Mark 15:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The soldiers dress Jesus in purple and press a plaited crown of thorns onto his head.
What Does Mark 15:17 Mean?
The cohort stages a mock coronation. Purple was the color of royalty, and the crown is a wreath of thorns plaited to imitate the victor's laurel. They costume their prisoner as a parody of a king.
Without knowing it, they dress him in the truth. He is the King, and his crown is woven from the curse: thorns, the old sign of a ground gone wrong (Genesis 3:18), pressed now upon the brow of the one who came to bear it. The mockery becomes a window into his reign. This King is crowned with what wounds him and robed in scorn, winning his kingdom not by inflicting suffering but by carrying it.
Mark 15:17 in the Original Language
stephanos (στέφανος), 'crown' -- the victor's wreath, here twisted from thorns.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 15:17
What does Mark 15:17 mean?
The soldiers dress Jesus in purple and press a plaited crown of thorns onto his head.