New International Versionand said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
New Living Translationjeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”
English Standard Versionsaying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Berean Standard Bibleand said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”
Berean Literal Biblesaying, "Prophesy to us, Christ, who is the one having struck You?"
King James BibleSaying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
New King James Versionsaying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”
New American Standard Bibleand said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
NASB 1995and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
NASB 1977and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
Legacy Standard Bibleand said, “Prophesy to us, O Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
Amplified Biblesaying, “Prophesy to us, You Christ (Messiah, Anointed); who was it that struck You?”
Christian Standard Bibleand said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you? ”
Holman Christian Standard Bibleand said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?”
American Standard Versionsaying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?
Contemporary English Versionand said, "You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!"
English Revised Versionsaying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThey said, "You Christ, if you're a prophet, tell us who hit you."
Good News Translationsaid, "Prophesy for us, Messiah! Guess who hit you!"
International Standard Versionsaying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?"
NET Biblesaying, "Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?"
New Heart English Biblesaying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ. Who hit you?"
Webster's Bible TranslationSaying, Prophesy to us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
Weymouth New Testamentwhile they taunted Him, saying, "Christ, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”
World English Biblesaying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionsaying, “Declare to us, O Christ, who he is that struck You?”
Berean Literal Biblesaying, "Prophesy to us, Christ, who is the one having struck You?"
Young's Literal Translation saying, 'Declare to us, O Christ, who he is that struck thee?'
Smith's Literal TranslationSaying, Prophesy to us, O Christ, Who is he having struck thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSaying: Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who is he that struck thee?
Catholic Public Domain Versionsaying: “Prophesy for us, O Christ. Who is the one that struck you?”
New American Biblesaying, “Prophesy for us, Messiah: who is it that struck you?”
New Revised Standard Versionsaying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSaying, O Christ, prophesy to us; who smote you?
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd were saying, “Prophesy to us, Messiah; who is it that hits you?” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand said: Give a response to us, Christ: Who is he that struck you?
Godbey New Testament
saying, Prophesy unto us, who is the one smiting thee?
Haweis New Testament
saying, Prophesy to us, you Messiah, who it is that struck thee!
Mace New Testament
crying now Christ divine, who 't is that struck you?
Weymouth New Testament
while they taunted Him, saying, "Christ, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you."
Worrell New Testament
saying, "Prophesy to us, O Christ, who is he that struck Thee?"
Worsley New Testament
saying, Divine to us,thou Christ, who it is that smote thee.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin… 67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him 68and said,“Prophesyto us,Christ!WhohitYou?”69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.…
Cross References 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.
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.
Isaiah 53:7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
Micah 5:1Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
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.”
Psalm 69:19-20You 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.
Psalm 35:15-16But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing. / Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
Psalm 109:25I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
Lamentations 3:30Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach.
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.
Luke 22:63-65The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. / They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” / And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.
John 18:22When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
John 19:3And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.
Acts 2:23He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
Acts 3:13-15The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. / You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. / You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.
Treasury of Scripture Saying, Prophesy to us, you Christ, Who is he that smote you? Prophesy. Matthew 27:39-44 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, … Genesis 37:19,20 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh… Judges 16:25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. thou. Matthew 27:28,29 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe… Mark 15:18,19 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! … John 19:2,3,14,15 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and putit on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, … Jump to Previous BlowChristDeclareHitProphesyProphetProveSmoteStruckTauntedTellingJump to Next BlowChristDeclareHitProphesyProphetProveSmoteStruckTauntedTellingMatthew 26 1.Jesus foretells his own death.3.The rulers conspire against him.6.The woman anoints his feet.14.Judas bargains to betray him.17.Jesus eats the Passover;26.institutes his holy supper;30.foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;36.prays in the garden;47.and being betrayed by a kiss,57.is carried to Caiaphas,69.and denied by Peter.and said,This phrase indicates the continuation of the events following Jesus' arrest. The context is the trial before the Sanhedrin, where Jesus is being mocked and abused. The use of "and said" connects this mockery to the actions of the religious leaders and guards who are present. “Prophesy to us,
The demand for prophecy is deeply ironic. Jesus, who has already demonstrated His prophetic authority throughout His ministry, is being taunted to prove His identity through prophecy. This reflects a misunderstanding or willful ignorance of His true nature and mission. The mockers are likely aware of Jesus' reputation as a prophet, yet they choose to ridicule rather than believe. Christ!
The use of "Christ" here is significant. It acknowledges the title that means "Anointed One" or "Messiah," which Jesus claimed and fulfilled. However, in this context, it is used sarcastically. The mockers are challenging Jesus' messianic identity, which is central to His mission and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as those found inIsaiah 53. Who hit You?”
This question is part of the physical and verbal abuse Jesus endures. It reflects the brutal treatment He receives and fulfills the prophecy ofIsaiah 50:6, where the suffering servant is struck and mocked. The question is meant to belittle Jesus' prophetic ability, as He is blindfolded and struck, yet it underscores His role as the suffering Messiah who endures humiliation and pain for the sake of humanity's redemption. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is being mocked and abused by the religious leaders and guards. 2. The SanhedrinThe Jewish council and court that held authority over religious matters in Israel. They are responsible for the trial of Jesus. 3. The High Priest's CourtyardThe location where Jesus is being held and mocked. This is a place of significant tension and hostility towards Jesus. 4. The Guards/ServantsIndividuals who are carrying out the physical abuse and mockery of Jesus, representing the rejection and misunderstanding of His true identity. 5. The MockeryAn event where Jesus is blindfolded, struck, and taunted to prophesy who hit Him, highlighting the ignorance and spiritual blindness of His accusers. Teaching Points Understanding Jesus' SufferingRecognize the depth of Jesus' suffering and humiliation, which He endured willingly for our salvation. This should deepen our gratitude and love for Him. The Fulfillment of ProphecyJesus' mockery and suffering were foretold in the Old Testament, affirming the reliability of Scripture and God's sovereign plan. Responding to PersecutionJesus' response to mockery and abuse is a model for how Christians should respond to persecution—with patience, forgiveness, and trust in God. Spiritual BlindnessThe mockery of Jesus highlights the spiritual blindness of His accusers. We must pray for spiritual insight and discernment to recognize and honor Christ in our lives. The Cost of DiscipleshipFollowing Jesus may involve facing mockery and persecution. We are called to stand firm in our faith, knowing that Jesus has gone before us. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Matthew 26:68?
2.How does Matthew 26:68 demonstrate the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies?
3.What does mocking Jesus in Matthew 26:68 reveal about human nature?
4.How can we respond to ridicule for our faith, as seen in Matthew 26:68?
5.How does Matthew 26:68 connect to Jesus' teachings on persecution?
6.What lessons from Matthew 26:68 can strengthen our resolve to stand for Christ?
7.Why did they mock Jesus in Matthew 26:68 by asking Him to prophesy?
8.How does Matthew 26:68 reflect the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies?
9.What does Matthew 26:68 reveal about human nature and disbelief?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 26?
11.Will God save us from death?
12.What is the Bible's perspective on jihad?
13.In Matthew 7:21-23, how can 'not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord'' align with faith-based salvation taught elsewhere in the New Testament?
14.Will you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?What Does Matthew 26:68 Mean and said,• This phrase links directly to the violence of the previous verse: “Then they spat in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him” (Matthew 26:67). • “They” refers to the temple guards and members of the Sanhedrin gathered at the late-night trial (Matthew 26:57–59). • Their words follow blows meant to humiliate and disorient Jesus, confirming Isaiah’s picture of the Suffering Servant: “I offered My back to those who struck Me and My cheeks to those who pulled out My beard; I did not hide My face from scorn and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).
“Prophesy to us,• The demand is not a sincere request for revelation; it is a taunt, mocking the prophetic office Jesus had exercised throughout His ministry (Matthew 24:1-2;John 4:19). • By turning prophecy into a joke, they show their spiritual blindness—exactly what Jesus warned about when He said, “You can discern the face of the sky, yet you cannot discern the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3). • Ironically, their ridicule fulfills prophecy: “He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3).
Christ!• They use His messianic title—“Christ” means “Anointed One”—yet strip it of honor. • Peter had confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16); here the council acknowledges the same title, but in mockery. • Even in contempt, they unwittingly testify to His true identity, echoing the soldiers who would later say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29). God turns their sneers into confirmation of His plan.
Who hit You?”• According to parallel accounts, “They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, ‘Prophesy! Who hit You?’” (Luke 22:64; seeMark 14:65). • Blindfolding intensified the humiliation and made recognition humanly impossible, so that only divine knowledge could answer. • Their question drips with sarcasm: “If You really have supernatural insight, identify Your unseen assailant.” • Yet Jesus remains silent (Matthew 26:63), fulfillingIsaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.” • The very fists that strike Him help accomplish redemption: “By His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
summaryMatthew 26:68 depicts a calculated, mocking assault on Jesus’ prophetic authority and messianic identity. The guards’ taunt—“Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”—is meant to shame Him, yet it actually confirms Scripture: the Christ would be beaten, mocked, and silent under suffering. Their derision fulfills Isaiah’s Servant Song and reinforces the truth that Jesus is both Prophet and Messiah. In the darkest hour, the Word made flesh stands firm, absorbing violence without retaliation, moving steadily toward the cross that secures our salvation. (68) Prophesy unto us, thou Christ.--The words derived their point from the fact recorded by St. Mark ( Mark 14:65), that the officers had blindfolded their prisoner. Was He able, through His supernatural power, to identify those who smote Him? Verse 68. - Prophesy; divine, guess. They had previously blindfolded him ( Mark 14:65; Luke 22:64), and now in derision of his supernatural powers they mockingly bid him to name the person who struck him. Thou Christ. They use the term sarcastically. "You call yourself Christ, the Prophet of God; well, then, divine miraculously, without seeing, who is he that smote thee."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek [and] 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.“ProphesyΠροφήτευσον(Prophēteuson)Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4395:From prophetes; to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office.to us,ἡμῖν(hēmin)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.Christ!Χριστέ(Christe)Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.Whoτίς(tis)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101:Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.hitπαίσας(paisas)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3817:To strike, smite, sting. A primary verb; to hit; specially, to sting.You?”σε(se)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 26:68 Saying Prophesy to us you Christ! (Matt. Mat Mt) |
