John 19:5

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man!

Then {G3767} came {G1831} Jesus {G2424} forth {G1854}, wearing {G5409} the crown {G4735} of thorns {G174}, and {G2532} the purple {G4210} robe {G2440}. And {G2532} Pilate saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, Behold {G2396} the man {G444}!

So Yeshua came out, wearing the thorn-branch crown and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look at the man!”

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold, the man!

Commentary

John 19:5 describes a pivotal moment during Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, where Jesus is presented to the Jewish crowd in a state of profound humiliation and suffering.

Context

The scene in John 19:5 unfolds during Jesus' tumultuous trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Prior to this verse, Jesus had been severely scourged by the Roman soldiers, a brutal punishment designed to weaken and deter Him, often leading to death. Following the scourging, the soldiers mocked Jesus' claim to kingship by dressing Him in a purple robe (a color associated with royalty) and placing a crudely fashioned crown of thorns on His head, pressing it into His scalp. They also saluted Him with sarcastic reverence. Pilate, hoping to appease the Jewish leaders and avoid condemning an innocent man to death, brings Jesus out in this pitiable state, thinking the sight of His suffering would satisfy the crowd's bloodlust.

Key Themes

  • Profound Suffering and Humiliation: Jesus is displayed in a state of extreme physical pain and utter degradation. The crown of thorns was not merely symbolic; it was a painful instrument designed to inflict agony and shame, mocking His divine authority. The purple robe, typically a garment for kings or emperors, was a deliberate insult, turning His true sovereignty into a spectacle of scorn.
  • Mock Kingship vs. True Kingship: The elements of mockery—the crown, the robe—ironically highlight Jesus' true identity as King, though not in the worldly sense. Pilate's intention was to present a defeated, pathetic figure, but in doing so, he unwittingly revealed the Messiah, whose kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). His suffering was part of His sovereign plan.
  • Pilate's Declaration: "Behold the Man!": Pilate's exclamation serves multiple purposes. He may have sought pity for Jesus from the crowd, or perhaps he was expressing his frustration and bewilderment at their unrelenting demands. Unbeknownst to him, he was presenting the Suffering Servant, a figure prophesied in the Old Testament, fulfilling ancient scripture.

Linguistic Insights

Pilate's famous exclamation, "Behold the man!" is translated from the Latin phrase Ecce Homo. This phrase, uttered by a Roman governor, encapsulates the profound irony of the moment. While Pilate intended to show a mere man, broken and humiliated, John's Gospel, through the Holy Spirit's inspiration, presents the Son of God, who willingly endured this suffering to reconcile humanity to God. This scene powerfully echoes the prophetic descriptions of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:3-5, who was "despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."

Practical Application

For believers, John 19:5 offers a profound look at Christ's willingness to endure extreme suffering and humiliation for humanity's salvation. It reminds us that true strength and kingship are often found not in outward displays of power, but in humble, sacrificial love and obedience to God's will. When we contemplate the depth of God's love and the cost of our redemption, this verse stands as a stark visual. It encourages us to identify with Christ in His suffering and to find comfort in the knowledge that He, the "man of sorrows," sympathizes with our weaknesses and trials, having experienced the depths of human pain and rejection Himself.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 19:2 (5 votes)

    And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

  • John 1:29 (3 votes)

    ¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

  • Isaiah 7:14 (3 votes)

    Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • Hebrews 12:2 (3 votes)

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Isaiah 40:9 (2 votes)

    ¶ O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift [it] up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

  • Isaiah 43:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine.

  • Lamentations 1:12 (-1 votes)

    ¶ [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.