John 19:3

3 They went up to him again and again. They kept saying, "We honor you, king of the Jews!" And they 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 took Jesus and had him whipped.

2 The soldiers twisted thorns together to make a crown. They put it on Jesus' head. Then they put a purple robe on him.

3 They went up to him again and again. They kept saying, "We honor you, king of the Jews!" And they hit him in the face.

4 Once more Pilate came out. He said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him."

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