Matthew 27 · Verse 39

Matthew 27:39

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Matthew 27:39, King James Version

Matthew 27:39 in other translations

BSBAnd those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
WEBThose who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads
ASVAnd they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,
YLTand those passing by were speaking evil of him, wagging their heads,
DARBYBut the passers-by reviled him, shaking their heads
BBEAnd those who went by said bitter words to him, shaking their heads and saying,
WebsterAnd they that passed by, reviled him, wagging their heads,

What does Matthew 27:39 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. Wagging their heads. In token of derision and insult. See Job 16:4, Ps 109:25.

(h) "wagging" Ps 22:7, 109:25

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 Wagging their heads - In token of contempt.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 27:35-44

It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one over Christ's head. This they designed for his reproach, but God so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his honour. There were crucified with him at the same time, two robbers. He was, at his death, numbered among the transgressors, that we, at our death, might be numbered among the…

Read the full comment on Matthew 27:35-44 →

Matthew 27:39 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.

οἱhoiThoseG3588
δὲdenowG1161
παραπορευόμενοιparaporeuomenoipassing byG3899
ἐβλασφήμουνeblasphēmounwere denigratingG987
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
κινοῦντεςkinounteswaggingG2795
τὰςtastheG3588
κεφαλὰςkephalasheadsG2776
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:39

  • Psalms 109:25

    I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.

  • Lamentations 1:12

    Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

  • Psalms 31:11-13

    I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

  • Psalms 22:17

    I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

  • Lamentations 2:15-17

    All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. The Lord hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

  • Psalms 35:15-21

    But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. …

  • 1 Peter 2:22-24

    Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Psalms 109:2

    For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

  • Mark 15:29-30

    And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

  • Psalms 22:6-7

    But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

  • Job 16:4

    I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

  • Psalms 69:7-12

    Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
reviled.
Ps 22:6,7,17; 31:11-13; 35:15-21; 69:7-12,20; 109:2,25; La 1:12
La 2:15-17; Mr 15:29,30; Lu 23:35-39; 1Pe 2:22-24

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

Context

  • Matthew 27:38

    Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

  • Matthew 27:39

    And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

  • Matthew 27:40

    And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y los que pasaban, le decían injurias, meneando sus cabezas,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ceux qui passaient par là l’injuriaient, hochant la tête,
German
Elberfelder 1871
Die Vorübergehenden aber lästerten ihn, indem sie ihre Köpfe schüttelten
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Prætereuntes autem blasphemabant eum moventes capita sua,