New International Versionand said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
New Living TranslationThey called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
English Standard Versionand saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
Berean Standard Bible“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”
Berean Literal Bibleand saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"
King James BibleAnd saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
New King James Versionand saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
New American Standard Bibleand saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
NASB 1995and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
NASB 1977and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
Legacy Standard Bibleand saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
Amplified Bibleand sarcastically saying, “If you are [really] the King of the Jews, save Yourself [from death]!”
Christian Standard Bibleand said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself! ”
Holman Christian Standard Bibleand said, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
American Standard Versionand saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
Contemporary English VersionThey said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!"
English Revised Versionand saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
GOD'S WORD® Translationand say, "If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself!"
Good News Translationand said, "Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!"
International Standard Versionsaying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!"
NET Bibleand saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!"
New Heart English Bibleand saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
Weymouth New Testament"Are *you* the King of the Jews? Save yourself, then!" Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”
World English Bibleand saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
Berean Literal Bibleand saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"
Young's Literal Translation and saying, 'If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd saying, If thou art king of the Jews, save thyself. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd saying: If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
Catholic Public Domain Versionand saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
New American Biblethey called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
New Revised Standard Versionand saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSaying to him, If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd they were saying to him, “If you are The King of the Judeans, save yourself.” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand saying: If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.
Godbey New Testamentand saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
Haweis New Testamentand saying, if thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
Mace New Testamentsaying, if thou art the king of the Jews, save thy self.
Weymouth New Testament"Are *you* the King of the Jews? Save yourself, then!"
Worrell New Testamentand saying, "If Thou art the King of the Jews, save Thyself!"
Worsley New TestamentIf thou art the king of the Jews, save thyself.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Crucifixion… 36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. 37“IfYouaretheKingof theJews,”they said,“saveYourself!”38Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.…
Cross References Matthew 27:42-43“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. / He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Mark 15:31-32In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! / Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.
John 19:2-3The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. / And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.
John 19:14-15It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” / At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.
John 19:19-22Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. / Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. / So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” ...
Psalm 22:7-8All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”
Isaiah 53:3He 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.
Psalm 69:19-21You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You. / 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. / They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.
Matthew 27:29-31And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” / Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. / After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.
Mark 15:17-20They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head. / And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” / They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him. ...
John 18:36-37Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” / “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
Psalm 2:1-4Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: / “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.” ...
Isaiah 50:6I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
Matthew 26:67-68Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him / and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”
Mark 14:65Then 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.
Treasury of Scripture And saying, If you be the king of the Jews, save yourself. Jump to Previous FreeJewsSaveThyselfJump to Next FreeJewsSaveThyselfLuke 23 1.Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod.8.Herod mocks him.12.Herod and Pilate become friends.13.Barabbas is desired of the people,24.and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified.26.He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;34.prays for his enemies.39.Two criminals are crucified with him.46.His death.50.His burial.If You are the King of the Jews,This phrase is a taunt directed at Jesus during His crucifixion. The title "King of the Jews" is significant as it was used by the Roman authorities to mock Jesus, yet it also acknowledges His messianic claim. The Jewish expectation of a Messiah was one who would be a political and military leader, liberating them from Roman rule. This title is also found in the inscription placed above Jesus on the cross ( Luke 23:38). The irony is that Jesus is indeed the King, but His kingdom is not of this world ( John 18:36). This moment fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 2:6-8, where God declares His anointed King. they said,
The "they" refers to the Roman soldiers and possibly others present at the crucifixion. The soldiers were executing the orders of Pilate, who had found no fault in Jesus but succumbed to the pressure of the crowd (Luke 23:24). The mockery reflects the misunderstanding and rejection of Jesus' true identity and mission. This scene is a fulfillment of the prophecy inIsaiah 53:3, where the suffering servant is despised and rejected by men. save Yourself!
This challenge to Jesus to save Himself is a temptation similar to those He faced in the wilderness (Luke 4:9-12). It reflects a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission, which was not to save Himself but to save humanity through His sacrifice (Mark 10:45). The call to "save Yourself" is echoed by the rulers and one of the criminals crucified alongside Him (Luke 23:35, 39), highlighting the pervasive disbelief and scorn. Jesus' refusal to come down from the cross demonstrates His obedience to the Father's will and His commitment to the redemptive plan (Philippians 2:8). Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristCentral figure in this passage, referred to as the "King of the Jews." He is being mocked while on the cross. 2. Roman SoldiersThey are the ones mocking Jesus, challenging His identity and power. 3. GolgothaThe place where Jesus was crucified, also known as "The Place of the Skull." 4. The CrucifixionThe event where Jesus is nailed to the cross, a pivotal moment in Christian theology. 5. The Jewish LeadersAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, they play a significant role in the events leading to the crucifixion. Teaching Points Understanding Jesus' KingshipJesus' kingship is not of this world; it is spiritual and eternal. His refusal to save Himself demonstrates His commitment to fulfilling God's redemptive plan. The Nature of Mockery and UnbeliefThe mockery Jesus faced is a reflection of human unbelief and misunderstanding of God's ways. It challenges us to examine our own perceptions of Jesus' power and authority. The Fulfillment of ProphecyJesus' experience on the cross fulfills Old Testament prophecies, affirming the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture. Responding to SufferingJesus' response to suffering and mockery is one of silence and submission to God's will, providing a model for how believers can endure trials with faith and dignity. The Irony of the CrossThe cross, a symbol of shame and defeat, becomes the ultimate demonstration of God's love and victory over sin. This irony invites believers to see God's power in apparent weakness. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Luke 23
What is the meaning of the letters INRI?
Is there any historical evidence outside John 19:19 to confirm Pilate's inscription of 'King of the Jews'?
What was the wording on the cross in the Gospels? Matthew: 'This is Jesus the King of the Jews,' Mark: 'The King of the Jews,' Luke: 'This is the King of the Jews,' John: 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'
How do we explain the apparent lack of fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:21-22, which promises a unified kingdom under one ruler, given the continued dispersion and divisions of the Jewish people?
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek “IfΕἰ(Ei)Conjunction
Strong's 1487:If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.Youσὺ(sy)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.areεἶ(ei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.theὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.KingΒασιλεὺς(Basileus)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935:A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.of theτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Jews,”Ἰουδαίων(Ioudaiōn)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453:Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.they said,λέγοντες(legontes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.“saveσῶσον(sōson)Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4982:To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.Yourself!”σεαυτόν(seauton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4572:Of yourself.
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NT Gospels: Luke 23:37 And saying If you are the King (Luke Lu Lk) |
