John 19:3

3 Then they came to him many times and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and hit him in the face.

John 19:3 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:3

And said, hail, King of the Jews!
&c.] Some copies before this clause read, "and they came unto him"; and so read the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, Coptic, and Ethiopic versions; that is, they came and prostrated themselves before him; bowed the knee unto him, and addressed him in a mock way, as if he was an earthly monarch just come to his crown, and whom they wished long to live; thus mocking at his kingly office, and despising him under that character, as many do now: some will not have him to reign over them, but reject him as King; and others, though in words they own him to be King, yet disregard his commands, and act no better part than these scoffing soldiers did:

and they smote him with their hands:
upon his cheeks, as the Syriac version reads it. These, and many other affronts they gave him; in all which they were indulged by Pilate, and was a pleasing scene to the wicked Jews, whose relentless hearts were not in the least moved hereby, though Pilate hoped they would; and which was his view in allowing the soldiers to use such incivilities and indecencies to him.

John 19:3 In-Context

1 Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and whipped.

2 The soldiers made a crown from some thorny branches and put it on Jesus' head and put a purple robe around him.

3 Then they came to him many times and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and hit him in the face.

4 Again Pilate came out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find nothing against him."

5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"