Matthew 27 · Verse 32

Matthew 27:32

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Matthew 27:32, King James Version

Matthew 27:32 in other translations

BSBAlong the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
WEBAs they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.
ASVAnd as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
YLTAnd coming forth, they found a man, a Cyrenian, by name Simon: him they impressed that he might bear his cross;
DARBYAnd as they went forth they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to go with them that he might bear his cross.
BBEAnd while they were coming out, they saw a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they made him go with them, so that he might take up his cross.
WebsterAnd as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they constrained to bear his cross.

What does Matthew 27:32 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 32. Mt 27:27

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 32 A man of Cyrene - him they compelled to bear his cross - In John, Joh 19:16, Joh 19:17, we are told Christ himself bore the cross, and this, it is likely, he did for a part of the way; but, being exhausted with the scourging and other cruel usage which he had received, he was found incapable of bearing it alone; therefore they obliged Simon, not, I think, to bear it entirely, but to assist Christ, by bearing a part of it. It was a constant practice among the Romans, to oblige criminal to bear their cross to the place of execution: insomuch that Plutarch makes use of it as an illustration of the misery of vice. "Every kind of wickedness produces its own particular torment, just as every malefactor, when he is brought forth to execution, carries his own cross." See Lardner's Credib. vol. i. p. 160.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 27:31-34

Christ was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, as a Sacrifice to the altar. Even the mercies of the wicked are really cruel. Taking the cross from him, they compelled one Simon to bear it. Make us ready, O Lord, to bear the cross thou hast appointed us, and daily to take it up with cheerfulness, following thee. Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? And when we behold what manner of death he died, let us in that behold…

Read the full comment on Matthew 27:31-34 →

Matthew 27:32 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘξερχόμενοιExerchomenoiGoing forthG1831
δὲdenowG1161
εὗρονheuronthey foundG2147
ἄνθρωπονanthrōpona manG444
ΚυρηναῖονKurēnaionof CyreneG2956
ὀνόματιonomatinamedG3686
Σίμωνα·SimōnaSimon;G4613
τοῦτονtoutonHimG3778
ἠγγάρευσανēngareusanthey compelledG29
ἵναinathatG2443
ἄρῃarēhe may carryG142
τὸνtontheG3588
σταυρὸνstauroncrossG4716
αὐτοῦ.¶autouof Him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 27:32

  • Mark 15:21

    And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

  • Luke 23:26

    And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Acts 6:9

    Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

  • Acts 2:10

    Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

  • Acts 11:20

    And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

  • Acts 13:1

    Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

  • Leviticus 4:12

    Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

  • John 19:17

    And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

  • 1 Kings 21:13

    And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

  • Hebrews 13:11-12

    For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

  • 1 Kings 21:10

    And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as.
Le 4:3,12,21; Nu 15:35,36; 1Ki 21:10,13; Ac 7:58; Heb 13:11,12
they found.
16:24; Mr 15:21; Lu 23:26
Cyrene.
Ac 2:10; 6:9; 11:20; 13:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 27:31

    And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

  • Matthew 27:32

    And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

  • Matthew 27:33

    And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:32 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y saliendo, hallaron á un Cireneo, que se llamaba Simón: á éste cargaron para que llevase su cruz.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme ils sortaient, ils trouvèrent un homme de Cyrène, nommé Simon, qu’ils contraignirent de porter sa croix.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als sie aber hinausgingen, fanden sie einen Menschen von Kyrene, mit Namen Simon; diesen zwangen sie, daß er sein Kreuz trüge.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Exeuntes autem invenerunt hominem Cyrenæum, nomine Simonem: hunc angariaverunt ut tolleret crucem ejus.