John 19:2

2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe.

John 19:2 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:2

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns
This was an emblem of his being surrounded by wicked men, sons of Belial, comparable to thorns, whilst he hung suffering on the cross; and of the sins of his people compassing him about, which were as thorns, very grievous to him; and of his various troubles in life, and of his being made a curse for us at death; thorns being the produce of the curse upon the earth. And put it on his head:
not only by way of derision, as mocking at his character, the King of the Jews, but in order to afflict and distress him. And they put on him a purple robe:
Matthew calls it a scarlet robe; and the Arabic and Persic versions here, "a red" one: it very probably was one of the soldiers' coats, which are usually red: this was still in derision of him as a king, and was an emblem of his being clothed with our purple and scarlet sins, and of the bloody sufferings of his human nature for them, and through which we come to have a purple covering, or to be justified by his blood, and even to be made truly kings, as well as priests, unto God.

John 19:2 In-Context

1 Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped.
2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe.
3 Over and over they went up to him and said, "Greetings, king of the Jews!" And they slapped him in the face.
4 Pilate came out of the palace again and said to the Jewish leaders, "Look! I'm bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no grounds for a charge against him."
5 When Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here's the man."
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