he could release him (John 19:4). When this failed, Pilate passed his sentence and handed Jesus over to the Jewish leaders for crucifixion (19:16).

Theme notes and profiles

Pontius Pilate Encounters with Jesus

Events

Parallels

Isaiah 50:4–11 Matthew 27:27–31 Mark 15:16–20 Luke 22:63–65

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Body of Christ Caesarea Clothing Passion Procurator Purple Thistle, Thorn

Topics

Dress: Cloak Dress: Various Articles of Purple Irony: The Roman Soldiers to Jesus Jesus, the Christ: Tried in Front of Pilate (In Jerusalem) Mocking: The Persecutors of Jesus Mock Him Sarcasm: The Persecutors of Jesus Slander: That he Was a King The Color Purple Thorn: Used: Crown of, Mockingly Put on Jesus' Head