Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
Parallel translations
- WEB They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.
- KJV And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
- NKJV Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.
- NASB And they spit on Him, and took the reed and beat Him on the head.
- NLT And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it.
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
The soldiers spit on Jesus and strike His head with the reed. They heap physical abuse upon their mockery.
Overview
Their scorn turns violent as they spit on Jesus and beat Him with the very reed given as a mock scepter. The treatment fulfills prophecies of the suffering servant who gave His back to those who struck and did not hide His face from shame and spitting. Jesus absorbs this cruelty in silence, bearing it for the salvation of those who would later trust Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 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.
- Matt 26:67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
- Mark 15:19They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
- Isa 53:7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- Job 30:8–10A senseless and nameless brood, they were driven off the land.
- Isa 53:3He 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.
- 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—
- 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.
- Luke 18:32–33He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
- 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.”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 27:30 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.