Mark 14:65

And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

And {G2532} some {G5100} began {G756} to spit {G1716} on him {G846}, and {G2532} to cover {G4028} his {G846} face {G4383}, and {G2532} to buffet {G2852} him {G846}, and {G2532} to say {G3004} unto him {G846}, Prophesy {G4395}: and {G2532} the servants {G5257} did strike {G906} him {G846} with the palms of their hands {G4475}.

Then some began spitting at him; and after blindfolding him, they started pounding him with their fists and saying to him, "Let's see you prophesy!" And as the guards took him, they beat him too.

Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the officers received him with blows of their hands.

Mark 14:65 vividly describes the intense humiliation and physical abuse Jesus endured immediately after being condemned by the Jewish Sanhedrin. This verse paints a stark picture of the beginning of His suffering, highlighting the depths of human cruelty and the profound self-abasement of the Son of God.

Context

This scene unfolds in the high priest's palace, following Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane and His illegal trial before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial council. Just moments before this verse, Jesus had boldly affirmed His identity as the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, and declared His future coming in power (Mark 14:62). The council, enraged by what they deemed blasphemy, pronounced Him worthy of death. The actions described in verse 65 are the immediate, visceral response of the religious leaders and their servants, expressing their contempt and mocking His claims.

Key Themes

  • Profound Humiliation and Suffering: The acts of spitting, covering His face, and striking Him were designed to dehumanize and inflict maximum disgrace. Spitting was a grave insult, and covering His face allowed them to strike Him unseen, adding to the psychological torment.
  • Mockery of His Prophetic and Kingly Claims: The command, "Prophesy!" after covering His face, was a cruel taunt. They challenged Him to use His divine knowledge to identify His attackers, directly mocking His claims of being the Messiah, who was expected to be a prophet and king. This echoes similar mockery during His crucifixion (Matthew 27:29).
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This brutal treatment was foretold centuries earlier. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Suffering Servant who would "give my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting" (Isaiah 50:6). This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereign plan unfolding.
  • Injustice and Human Depravity: The scene underscores the profound injustice meted out to an innocent man, and the inherent depravity of human hearts capable of such cruelty, especially when fueled by religious zealotry and fear.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek words used here emphasize the brutality:

  • "buffet" (Greek: kolaphizō) means to strike with the fist, often on the head or face. It implies forceful, repeated blows.
  • "strike him with the palms of their hands" (Greek: rhapizō) refers to striking with an open hand, a slap, or even with a rod. Both terms convey severe physical abuse.
  • The sarcastic command "Prophesy!" (Greek: prophēteuō) highlights the mockery of Jesus' divine knowledge and authority.

Practical Application

Mark 14:65 calls believers to reflect deeply on the immense cost of our salvation. It reveals the extent of Jesus' willingness to endure profound suffering and humiliation for humanity's sin. This verse encourages us to:

  • Appreciate Christ's Sacrifice: Understand that His suffering was not just physical, but also emotional and spiritual, involving ultimate degradation. This deepens our gratitude for God's love as expressed through Christ.
  • Endure Injustice: For those who face unfair treatment or persecution for their faith, Jesus' example provides strength and solidarity. He suffered unjustly, yet "when he was reviled, reviled not again" (1 Peter 2:23).
  • Contemplate Human Nature: The scene serves as a sobering reminder of humanity's capacity for evil and the need for spiritual transformation.
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.

  • Matthew 26:67

    Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote [him] with the palms of their hands,

  • Matthew 26:68

    Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

  • Acts 23:2

    And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

  • John 19:3

    And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

  • Luke 22:63

    ¶ And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote [him].

  • Luke 22:64

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

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