Matthew 27 · Verse 42

Matthew 27:42

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

Matthew 27:42, King James Version

Matthew 27:42 in other translations

BSB	“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.
WEB	“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
ASV	He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.
YLT	‘Others he saved; himself he is not able to save! If he be King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him;
DARBY	He saved others, himself he cannot save. He is King of Israel: let him descend now from the cross, and we will believe on him.
BBE	A saviour of others, he has no salvation for himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will have faith in him.
Webster	He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he is King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

What does Matthew 27:42 mean?

Barnes' Notes

Verses 42,43. He saved others. It does not seem probable that they meant to admit that he had actually saved others, but only that he pretended to save them from death by miracles, or that he claimed to be the Messiah and thus affirmed that he could save them. This is therefore, cutting irony.

If he be the King of Israel etc. It may seem strange to some that Jesus did not vindicate by a great miracle his claims to be the Messiah, and come down from the cross. But the time had come for him to make atonement. He had given full and sufficient proof that he was the Christ. The people would have been as little satisfied that he was, if he had come down from the cross. They said this for the purpose of insult; and Jesus chose rather to suffer though his character was assailed, than to work a new miracle for their gratification. He had foretold his death, and the time had come; and now, amidst revilings, and jibes, and curses, and the severe sarcasms of an angry and apparently triumphant priesthood, he chose to die for the sins of the world. To this they added insult to God, profanely calling upon him to interpose by miracle, and save him, if he was his friend. And all this, when their prophets had foretold this very scene, and when they were fulfilling the predictions of their own Scriptures. So wonderful is the way by which God causes his word to be fulfilled.

(k) "let him" Ps 3:2, 22:8, 42:10, 71:11 (l) "he said I" Jn 5:17,18, 10:30,36

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save - Or, Cannot he save himself? Several MSS. read this with the mark of interrogation as above; and this makes the sarcasm still more keen. A high priest who designs to destroy the temple of God: a Savior who saves not himself; and the Son of God crucified: these are the contradictions which give offense to Jews and libertines. But a high priest who dispels the types and shadows, only that he may disclose the substance of religion, and become the minister of a heavenly sanctuary; a Savior who dies only to be the victim of salvation; and the Son of God who confines his power within the bounds of the cross to establish the righteousness of faith: this is what a Christian adores; this is the foundation of his hope, and the fountain of his present comfort and final blessedness. See Quesnel. We will believe him - Instead of αυτῳ, him, many excellent MSS. have επ' αυτῳ, In him: this is a reading which Griesbach and other eminent critics have adopted.

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 27:42 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.

ἄλλουςallousOthersG243

ἔσωσεν,esōsenHe saved,G4982

ἑαυτὸνhe'autonHimselfG1438

οὐounotG3756

δύναταιdunataiis He ableG1410

σῶσαι.sōsaito save.G4982

βασιλεὺςbasileusKingG935

ἸσραήλIsraēlof IsraelG2474

ἐστιν,estinHe is,G1510

καταβάτωkatabatōhe should descendG2597

νῦνnunnowG3568

ἀπὸapofromG575

τοῦtoutheG3588

σταυροῦ,stauroucross,G4716

καὶkaiandG2532

πιστεύσομενpisteusomenwe will believeG4100

αὐτόν.autonHim.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:42

John 1:49
Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Matthew 27:37
And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Acts 4:14
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Luke 19:38
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
John 12:13
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
John 12:47
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Matthew 2:2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
John 9:24
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

saved.
Joh 9:24; 12:47; Ac 4:14
the King.
37; 2:2; Lu 19:38; Joh 1:49

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

Context

Matthew 27:41
Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Matthew 27:42
He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Matthew 27:43
He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:42 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	A otros salvó, á sí mismo no puede salvar: si es el Rey de Israel, descienda ahora de la cruz, y creeremos en él.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Il a sauvé les autres, il ne peut se sauver lui-même; s’il est le roi d’Israël, qu’il descende maintenant de la croix, et nous croirons en lui.
German Elberfelder 1871	Andere hat er gerettet, sich selbst kann er nicht retten. Er ist Israels König; so steige er jetzt vom Kreuze herab, und wir wollen an ihn glauben.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Alios salvos fecit, seipsum non potest salvum facere: si rex Israël est, descendat nunc de cruce, et credimus ei: