At that time two rebels *were being crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.
- KJV Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
- BSB Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left.
- NKJV Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.
- NLT Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
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
Two robbers are crucified beside Jesus, one on each side. He is numbered among criminals.
Overview
Jesus is executed between two thieves, placed in the company of lawbreakers though He is sinless. This fulfills Isaiah's prophecy that the servant would be numbered with the transgressors. His position among the guilty pictures the heart of the gospel, the righteous one dying among and for sinners.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 19:18where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.
- Luke 23:39–43One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
- John 19:31–35Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
- Isa 53:12Therefore will I give him a portion with the great, and he will divide the plunder with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Mark 15:27With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.
- Matt 27:44The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
- Luke 23:32–33There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.
- Luke 22:37For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me has an end.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 27:38 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.