John 19:3
New International Version
and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

New Living Translation
“Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.

English Standard Version
They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

Berean Standard Bible
And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.

Berean Literal Bible
And they began coming up to Him and saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they kept giving Him blows with the palm.

King James Bible
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

New King James Version
Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

New American Standard Bible
and they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapped Him in the face again and again.

NASB 1995
and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face.

NASB 1977
and they began to come up to Him, and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him blows in the face.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they were coming to Him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were giving Him slaps in the face.

Amplified Bible
and they kept coming up to Him, saying [mockingly], “Hail, King of the Jews [Good health! Peace! Long life to you, King of the Jews]!” And they slapped Him in the face.

Christian Standard Bible
And they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews! ” and were slapping his face.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping His face.

American Standard Version
and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.

Contemporary English Version
They came up to him and said, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" They also hit him with their fists.

English Revised Version
and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They went up to him, said, "Long live the king of the Jews!" and slapped his face.

Good News Translation
and came to him and said, "Long live the King of the Jews!" And they went up and slapped him.

International Standard Version
They kept coming up to him and saying, "Long live the king of the Jews!" Then they began to slap him on the face.

Majority Standard Bible
And they kept saying, ?Hail, King of the Jews!? and slapping Him in the face.

NET Bible
They came up to him again and again and said, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly in the face.

New Heart English Bible
And they kept coming up to him and saying, "Greetings, King of the Jews." and they struck him with their hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Weymouth New Testament
Then they began to march up to Him, saying in a mocking voice, "Hail King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with the palms of their hands.

World English Bible
They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and said, “Hail! The King of the Jews”; and they were giving Him slaps.

Berean Literal Bible
And they began coming up to Him and saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they kept giving Him blows with the palm.

Young's Literal Translation
and said, 'Hail! the king of the Jews;' and they were giving him slaps.

Smith's Literal Translation
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they gave him blows with a rod.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they were approaching him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.

New American Bible
and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.

New Revised Standard Version
They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they said, Peace be to you, O king of the Jews! and they struck him on his cheeks.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were saying, “Hail to you, King of the Judeans”, and they were hitting him on his cheeks.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and said: Hail, King of the Jews. And they struck him with their open hands.

Godbey New Testament
and came to Him and continued to say, Hail, King of the Jews! and they gave Him slaps.

Haweis New Testament
and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they gave him slaps on the face with their hands.

Mace New Testament
hail king of the Jews! said they, and struck him on the cheeks.

Weymouth New Testament
Then they began to march up to Him, saying in a mocking voice, "Hail King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with the palms of their hands.

Worrell New Testament
and they kept coming to Him, and saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they were giving Him blows with a rod.

Worsley New Testament
and threw a purple robe about Him, and said, "Hail king of the Jews," and struck Him with their hands.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. 3And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face. 4Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.”…

Cross References
Matthew 27:29-30
And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” / Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.

Mark 15:17-19
They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head. / And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” / They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.

Luke 22:63-65
The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. / They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” / And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Psalm 22:7-8
All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Psalm 69:19-20
You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You. / Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Matthew 26:67-68
Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him / and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

Mark 14:65
Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

Luke 23:11
And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

John 18:22-23
When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?” / Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

Acts 5:41
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. / Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Micah 5:1
Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Hail.

Matthew 26:49
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Matthew 27:29
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Luke 1:28
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

King.

John 19:19-22
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS…

John 18:33
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

Jump to Previous
Blows Face Hail Hands Jews Kept Life March Mocking Palms Slaps Smote Struck Voice
Jump to Next
Blows Face Hail Hands Jews Kept Life March Mocking Palms Slaps Smote Struck Voice
John 19
1. Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and beaten.
4. Pilate is desirous to release him,
15. but being overcome with the outrage of the crowd, he delivers him to be crucified.
23. They cast lots for his garments.
25. He commends his mother to John.
28. He dies.
31. His side is pierced.
38. He is buried by Joseph and Nicodemus.














And they went up to Him again and again
This phrase highlights the repeated and relentless nature of the mockery Jesus endured. The Roman soldiers, who were likely Gentiles, did not understand the significance of Jesus' kingship. Their actions fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:3, which speaks of the Messiah being despised and rejected. The repetition underscores the intensity of the humiliation, as Jesus was subjected to continuous scorn.

saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
The soldiers' mockery of Jesus as "King of the Jews" is deeply ironic. While they intended to ridicule, they inadvertently acknowledged a profound truth. This title was also used by the Magi in Matthew 2:2 when they sought the newborn Jesus, indicating His royal lineage as a descendant of David. The phrase "Hail" mimics the Roman salute to Caesar, further mocking Jesus' claim to kingship. This mockery fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 22:7, where the suffering servant is scorned by those around Him.

and slapping Him in the face.
The act of slapping Jesus was a physical manifestation of the contempt and rejection He faced. In the cultural context of the time, striking someone on the face was a severe insult, signifying utter disrespect. This act of violence fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 50:6, where the servant of the Lord offers His back to those who beat Him and His cheeks to those who pull out His beard. The physical abuse Jesus suffered is a type of the suffering servant, illustrating His role as the sacrificial Lamb who endures humiliation and pain for the sake of humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure of the New Testament, who is being mocked and physically abused in this passage. He is referred to sarcastically as "King of the Jews" by His tormentors.

2. Roman Soldiers
The individuals who are mocking and striking Jesus. They represent the authority of the Roman Empire and are carrying out the orders of Pontius Pilate.

3. Pontius Pilate's Headquarters
The location where Jesus is being held and mocked. This is the place where Roman authority is exercised over the Jewish people.

4. The Mockery
The act of derision and physical abuse directed at Jesus, highlighting the humiliation He endured before His crucifixion.

5. The Jewish Leaders
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they play a crucial role in the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion by handing Him over to the Romans.
Teaching Points
The Humility of Christ
Jesus' willingness to endure mockery and abuse without retaliation exemplifies true humility and submission to God's will.

The Fulfillment of Prophecy
The events of John 19:3 fulfill Old Testament prophecies about the suffering Messiah, reinforcing the divine plan and purpose in Jesus' suffering.

Responding to Persecution
Believers can learn from Jesus' example of enduring persecution with grace and patience, trusting in God's ultimate justice.

The Cost of Redemption
The physical and emotional suffering Jesus endured highlights the immense cost of our redemption and should inspire gratitude and reverence.

The Irony of the Mockery
The soldiers mockingly call Jesus "King of the Jews," yet in doing so, they unknowingly proclaim a profound truth about His identity and mission.(3) And said, Hail, King of the Jews.--The reading of the better MSS. is, and they kept coming to Him and saying . . . It is a description of the mock reverence which they paid Him. They kept drawing near and bowing before Him. (Comp. Matthew 27:29.)

They smote him with their hands.--Comp. Note on John 18:22.

(3) That St. John is not careful to give the time more than roughly "about the sixth hour." The hours of that day may well be confused, for their sorrow would have made minutes seem as hours, and the sun, which on other days marked the hours, was on that day itself darkened. St. Matthew is equally uncertain at what exact time there was the cry with a loud voice (Matthew 27:46), and St. Luke does not give the exact time when the darkness commenced (Luke 23:44).

Verse 3. - They kept on coming to him, and saying to him, in sportive mockery of his supposed Kingship, and utter scorn of the nation whose Messianic hope they derided, Hail, King of the Jews! They did a sham obeisance to him, having elected him, as Roman guards often did, an "imperator" on the field of battle. The offerings which they presented to him were not the kiss of homage, but ῤαπίσματα. They kept on offering him blows on the face, strokes with the hand or with rods (cf. John 18:22, note). Hengstenberg, recalling here (Matthew 27:29) that they put a reed in his hand, symbol of a scepter, supposes that he refused to hold it, in consequence of which they took it from him, and smote him with it. The awful indignity was a wondrous prophecy. Nay, from that very hour he began to reign. That crown of thorns has been more lasting than any royal diadem. Those cruel insults have been the title-deeds of his imperial sway, by which he has mastered the nations. He was wounded, bruised, for the iniquities of us all. The representatives of the outside world thus share expressly in the shame and ban by which the Hebrew theocracy is crushed, and the prince of this world is judged. "They know not what they do;" but Jew and Roman are guilty before God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they went up
ἤρχοντο (ērchonto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

Him {again and again},
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

saying,
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Hail,
Χαῖρε (Chaire)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5463: A primary verb; to be 'cheer'ful, i.e. Calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation, be well.

King
Βασιλεὺς (Basileus)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935: A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews!”
Ἰουδαίων (Ioudaiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

slapping Him in the face.
ἐδίδοσαν (edidosan)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.


Links
John 19:3 NIV
John 19:3 NLT
John 19:3 ESV
John 19:3 NASB
John 19:3 KJV

John 19:3 BibleApps.com
John 19:3 Biblia Paralela
John 19:3 Chinese Bible
John 19:3 French Bible
John 19:3 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: John 19:3 They kept saying Hail King (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 19:2
Top of Page
Top of Page