And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
And {G2532} saying {G3004}, If {G1487} thou {G4771} be {G1488} the king {G935} of the Jews {G2453}, save {G4982} thyself {G4572}.
and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”
and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
No cross-references found for this verse.
Context of Luke 23:37
This verse captures a moment of intense mockery and scorn directed at Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross. Following His unjust condemnation and crucifixion, various groups, including the Roman soldiers, continued to ridicule Him. The preceding verse (Luke 23:36) explicitly mentions the soldiers offering Him vinegar, a common drink for Roman troops, as they taunted Him. This particular taunt, "If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself," directly challenges the inscription placed above His head on the cross (Luke 23:38), which declared Him "THE KING OF THE JEWS." It was a public humiliation, designed to strip Him of any perceived dignity or authority.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "King of the Jews" (Greek: Basileus ton Ioudaiōn) was Pilate's inscription, intended to be a political charge but which ironically declared a profound truth about Jesus' identity. The command "save thyself" (Greek: sōson seauton) is an imperative, a direct and insolent challenge to His perceived power and authority, demanding a display of His supposed kingship in a worldly sense.
Practical Application
Luke 23:37 offers several timeless lessons for believers: