Yochanan 19:3

3 And they were coming up to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and they were saying, Hail! You Melech HaYehudim! And they were repeatedly striking him in the face.

Yochanan 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.

Yochanan 19:3 In-Context

1 9 Therefore, then, Pilate took Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and had him scourged. [DEVARIM 25:3; YESHAYAH 50:6; 53:5]

2 And the [Roman] chaiyalim (soldiers), having woven a wreath out of thorns, put it on his rosh and a purple [royal] robe they threw around Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

3 And they were coming up to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and they were saying, Hail! You Melech HaYehudim! And they were repeatedly striking him in the face.

4 And Pilate went outside again and says to them, Hinei, I bring him outside to you, in order that you may have da’as that I find no avon (offense), no cause for punishment, in him.

5 Therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came forth outside, wearing the wreath of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate says to them, Hinei HaIsh! (ZECHARYAH 6:12)