Matthew Chapter 27 verse 39 Holy Bible
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,
read chapter 27 in ASV
And those who went by said bitter words to him, shaking their heads and saying,
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But the passers-by reviled him, shaking their heads
read chapter 27 in DARBY
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
read chapter 27 in KJV
read chapter 27 in WBT
Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,
read chapter 27 in WEB
and those passing by were speaking evil of him, wagging their heads,
read chapter 27 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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.