27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. [27:28] And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. [27:29] And twisting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' [27:30] And spitting on him, they took the reed and struck him on the head. [27:31] And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
MAT 27:27-31
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman imperial context, the Praetorium was the governor’s official residence, a place of authority and judgment. The gathering of the entire cohort—a unit of 600 soldiers—underscores the public and humiliating nature of the mockery. The soldiers’ actions draw on Roman customs of ridicule and degradation. The scarlet robe was not a royal garment but a military cloak, deliberately chosen to mock Jesus’ claim to kingship. The crown of thorns and reed mimic imperial symbols—a laurel wreath and scepter—but twisted into instruments of pain and derision. The act of kneeling was a gesture of homage typically reserved for emperors or deities, here performed sarcastically. Spitting and striking were acts of profound dishonor, stripping Jesus of dignity. This scene reflects the Roman military’s use of public humiliation to reinforce imperial power and suppress perceived threats. For Jewish onlookers, this would have evoked the suffering of righteous figures and the tension between Roman authority and Jewish messianic hopes.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 27:27
- KJV
- Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
- BSB
- Then the governorʼs soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him.
- Koinōnos
- Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him.
MAT 27:28
- KJV
- And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
- BSB
- They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
- Koinōnos
- And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
MAT 27:29
- KJV
- And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
- BSB
- And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- Koinōnos
- And twisting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!
MAT 27:30
- KJV
- And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
- BSB
- Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
- Koinōnos
- And spitting on him, they took the reed and struck him on the head.
MAT 27:31
- KJV
- And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
- BSB
- After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.
- Koinōnos
- And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Tacitus, AnnalsAnn. 15.44
›Tacitus, Annals Ann. 15.44
“Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus”
Cited to ground: Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus
Translator's notes
MAT 27:27
- Praetorium:The word translated 'Praetorium' refers to the official residence of a Roman governor, serving as both his living quarters and administrative headquarters. It was a place of Roman authority and judgment.
- cohort,:The term translated 'cohort' refers to a significant Roman military unit, typically comprising several hundred soldiers, not just a small band. It implies a substantial gathering of troops.
MAT 27:28
- a robe:The word translated 'a robe' specifically denotes a short cloak or mantle, often associated with soldiers or horsemen, rather than a general, flowing garment. It was a common piece of military attire.
MAT 27:29
- having bowed the knees:The phrase translated 'having bowed the knees' describes an act of kneeling down, often done in reverence or submission. Here, it is used ironically to mock Jesus as a king.