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They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
Mark 15:19 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him.
  • KJV And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
  • NKJV Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
  • NASB And they repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spit on Him, and kneeling, they bowed down before Him.
  • NLT And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

They strike Jesus, spit on him, and kneel in mock homage. He endures cruel abuse fulfilling the suffering servant prophecies.

Overview

The beating with a reed, spitting, and false worship fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah 50 and 53 concerning the smitten and despised servant. Their sarcastic homage contrasts with the true worship Jesus deserves and will one day receive from all. The King silently absorbs this cruelty as part of the redemptive suffering he willingly bears for sinners.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 29

  • Mark 14:65Then 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.
  • Isa 53:3–5He 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.
  • Job 13:9Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
  • Heb 13:13Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.
  • Phil 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
  • Isa 49:7Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”
  • Luke 23:36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.
  • Ps 69:12Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.
  • Matt 20:18–19“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death
  • Ps 69:19–20You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.
  • Job 30:8–12A senseless and nameless brood, they were driven off the land.
  • Heb 12:2–3Let 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.
  • Isa 52:14Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—
  • Luke 18:32–33He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
  • Mark 9:12He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?
  • Rom 11:4And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
  • Isa 45:23By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
  • Mic 5:1Now, 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.
  • Ps 35:15–17But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
  • Ps 22:6–7But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
  • Mark 10:34who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”
  • Gen 43:28“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.
  • Rom 14:10–11Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
  • Isa 50:6I 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.
  • Luke 22:63The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
  • Gen 24:52When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
  • 1 Kgs 19:18Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
  • Esth 3:2–5All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
  • Luke 23:11And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Mark videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Mark 15:19YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MarkMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

How Mark 15:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.