Luke 23:11

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked [him], and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

And {G1161} Herod {G2264} with {G4862} his {G846} men of war {G4753} set {G1848} him {G846} at nought {G1848}, and {G2532} mocked {G1702} him, and arrayed {G4016} him {G846} in a gorgeous {G2986} robe {G2066}, and sent {G375} him {G846} again {G375} to Pilate {G4091}.

Herod and his soldiers treated Yeshua with contempt and made fun of him. Then, dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.

Luke 23:11 describes a pivotal moment in Jesus' trial, specifically His appearance before Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. This verse highlights the profound contempt and mockery Jesus endured from both religious and political authorities leading up to His crucifixion.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following Jesus' arrest and initial interrogation by the Sanhedrin, He was sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. However, when Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean, he seized the opportunity to send Him to Herod Antipas, who was in Jerusalem for the Passover feast. This gesture was partly a political maneuver to improve relations between Pilate and Herod, who had previously been at odds (Luke 23:12). Herod had long desired to see Jesus, hoping to witness a miracle (Luke 23:8), but Jesus remained silent before him (Luke 23:9), frustrating Herod's expectations.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Mockery and Humiliation: Herod and his soldiers "set him at nought" (Greek: exoudeneo), meaning they utterly despised and treated Him as nothing. This was followed by active mocking and the symbolic act of dressing Him in a "gorgeous robe." This was likely a bright or splendid garment, possibly white, used to ridicule Jesus' claim or reputation as a king or prophet, contrasting sharply with the purple robe later used by Pilate's soldiers (John 19:2).
  • Jesus' Innocence Confirmed: Despite the contempt, Herod found no grounds for condemnation. By sending Jesus back to Pilate, Herod implicitly declared Him innocent of any crime worthy of death, echoing Pilate's own repeated declarations of Jesus' blamelessness (Luke 23:15).
  • Political Expediency: Herod's actions were driven by a mix of curiosity, disdain, and a desire to avoid responsibility. He passed the judgment back to Pilate, demonstrating how worldly powers sought to evade accountability for condemning the innocent Son of God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "set him at nought" comes from the Greek verb exoudeneo (ἐξουθενέω), which conveys a deep sense of contempt, treating someone as utterly worthless or insignificant. It emphasizes the extreme disdain shown by Herod and his men towards Jesus, reducing Him to an object of scorn rather than a serious prisoner. The "gorgeous robe" (Greek: lampran esthēta - λαμπρὰν ἐσθῆτα) suggests a bright, splendid, or dazzling garment, likely chosen to exaggerate and mock Jesus' perceived claims of royalty or divine status.

Practical Application

Luke 23:11 serves as a powerful reminder of the suffering Jesus endured, not just physically, but also through profound psychological and emotional humiliation. His silent endurance in the face of such contempt exemplifies His humility and submission to God's will, even when treated as nothing. For believers, this verse encourages us to consider the cost of our salvation and to cultivate resilience and humility when facing scorn or ridicule for our faith. It also highlights how human systems, driven by self-interest and fear, can reject divine truth and righteousness, a pattern that continues in various forms today. Jesus’ experience teaches us to endure patiently, knowing our ultimate vindication comes from God, not human approval, a theme echoed in the suffering servant passages.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 15:16

    And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

  • Mark 15:20

    And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

  • Matthew 27:27

    Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers].

  • Matthew 27:30

    And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

  • Isaiah 53:3

    He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

  • John 19:5

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

  • Psalms 69:19

    Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries [are] all before thee.

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