Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, September 7th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Chinese NCV (Simplified)

马太福音 27:29

又用荊棘編成冠冕,戴在他的頭上,把一根蘆葦放在他的右手,跪在他面前譏笑他說:“猶太人的王萬歲!”

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Crown;   Cruelty;   Irony;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   King;   Mocking;   Persecution;   Reed;   Sarcasm;   Scoffing;   Soldiers;   Thorn;   Treason;   Thompson Chain Reference - Indignities Suffered, by Christ;   Irony;   Mocked, Christ;   Mocking;   Reeds;   Sufferings of Christ;   Thorns;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Contempt;   Death of Christ, the;   Punishments;   Salutations;   Scorning and Mocking;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Thistles and Thorns;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Crucifixion;   King;   Servant of the lord;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Crown of Thorns;   Hail!;   Reed;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Salutation;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Crown;   Crown of Thorns;   Insult;   Kneel;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Plants in the Bible;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Crown;   Golgotha;   Thorns, Thistles, Etc;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Crown of Thorns ;   Kneeling;   Mockery;   Names and Titles of Christ;   Reed (2);   Trial of Jesus;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Crown of Thorns;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Reed;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Crown of thorns;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Crown of Thorns,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Cross;   Crown;   Thorn;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crown;   Crown of Thorns;   Games;   Godspeed;   Greeting;   Hail (2);   King of the Jews;   Mock;   Pilate, Pontius;   Plaiting;   Reed;   Thorns;  

Parallel Translations

Chinese Union (Simplified)
用 荆 棘 编 做 冠 冕 , 戴 在 他 头 上 , 拿 一 根 苇 子 放 在 他 右 手 里 , 跪 在 他 面 前 , 戏 弄 他 , 说 : 恭 喜 , 犹 太 人 的 王 阿 !

Contextual Overview

26 Then he set Barabbas free. But Jesus was beaten with whips and handed over to the soldiers to be crucified. 27 The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the governor's palace, and they all gathered around him. 28 They took off his clothes and put a red robe on him. 29 Using thorny branches, they made a crown, put it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. Then the soldiers bowed before Jesus and made fun of him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 They spat on Jesus. Then they took his stick and began to beat him on the head. 31 After they finished, the soldiers took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. 32 As the soldiers were going out of the city with Jesus, they forced a man from Cyrene, named Simon, to carry the cross for Jesus.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

platted: Matthew 20:19, Psalms 35:15, Psalms 35:16, Psalms 69:7, Psalms 69:19, Psalms 69:20, Isaiah 49:7, Isaiah 53:3, Jeremiah 20:7, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 12:3

Hail: Matthew 27:37, Matthew 26:49, Mark 15:18, Luke 23:36, Luke 23:37, John 19:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:19 - Behold Judges 16:25 - sport 2 Kings 1:9 - Thou man 2 Kings 2:23 - Go up 2 Kings 11:12 - put the crown Nehemiah 4:1 - mocked Job 12:4 - one mocked Psalms 22:7 - laugh Isaiah 52:14 - his visage Isaiah 57:4 - sport Matthew 26:68 - thou Acts 26:26 - this thing Philippians 2:10 - every

Cross-References

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you, and I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you."
Genesis 25:33
But Jacob said, "First, promise me that you will give it to me." So Esau made a promise to Jacob and sold his part of their father's wealth to Jacob.
Genesis 27:1
When Isaac was old, his eyesight was poor, so he could not see clearly. One day he called his older son Esau to him and said, "Son." Esau answered, "Here I am."
Genesis 27:2
Isaac said, "I am old and don't know when I might die.
Genesis 27:5
So Esau went out in the field to hunt. Rebekah was listening as Isaac said this to his son Esau.
Genesis 27:6
She said to her son Jacob, "Listen, I heard your father saying to your brother Esau,
Genesis 27:8
So obey me, my son, and do what I tell you.
Genesis 27:9
Go out to our goats and bring me two of the best young ones. I will prepare them just the way your father likes them.
Genesis 27:10
Then you will take the food to your father, and he will bless you before he dies."
Genesis 27:11
But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am smooth!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when they had platted a crown of thorns,.... What sort of thorn this crown was made of, whether of the bramble, or of the white thorn, is not very material b: the word used in the Syriac version, is rendered by interpreters, "white thorns", and which were common in Judea: these, be they what they will, they made into the form of a crown, and

they put it upon his head; both to reproach him as a king, and to torture him as a man: however, it had its significance, and was an emblem of men, comparable to thorns; either of wicked men, and of his being encompassed with them at this time; or of good men, chosen out from among them, redeemed by him, and accounted as a royal diadem with him c: or it might represent the sins of his people, which, like thorns, pierced him, and like a crown of them surrounded him every side; or else the many troubles he was exercised with, and through which he did, as his members do, enter the kingdom: and especially, his being made a curse for us, thorns and briers being the curse which was inflicted on the earth, for the sin of man: in this Christ was the antitype of the ram, caught by his horns among the thickets, which "Abraham" sacrificed in the room of his son. This may teach us many useful lessons: we may see what a curse sin brought upon man, and upon the earth for man's sake; and even upon the Messiah, in the stead of men: we may observe the difference between us and Christ: we are a crown of glory, and a royal diadem in his hand; we are crowned with loving kindness and tender mercies, and have a crown of righteousness, life, and glory, laid up for us, and he was crowned with thorns; as also the difference between Christ in his state of humiliation wearing such a crown, and his state of exaltation, in which he is crowned with glory and honour. The Jews acknowledge this circumstance of the sufferings of Jesus, though they ascribe it to the elders of Jerusalem; who, they say d,

"took thorns and made a crown of them, and put it upon his head.''

Which are the very words of the evangelist:

and a reed in his right hand, or "cane"; and Munster's Hebrew Gospel uses the word, קנה, "a cane", such as men walk with; and this may be confirmed from the barbarous use they afterwards made of it, by smiting him on the head with it: a "reed" indeed may fitly express the weakness of his kingdom in the eye of the world: but any cane or common staff, or stick, put into his hands in the room of a sceptre, would also signify the meanness of his kingdom, which was not of this world, and came not with observation: they meant to reproach him with it, but they will find one time or another, that he, has another sceptre, even a sceptre of righteousness, a staff of strength, a rod of iron, with which he will rule and break in pieces, all the wicked of the earth. However, we may learn from hence, Christ does not disdain to hold a reed in his hand: nor will he break the bruised reed, or discourage, or crush the weakest believer.

And they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews: being thus clad in a scarlet, or purple robe, or both; and having a crown of thorns on his head, and a reed instead of a sceptre in his hand, they carry on the mockery still further, and bend the knee to him, as to a prince just come to his throne, and salute as such; and in a mock way, wish him long life and prosperity: thus deriding him in his kingly office, as all such do, who call him Lord, Lord, but disregard his commands.

b Vid. Bartholin. de Spinea Corona, sect. 1. 2. c Vid. Paschal. de Coronis, l. 10. c. 12. p. 701, 702. d Toldos Jesu, p. 17.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See also Mark 15:15-20; John 19:1-3.

Matthew 27:27

Into the common hall - The original word here means, rather, the governor’s palace or dwelling.

The trial of Jesus had taken place outside of the palace. The Jews would not enter in John 18:28, and it is probable that courts were held often in a larger and more public place than would be a room in his dwelling. Jesus, being condemned, was led by the soldiers away from the Jews “within” the palace, and subjected there to their profane mockery and sport.

The whole band - The “band” or cohort was a tenth part of a Roman legion, and consisted of from 400 to 600 men, according to the size of the legion. Compare the notes at Matthew 8:29.

Matthew 27:28

And they stripped him - That is, they either took off all his upper garments or removed all his clothing, probably the former.

A scarlet robe - Mark says they clothed him in “purple.” The “scarlet” color was obtained from a species of fruit; “purple” from shell-fish.

See the notes at Isaiah 1:18. The ancients gave the name “purple” to any color that had a mixture of “red” in it, and consequently these different colors might be sometimes called by the same name. The “robe” used here was the same kind worn by Roman generals and other distinguished officers of the Roman army, and also by the Roman governors. It was made so as to be placed on the shoulders, and was bound around the body so as to leave the right arm at liberty. As we cannot suppose that Pilate would array him in a new and splendid robe, we must suppose that this was one which had been worn and cast off as useless, and was now used to array the Son of God as an object of ridicule and scorn.

Matthew 27:29

Had platted - The word “platted” here means “woven together.” They made a “wreath” of a thorn-bush.

A crown - Or perhaps, rather, a wreath.

A crown was worn by kings, commonly made of gold and precious stones. To ridicule the pretensions of Jesus that he was a king, they probably plucked up a thornbush growing near, made it into something resembling in shape a royal crown, so as to correspond with the old purple robe, and to complete the mockery.

Of thorns - What was the precise species of shrub denoted here is not certainly known. It was, however, doubtless, one of that species that has sharp points of very hard wood. They could therefore be easily pressed into the slain and cause considerable pain. Probably they seized upon the first thing in their way that could be made into a crown, and this happened to be a “thorn,” thus increasing the sufferings of the Redeemer. Palestine abounds with thorny shrubs and plants. “The traveler finds them in his path, go where he may. Many of them are small, but some grow as high as a man’s head. The Rabbinical writers say that there are no less than 22 words in the Hebrew Bible denoting thorny and prickly plants.” Professor’s Hackett’s Illustrations of Scripture, p. 135. Compare Proverbs 24:30-31; Proverbs 15:19; Jeremiah 4:3.

And a reed in his right hand - A reed is a straight, slender herb, growing in marshy places, and abundant on the banks of the Jordan. It was often used for the purpose of making staves for walking, and it is not improbable that this was such a staff in the possession of some person present. The word is several times thus used. See 2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6; Ezekiel 29:6. Kings commonly carried a “sceptre,” made of ivory or gold, as a sign of their office or rank, Esther 4:11; Esther 8:4. This “reed” or “staff” they put in his hand, in imitation of a “sceptre,” to deride, also, his pretensions of being a king.

And they bowed the knee - This was done for mockery. It was an act of pretended homage. It was to ridicule his saying that he was a king. The common mode of showing respect or homage for kings was by kneeling or prostration. It shows amazing forbearance on the part of Jesus that he thus consented to be ridiculed and set at naught. No mere human being would have borne it. None but he who loved us unto death, and who saw the grand results that would come from this scene of sufferings, could have endured such mockery.

Hail, King of the Jews! - The term “hail” was a common mode of salutation to a king, or even to a friend. It implies, commonly, the highest respect for office as well as the person, and is an invocation of blessings. Here it was used to carry on what they thought to be the farce of his being a king; to ridicule in every possible way the pretensions of a poor, unattended, unarmed man of Nazareth, as if he was a weak impostor or was deranged.

Matthew 27:30

And they spit upon him - This was a token of the deepest contempt and insult.

See the notes at Matthew 26:67.

And took the reed - The cane, probably so large as to inflict a heavy blow.

And smote him on the head - Not merely to injure him by the force of the blow, but to press the “thorns” into his head, and thus to add cruelty to insult.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 29. A crown of thorns — στεφανον εξ ακανθων. It does not appear that this crown was intended to be an instrument of punishment or torture to his head, but rather to render him ridiculous; for which cause also they put a reed in his hand, by way of sceptre, and bowed their knees, pretending to do him homage. The crown was not probably of thorns, in our sense of the word: there are eminently learned men who think that the crown was formed of the herb acanthus; and Bishop Pearce and Michaelis are of this opinion. Mark, Mark 15:17, and John, John 19:5, term it, στεφανον ακανθινον, which may very well be translated an acanthine crown or wreath, formed out of the branches of the herb acanthus, or bear's foot. This, however, is a prickly plant, though nothing like thorns, in the common meaning of that word. Many Christians have gone astray in magnifying the sufferings of Christ from this circumstance; and painters, the worst of all commentators, frequently represent Christ with a crown of long thorns, which one standing by is striking into his head with a stick. These representations engender ideas both false and absurd.

There is a passage produced from Philo by Dr. Lardner, which casts much light on these indignities offered to our blessed Lord.

"Caligula, the successor of Tiberius, gave Agrippa the tetrarchy of his uncle Philip, with the right of wearing a diadem or crown. When he came to Alexandria, on his way to his tetrarchate, the inhabitants of that place, filled with envy at the thoughts of a Jew having the title of king, showed their indignation in the following way. They brought one Carabus (a sort of an idiot) into the theatre; and, having placed him on a lofty seat, that he might be seen by all, they put a diadem upon his head, made of the herb byblos, (the ancient papyrus, or paper flag;) his body they covered with a mat or carpet, instead of a royal cloak. One seeing a piece of reed, παπυρου (the stem, probably, of the aforesaid herb) lying on the ground, picked it up, and put it in his hand in place of a sceptre. Having thus given him a mock royal dress, several young fellows, with poles on their shoulders, came and stood on each side of him as his guards. Then there came people, some to pay their homage to him, some to ask justice, and some to consult him on affairs of state and the crowd that stood round about made a confused noise, crying, Mario, that being, as they say, the Syriac word for LORD; thereby showing that they intended to ridicule Agrippa, who was a Syrian." See PHILO, Flace. p. 970, and Dr. Lardner, Works, vol. i. p. 159.

There is the most remarkable coincidence between this account and that given by the evangelists; and the conjecture concerning the acanthus will probably find no inconsiderable support from the bylos and papyrus of Philo. This plant, Pliny says, grows to ten cubits long in the stem and the flowers were used ad deos coronandos, for CROWNING THE GODS. See Hist. Nat. lib. xiii. c. 11.

The reflections of pious Quesnel on these insults offered to our blessed Lord merit serious attention.

Let the crown of thorns make those Christians blush who throw away so much time, pains, and money, in beautifying and adorning a sinful head. Let the world do what it will to render the royalty and mysteries of Christ contemptible, it is my glory to serve a King thus debased; my salvation, to adore that which the world despises; and my redemption, to go unto God through the merits of him who was crowned with thorns."


 
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