Luke 22:64

KJV

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} when they had blindfolded {G4028} him {G846}, they struck {G5180} him {G846} on the face {G4383}, and {G2532} asked {G1905} him {G846}, saying {G3004}, Prophesy {G4395}, who {G5101} is it {G2076} that smote {G3817} thee {G4571}?

Complete Jewish Bible

blindfolded him, and kept asking him, “Now, ‘prophesy’! Who hit you that time?”

Berean Standard Bible

They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?”

American Standard Version

And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 22:64 vividly portrays the profound humiliation and physical abuse Jesus endured during His illegal trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin. After being blindfolded, His captors subjected Him to blows on the face, followed by a cruel taunt, challenging Him to "Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" This act was a deliberate attempt to mock His divine claims and prophetic authority, designed not only to inflict pain but also to discredit Him publicly and emotionally.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the intensely dramatic Passion narrative in Luke's Gospel, specifically following Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and His initial interrogation by the high priest Caiaphas and the assembled Sanhedrin. The immediate preceding verses (Luke 22:54-62) detail Peter's three denials in the courtyard below, creating a stark contrast between Peter's faltering faith and Jesus' steadfast endurance. The events of this night, culminating in Jesus' appearance before Pilate and Herod (Luke 23:1-25), are characterized by escalating injustice, false accusations, and a relentless tide of violence directed against Jesus. This particular scene of physical abuse and verbal taunts is also powerfully recounted in the synoptic parallels, such as [Matthew 26:67-68](/matthew/26-67-68 "Matthew's Account of Jesus' Abuse") and [Mark 14:65](/mark/14-65 "Mark's Account of Jesus' Suffering"), underscoring its significant and brutal reality in the Gospel accounts.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The abuse depicted in Luke 22:64 occurred during a night trial, which violated several established Jewish legal procedures, including the prohibition of trials at night, on feast days, or before the morning sacrifice. The Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and ecclesiastical council, was supposed to uphold justice, yet here they are complicit in, or at least permitting, acts of physical abuse and mockery. Blindfolding a prisoner and striking them while demanding identification was a common form of humiliating torture, designed to break the spirit and expose perceived weakness. The challenge to "prophesy" was particularly cutting in a culture that revered true prophets as spokespersons for God, directly mocking Jesus' claims to divine knowledge and authority. This public degradation was intended to strip Jesus of any dignity and legitimacy in the eyes of His captors and onlookers.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 22:64 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it starkly highlights **The Suffering and Humiliation of Christ**, portraying the physical and emotional agony Jesus willingly endured. He was subjected to demeaning treatment, blindfolded, struck, and mocked, emphasizing the profound depth of His sacrificial love and humiliation for humanity's redemption. Secondly, the challenge "Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" exemplifies the **Mockery of Divine Authority and Prophecy**. This taunt directly assails Jesus' identity as the Messiah, who was expected to possess divine wisdom and prophetic insight. His tormentors dared Him to use His supposed supernatural knowledge to identify His attackers, attempting to expose Him as a fraud. Ironically, this act confirmed His prophetic suffering, as foretold in scriptures like [Isaiah 50:6](/isaiah/50-6 "Isaiah's Prophecy of the Suffering Servant"), where the servant of the Lord offers His back to those who strike Him and His cheeks to those who pull out His beard. Lastly, the scene reveals the **Profound Injustice and Cruelty** of those who opposed Jesus. Their actions were not merely judicial but deeply personal and malicious, driven by hatred and a desire to destroy Him, showcasing the human capacity for depravity in rebellion against divine truth.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **blindfolded (Greek, _perikalýptō_'):** From περί and καλύπτω, meaning "to cover all around, i.e., entirely (the face, a surface)." This action was not merely to obscure vision but served as a deliberate act of dehumanization, setting the stage for the cruel game that followed. It symbolized the spiritual blindness of His accusers who, despite being in the presence of God incarnate, could not "see" Him for who He truly was.
* **struck (Greek, _týptō_'):** A primary verb meaning "to 'thump,' i.e., cudgel or pummel (properly, with a stick or bastinado), but in any case by repeated blows." This word implies a sustained, forceful, and repeated physical assault, distinguishing it from a single, isolated blow. It underscores the brutal and prolonged nature of the abuse Jesus suffered, emphasizing the malice behind the actions of His tormentors.
* **Prophesy (Greek, _prophēteúō_'):** From προφήτης, meaning "to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office." The command "Prophesy!" was a direct and mocking challenge to Jesus' perceived claims of divine knowledge and prophetic insight. His tormentors demanded a parlor trick—that He use His supposed supernatural abilities to identify His hidden assailants—thereby attempting to expose Him as a fraud and ridicule His divine authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they had blindfolded him":** This initial act signifies a deliberate attempt to strip Jesus of His dignity and humanity. By covering His eyes, His captors rendered Him vulnerable and anonymous, setting the stage for a cruel game of physical and verbal abuse, highlighting their contempt and intent to humiliate.
* **"they struck him on the face":** This clause describes the direct physical violence inflicted upon Jesus. The striking of the face is a particularly demeaning act, designed to cause pain, shame, and public dishonor. It reveals the raw brutality and hatred harbored by His captors, moving beyond mere interrogation to outright assault.
* **"and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?":** This final part of the verse encapsulates the profound irony and mockery of the scene. The demand to "prophesy" is a sarcastic challenge to Jesus' claims of divine insight and prophetic authority. They are daring Him to use His supernatural knowledge to identify His unseen assailant, turning His sacred role into a cruel game. This taunt simultaneously ridicules His identity as the Christ and underscores the spiritual blindness of those who questioned Him.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 22:64 is rich with literary devices that amplify its theological significance. **Irony** is perhaps the most prominent, as the captors demand a prophetic word from the very One who embodies the fullness of prophecy and divine truth. Their challenge to "Prophesy!" is a profound mockery of His true identity as the Messiah, who perfectly fulfills all Old Testament prophecies, yet they treat Him as a charlatan. **Symbolism** is also evident; the blindfold not only facilitates the cruel game but also powerfully symbolizes the spiritual blindness of Jesus' accusers, who are unable to recognize the Son of God standing before them. The physical striking of Jesus' face and the subsequent taunts serve as a stark **contrast** between His meek and silent endurance and their unbridled cruelty and malice. This scene also functions as **foreshadowing**, hinting at the greater suffering and injustice Jesus would endure on the cross, where He would again be subjected to physical abuse and verbal taunts, ultimately fulfilling the prophecies of the suffering servant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 22:64 stands as a poignant testament to the depth of Christ's suffering and His unwavering commitment to His redemptive mission. Theologically, it reveals the profound contrast between divine humility and human depravity. Jesus, the Son of God, willingly submits to physical abuse and mockery, demonstrating the extent of His self-emptying love (Philippians 2:7) and His perfect obedience to the Father's will, even unto death. This scene underscores the reality of human sin and rebellion against God, as those entrusted with upholding the law become instruments of injustice and cruelty against the very source of truth. Thematically, it connects to the broader biblical narrative of the suffering servant, whose humiliation and pain are not accidental but purposeful, forming a crucial part of God's plan for salvation. It reminds us that God's sovereignty is at work even in moments of profound evil, as Jesus' suffering was foretold and ultimately served to accomplish the greatest good.

* [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "The Suffering Servant Despised")
* [Matthew 26:67-68](/matthew/26-67-68 "Jesus Mocked and Struck")
* [Mark 14:65](/mark/14-65 "Jesus Abused by the Sanhedrin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 22:64 offers a profound opportunity for reflection on the nature of suffering, the depth of divine love, and the call to Christ-like endurance. Jesus' silent and dignified endurance in the face of such profound injustice and humiliation provides a powerful model for believers. When we encounter personal attacks, mockery, or unjust treatment, this verse challenges us to respond not with anger or retaliation, but with the quiet strength and unwavering purpose that characterized our Lord. It compels us to remember that our suffering, when united with Christ's, can be redemptive and transformative. Furthermore, contemplating the immense cost of our salvation—the physical pain, the emotional agony, and the profound humiliation Jesus willingly embraced—deepens our appreciation for God's immeasurable love for humanity, as demonstrated in the sacrifice of His Son. This scene also serves as a sobering mirror, exposing the human heart's capacity for cruelty and rebellion when it rejects divine truth, urging us to examine our own hearts for any seeds of pride or malice that might lead to similar spiritual blindness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' silent endurance in the face of such injustice challenge our typical reactions to mistreatment or mockery?**
* **What does this scene reveal about the nature of human sin and rebellion against divine truth, and how might we see echoes of this in our own lives or society today?**
* **How does the deliberate mockery of Jesus' prophetic role deepen our appreciation for His true identity as the Christ, the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King?**

### FAQ
**Why did they blindfold Jesus before striking Him?**
Answer: The act of blindfolding Jesus served multiple purposes for His captors. Primarily, it facilitated the cruel game they were playing, making it impossible for Him to identify His assailants and thus allowing them to taunt Him with the challenge, "Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" Beyond the game, the blindfold was a deliberate act of dehumanization and humiliation. It stripped Jesus of His ability to see, making Him vulnerable and anonymous in their eyes, further emphasizing their contempt for Him. This physical act of obscuring His vision also symbolically underscored their own spiritual blindness to His true identity as the Messiah.

**Was this physical abuse a legal part of Jesus' trial?**
Answer: Absolutely not. The physical abuse and mockery inflicted upon Jesus in Luke 22:64 were entirely illegal and contrary to Jewish legal procedures of the time. Jewish law stipulated that trials were to be conducted with strict adherence to justice, with no physical harm to the accused. The Sanhedrin's proceedings against Jesus were riddled with irregularities: they were held at night (which was forbidden), based on false testimonies, and culminated in acts of violence and mockery that were a gross perversion of justice. This scene highlights the profound injustice and lawlessness that characterized the religious leaders' determination to condemn Jesus.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 22:64, though a scene of profound human depravity and suffering, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus' perfect embodiment of the Suffering Servant prophesied in the Old Testament, particularly in [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah's Prophecy of the Suffering Servant"). The blindfolding and striking, coupled with the mocking demand to "Prophesy!", are not random acts of cruelty but part of God's sovereign plan, revealing Jesus as the true Prophet who foreknew and willingly embraced His destiny. He is the one who "gave his back to those who strike, and his cheeks to those who pull out the beard" ([Isaiah 50:6](/isaiah/50-6 "The Suffering Servant's Willingness to Suffer")). This scene foreshadows the greater humiliation and physical torment of the cross, where the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), would endure the full wrath of human sin and divine judgment. In His meek submission, Jesus perfectly fulfills the divine will, demonstrating the ultimate act of humility and obedience, setting the pattern for believers to "have the same mindset as Christ Jesus" ([Philippians/2-5](/philippians/2-5 "The Humility of Christ")). His endurance in this moment of intense mockery and abuse is a testament to His unwavering focus on the joy set before Him—the redemption of humanity ([Hebrews/12-2](/hebrews/12-2 "Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Judges 16:21

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Judges 16:25

And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.