And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "wagging their heads" isn't just general mockery; it's a specific gesture of contempt and rejection, echoing ancient prophecies about the Messiah being scorned. It highlights that Jesus’ suffering wasn't just random pain, but a fulfillment of Scripture where people actively derided him in a way that was already foretold.
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Jesus hangs on the cross, enduring the horrific pain of crucifixion, the crowds are not moved to compassion but to mockery. Those passing by, including the chief priests and scribes, join in the taunting, shaking their heads in derision as they witness his suffering. This public humiliation fulfills ancient prophecies and highlights the contrast between Jesus's royal claims and his agonizing reality on the cross.
Imagine the busiest street in town. Now imagine the most horrific, shameful execution happening right there. That was the scene Jesus endured.
The crucifixion wasn't a private, hidden event. It happened on a public thoroughfare, turning Jesus' suffering into a public spectacle.
A Scornful Crowd
The people passing by didn't just ignore Jesus; they actively mocked and insulted him. The phrase 'wagging their heads' was a gesture of utter contempt, a way of saying, 'Look at this fool! He thought he was king, and now look at him!'
More Than Just Mockery
This public humiliation wasn't random. It was a deliberate attempt to shame Jesus and discredit his claims. The religious leaders, in particular, taunted him, 'He saved others; he can't save himself! He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him' (Matthew 27:42). They wanted to break him, not just physically, but spiritually, by turning his suffering into a spectacle of failure.
The insults hurled at Jesus weren't just spontaneous reactions. They were ancient words coming true in real-time.
What might seem like random cruelty was, in fact, a deeply significant fulfillment of prophecy. The mockery Jesus faced was foretold centuries before.
The Messiah's Suffering
The Jewish leaders and the crowds reviled Jesus, and the Bible tells us this was prophesied. They were fulfilling ancient predictions about the Messiah's suffering.
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Derision Foretold
Passages like Psalm 22 describe the Messiah being mocked by onlookers. The 'wagging heads' and insults weren't a surprise to God; they were part of the divine plan unfolding exactly as written. This shows that even in the darkest moments of human cruelty, God's sovereign plan is at work.
Understand the original words
blasphēmeō · Greek Verb
To mock, sneer, or insult someone contemptuously. It denotes both verbal abuse and an attitude of scornful superiority.
The mockery Jesus endured wasn't just random cruelty; it happened at a public execution site deliberately chosen for maximum visibility, turning a road into a stage for His suffering and fulfilling ancient prophecies.
c. 30 BC - 10 BC
Herod the Great Reigns
Herod the Great's extensive building projects, including the Roman-style amphitheater and hippodrome in Jerusalem, created public spaces where spectacles, including crucifixions, could be visible to large crowds.
c. AD 26-36
Pontius Pilate Governs Judea
Pilate's governorship was marked by insensitivity to Jewish religious customs, often leading to unrest. His decision to allow crucifixions near public roads would have been consistent with his established style of rule.
AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified by Roman authorities outside Jerusalem. The site was likely chosen for maximum visibility and as a public deterrent, meaning passersby on the main roads could witness the event and participate in the mockery.
c. AD 30-70
Roman Rule and Public Executions
During this period, Roman crucifixions were a brutal and public spectacle. The practice served as a harsh form of capital punishment and social control, often carried out on roadsides to display Roman power.
This ancient psalm directly prophesies the mockery Jesus endured, where the psalmist laments, 'All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they shake their heads.'
Isaiah 53:3This suffering servant passage foretells the rejection Jesus faced, describing Him as 'despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,' which echoes the derision from passersby.
Lamentations 2:15This book describes a similar scene of public humiliation and mockery in Jerusalem, stating, 'All who pass by clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads.'
Mark 15:29This parallel account describes the same act of derision, emphasizing how those who passed by 'wagged their heads' in insult at the crucified Christ.
henryMatthew 27:35-44: "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots."
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 wit…
clarkeMatthew 27:39: "And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,"
Wagging their heads - In token of contempt.
The phrase "wagging their heads" isn't just general mockery; it's a specific gesture of contempt and rejection, echoing ancient prophecies about the Messiah being scorned. It highlights that Jesus’ suffering wasn't just random pain, but a fulfillment of Scripture where people actively derided him in a way that was already foretold.
As Jesus hangs on the cross, enduring the horrific pain of crucifixion, the crowds are not moved to compassion but to mockery. Those passing by, including the chief priests and scribes, join in the taunting, shaking their heads in derision as they witness his suffering. This public humiliation fulfills ancient prophecies and highlights the contrast between Jesus's royal claims and his agonizing reality on the cross.
As Jesus hangs on the cross, enduring the horrific pain of crucifixion, the crowds are not moved to compassion but to mockery. Those passing by, including the chief priests and scribes, join in the taunting, shaking their heads in derision as they witness his suffering. This public humiliation fulfills ancient prophecies and highlights the contrast between Jesus's royal claims and his agonizing reality on the cross.
"And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads" — The phrase "wagging their heads" isn't just general mockery; it's a specific gesture of contempt and rejection, echoing ancient prophecies about the Messiah being scorned. It highlights that Jesus’ s…
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Last reviewed October 2026