Bible Strands
Mark 15:19
They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The scene occurs in the palace/Praetorium immediately after the mock acclamation and just before the removal of the purple robe. The soldiers direct their actions toward Jesus before leading Him out to crucify.
The words — The Greek ἔτυπτον (etupton) denotes continuous striking, while ἐνέπτυον (eneptuon) records repeated spitting. These verbs anchor the physical abuse described in the text.
The thread — The motif of spitting and striking recurs in Mark 14:65 during the trial, while the forced bowing echoes the reverence of Genesis 24:52. This sequence fulfills the rejection pattern outlined in Isaiah 53:3.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of the deliberate inversion of honor, where physical abuse replaces royal tribute. It requires the reader to observe how mockery is enacted through repeated gestures rather than mere words.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
Cross-references
- Mark 14:65 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.
- Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Genesis 24:52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
- Genesis 43:28 “Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.
- 1 Kings 19:18 Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
- Esther 3:2 All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
- Job 13:9 Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?
- Job 30:8 A senseless and nameless brood, they were driven off the land.
- Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
- Psalms 35:15 But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.