Matthew 27:39
New International Version
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads

New Living Translation
The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.

English Standard Version
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads

Berean Standard Bible
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

Berean Literal Bible
And those passing by kept railing at Him, wagging their heads

King James Bible
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

New King James Version
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads

New American Standard Bible
And those passing by were speaking abusively to Him, shaking their heads,

NASB 1995
And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads

NASB 1977
And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads,

Legacy Standard Bible
And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads

Amplified Bible
Those who passed by were hurling abuse at Him and jeering at Him, wagging their heads [in scorn and ridicule],

Christian Standard Bible
Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads

American Standard Version
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,

Contemporary English Version
People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and

English Revised Version
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads

Good News Translation
People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus:

International Standard Version
Those who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads,

Majority Standard Bible
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

NET Bible
Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads

New Heart English Bible
Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,

Webster's Bible Translation
And they that passed by, reviled him, wagging their heads,

Weymouth New Testament
And the passers-by reviled Him. They shook their heads at Him

World English Bible
Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and those passing by kept slandering Him, wagging their heads,

Berean Literal Bible
And those passing by kept railing at Him, wagging their heads

Young's Literal Translation
and those passing by were speaking evil of him, wagging their heads,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they coming near, blasphemed him, shaking their heads,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they that passed by, blasphemed him, wagging their heads,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But those passing by blasphemed him, shaking their heads,

New American Bible
Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads

New Revised Standard Version
Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And those who passed by blasphemed against him, nodding their heads,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But those who were passing by were reviling him and shaking their heads;
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And they that passed by reviled him, shaking their heads,

Godbey New Testament
And going by they continued to blaspheme Him, wagging their heads,

Haweis New Testament
And they who were passing by reviled him, shaking their heads,

Mace New Testament
the passengers all the while reviling him, shook their heads at him,

Weymouth New Testament
And the passers-by reviled Him. They shook their heads at Him

Worrell New Testament
And those passing by were reviling Him, wagging their heads,

Worsley New Testament
And they that passed by reviled Him, shaking their heads,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Crucifixion
38Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left. 39And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”…

Cross References
Psalm 22:7
All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:

Isaiah 53:3
He 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.

Mark 15:29
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

Luke 23:35
The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

John 19:28-30
After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” / A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth. / When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

Psalm 69:7-9
For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face. / I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons, / because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

Psalm 109:25
I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

Lamentations 2:15
All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?”

Job 16:4
I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. / Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Psalm 22:13
They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.

Psalm 35:21
They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”

Psalm 44:13-14
You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us. / You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.

Psalm 69:19-20
You 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.


Treasury of Scripture

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

reviled.

Psalm 22:6,7,17
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people…

Psalm 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…

Psalm 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: …

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Abuse Bitter Blasphemed Derided Evil Heads Hurled Hurling Insults Passed Passers-By Passing Railed Reviled Shaking Shook Speaking Wagging Words
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Abuse Bitter Blasphemed Derided Evil Heads Hurled Hurling Insults Passed Passers-By Passing Railed Reviled Shaking Shook Speaking Wagging Words
Matthew 27
1. Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate.
3. Judas hangs himself.
19. Pilate, admonished of his wife,
20. and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas.
27. Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
33. crucified;
39. reviled;
50. dies, and is buried;
62. his tomb is sealed and watched.














And those who passed by
This phrase refers to the people who were present at the crucifixion of Jesus. The Greek word for "passed by" is "παραπορευόμενοι" (paraporeuomenoi), which implies movement along a path or road. Historically, crucifixions were carried out in public places, often near city gates or along major roads, to serve as a deterrent to others. This setting allowed many people to witness the event, emphasizing the public humiliation Jesus endured. The passersby were likely a mix of locals and pilgrims in Jerusalem for Passover, highlighting the widespread exposure of Jesus' suffering.

heaped abuse on Him
The Greek word for "heaped abuse" is "βλασφημοῦντες" (blasphēmountes), which can also be translated as "blasphemed" or "reviled." This term indicates a verbal assault, showing contempt and disrespect. In the context of Jesus' crucifixion, this abuse was not just a personal attack but a rejection of His divine identity and mission. The act of heaping abuse reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as Psalm 22:7, which speaks of the Messiah being scorned and despised. This moment underscores the depth of human sinfulness and the rejection of God's redemptive plan.

shaking their heads
The gesture of shaking one's head is a universal sign of derision and mockery. In the Greek, "κινῶντες τὰς κεφαλὰς" (kinountes tas kephalas) conveys a physical expression of scorn. This action is reminiscent of Psalm 22:7, where it is prophesied that the suffering servant would be mocked in this manner. The historical and cultural context of this gesture adds to the humiliation Jesus faced, as it was a common way to express disdain and disbelief. This act of mockery highlights the spiritual blindness of the onlookers, who failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, despite the signs and wonders He performed throughout His ministry. It serves as a poignant reminder of the rejection and suffering that Jesus willingly endured for the sake of humanity's salvation.

(39) They that passed by.--The words bring before us the picture of a lounging crowd, strolling from one cross to the other, and mocking the central sufferer of the three. Rulers and chief priests were not ashamed to take part in the brutal mockery of a dying man. The spoken taunts were doubtless often repeated, and not always in the same form, but their burden is always the same.

Verse 39. - They that passed by. Golgotha being near a great high road and a much-frequented city gate (John 19:20), passersby were numerous, even without counting those who were attracted by the woeful sight. Many of them knew nothing of Christ's case, but seeing him punished in company with the two malefactors, thought that he was doubtless guilty of the same crimes as they; others, perhaps, who had seen his miracles and heard something of his teaching, conceived the notion that one whom the priests and rulers condemned must be a dangerous impostor, and deserved the cruelest of deaths. Reviled him; ἐβλασφήμουν: railed on him; blasphemabant (Vulgate). The expression, indeed, is true in its worse sense, for they who could thus revile the Son of God were guilty, however ignorantly, of gross impiety and irreverence. Wagging their heads. In mockery and contempt, thus fulfilling the psalmist's words, "All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head;" and, "I am become a reproach unto them; when they see me, they shake their heads" (Psalm 22:7; Psalm 109:25).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

those who
Οἱ (Hoi)
Article - Nominative 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.

passed by
παραπορευόμενοι (paraporeuomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3899: To go past, pass by, pass along by. From para and poreuomai; to travel near.

heaped abuse on
ἐβλασφήμουν (eblasphēmoun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 987: From blasphemos; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously.

Him,
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

shaking
κινοῦντες (kinountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2795: To set in motion, move, remove, excite, stir up. From kio; to stir, literally or figuratively.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

heads,
κεφαλὰς (kephalas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2776: From the primary kapto; the head, literally or figuratively.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 27:39 Those who passed by blasphemed him wagging (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 27:38
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