Mark 15:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The soldiers strike Jesus on the head with a reed, spit on him, and bow their knees in mock worship.
What Does Mark 15:19 Mean?
The pantomime turns violent. The reed, a stage scepter, becomes a rod across the thorn-crowned head; spitting replaces anointing; knees bend in derision. The Servant had foreseen it: I hid not my face from shame and spitting (Isaiah 50:6).
They kneel to mock, not knowing they kneel before the only One to whom every knee is owed. Jesus absorbs the blows without retaliation, as a lamb brought to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7), and in his endurance the nature of his kingdom shows itself: he conquers evil not by returning it but by exhausting it. The scene quietly summons the reader to a different kneeling, to give in earnest the homage the soldiers gave in scorn.
Mark 15:19 in the Original Language
proskyneo (προσκυνέω), 'worshipped' -- to bow down in homage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 15:19
What does Mark 15:19 mean?
The soldiers strike Jesus on the head with a reed, spit on him, and bow their knees in mock worship.