Bible Strands
Matthew 26:68
and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The captors who had just spit in Jesus' face and struck Him command Him to identify His attacker by prophesying. They address Him directly as "Christ" while holding Him in custody.
The words — The imperative προφῆτευσον (prophēteuson) literally commands "do prophesy," framing the interrogation as a forced test. The participle παίσας (paisas) means "having struck," directly referencing the physical violence that preceded the demand.
The thread — The text records this same mocking sequence in Luke 22:63 and Mark 14:65, where blindfolding and fist strikes accompany the demand. The contrast between the captors' rejection and God's selection appears in 1 Peter 2:4.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe that the Messiah's identity was openly mocked before the trial concluded. It asks the reader to acknowledge that human hostility does not override divine purpose.
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
Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
Cross-references
- Luke 22:63 The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
- 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.
- 1 Peter 2:4 As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,
- Genesis 37:19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another.
- Judges 16:25 And while their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison to entertain them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
- Matthew 27:28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
- Matthew 27:39 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
- Mark 15:18 And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- John 19:2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe.
- John 19:14 It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”