Bible Strands
Matthew 27:39
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Passersby at the crucifixion site heap abuse on Jesus while shaking their heads. This occurs immediately after the crucifixion of the two robbers and directly precedes the specific taunts about the temple and His divine identity.
The words — The participle παραπορευόμενοι (paraporeuomenoi) literally means "passing by," identifying the mob's movement. The verb ἐβλασφήμουν (eblasphēmoun) denotes "were denigrating" or heaping verbal abuse on Him.
The thread — The head-shaking and passing-by mockery runs parallel to Psalms 109:25 and Lamentations 1:12, where the afflicted are scorned by those who walk past. It also reflects the posture of contempt recorded in Job 16:4.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to acknowledge that Jesus endured unprovoked public ridicule while bearing His sentence. The text demands a clear-eyed view of divine suffering without relying on immediate deliverance or spiritualizing the contempt.
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 that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Cross-references
- Psalms 109:25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
- Lamentations 1:12 Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger?
- Job 16:4 I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.
- Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
- Psalms 22:17 I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me.
- Psalms 31:11 Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends—they flee when they see me on the street.
- 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.
- Psalms 69:7 For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.
- Psalms 69:20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.
- Psalms 109:2 For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.