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Mark 15:17

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And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his [head],

And {G2532} they clothed {G1746} him {G846} with purple {G4209}, and {G2532} platted {G4120} a crown {G4735} of thorns {G174}, and put it about {G4060} his {G846} head,

They dressed him in purple and wove thorn branches into a crown, which they put on him.

They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.

And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;

Commentary

Mark 15:17 in the King James Version describes a poignant moment during Jesus' passion, just before his crucifixion. It details the Roman soldiers' cruel mockery, dressing him as a mock king.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative depicting Jesus' trial and mistreatment by the Roman soldiers after Pilate had handed him over to be crucified (Mark 15:15). The soldiers gathered the whole band together in the common hall (Praetorium) to subject him to humiliation before leading him out to Golgotha. This act of dressing him in royal attire was a direct response to his claim of being King of the Jews.

Key Themes

  • Mockery and Humiliation: The soldiers' actions were intended to ridicule Jesus' claim to kingship, highlighting the depth of his suffering and the contempt he faced.
  • Ironic Kingship: Dressing him in purple and giving him a crown of thorns is a cruel parody of royal regalia, emphasizing his true spiritual authority even in utter weakness and degradation.
  • Suffering of Christ: This verse underscores the physical and emotional pain Jesus endured, fulfilling prophecies about the suffering Messiah (Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 53:5).

Linguistic Insights

The color purple (Greek: πορφυροῦν - porphyrōun) was associated with royalty and wealth in the Roman world, making its use here a direct insult to Jesus' claim of kingship. The "crown of thorns" (Greek: στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν - stephanon ex akanthōn) was not a laurel wreath of victory but a painful, sharp parody of a king's crown, causing physical injury to his head.

Reflection and Application

This verse reminds us of the extent of Jesus' self-humiliation and suffering for humanity. He willingly endured profound indignity and pain, accepting a mock crown and royal robe that symbolized his true, yet unrecognized, sovereignty. His suffering was not accidental but part of God's plan for redemption (Acts 2:23). For believers, it calls for reflection on the depth of Christ's sacrifice and challenges us to endure hardship and mockery for his sake, knowing our true identity is in Him who wore the crown of thorns.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • Matthew 27:28 (3 votes)

    And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

  • Matthew 27:30 (3 votes)

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

  • Luke 23:11 (2 votes)

    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.

  • John 19:2 (2 votes)

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

  • John 19:5 (2 votes)

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