Breakdown of Matthew 27:48-49

"And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”" — The phrase "sour wine" wasn't meant to offer Jesus comfort; it was the common, cheap drink of Roman soldiers, offered here likely in mockery, reflecting the soldiers' ongoing contempt even as Jesus s…

Matthew 27:48-49 Meaning Explained

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Matthew 27:48-49

And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

The phrase "sour wine" wasn't meant to offer Jesus comfort; it was the common, cheap drink of Roman soldiers, offered here likely in mockery, reflecting the soldiers' ongoing contempt even as Jesus suffered. Yet, this act, observed by others, also becomes a moment where the disciples are called to see if this "drink" might actually be a rough, unexpected act of compassion in their midst.

What Matthew 27:48-49 means

As Jesus hangs on the cross, a supernatural darkness covers the land for three hours, during which he cries out, quoting Psalm 22, and others mock him. Afterward, Jesus declares, "I thirst," prompting one soldier to offer him sour wine on a sponge. Some around him try to stop it, wanting to see if Elijah will rescue him, but the drink is given.

A Soldier's Rough Compassion

Amidst the taunts and darkness, one man acted. Was it pity, or something else?

The Gospels present a complex picture of this moment.

Matthew and Mark show a soldier offering the drink, a gesture that could be interpreted in different ways. Some scholars suggest a flicker of empathy, perhaps moved by Jesus' cry.
John's Gospel adds a crucial detail: Jesus had expressed his thirst. This makes the soldier's action a direct response to a physical need.
Luke's Gospel mentions soldiers offering sour wine earlier, as a mockery. This highlights the potential ambiguity – was this a repeat of the mockery, or a genuine, albeit rough, act of mercy?

The Meaning of the Sour Wine

It wasn't a painkiller, nor was it meant to revive him. So, what was this drink, and why was it offered?

The 'sour wine' (often called vinegar or posca) was the common, cheap drink of Roman soldiers. It was a mixture of wine and water, sometimes fermented, meant for hydration.

Not for Relief: Unlike the spiced wine offered earlier in Jesus' ordeal (which may have been a mild anesthetic), this sour wine was not intended to ease his pain or prolong his life. In fact, as one commentary notes, the onlookers even tried to stop the soldier, wanting to see if Elijah would rescue Jesus.
A Soldier's Staple: The soldiers likely had a supply of this drink readily available for their own use during long hours on duty.
Ambiguous Motive: The precise motive behind this specific offering remains debated. Was it a soldier's rough pity responding to Jesus' expressed thirst? Or was it a final, bitter mockery? The text allows for both interpretations, but the immediate context of Jesus' suffering and expressed need leans towards a grim, practical gesture.

Understand the original words

Original language

sour wineὄξος

oxos · Greek Noun

A cheap, sour wine or vinegar drink (posca) consumed by Roman soldiers and the common people. Its presence at the crucifixion represents the physical suffering and the mockery or mercy offered to the condemned.

saveσῴζω

sōzō · Greek Verb

To rescue, deliver, or preserve from danger, destruction, or death. In the Gospels, it is often used in the context of both physical and spiritual salvation.

Historical context

Written: Likely between 50-60 AD.
Author: Matthew, one of Jesus' twelve disciples and an apostle.
Location: Written from Galilee, setting is Jerusalem and Golgotha.
Genre: Gospel narrative; uses vivid dialogue and detailed descriptions to convey theological truths.

Historical background

This moment on the cross, a specific act of cruelty and perhaps rough pity amidst immense suffering, highlights the grim reality of Roman crucifixion practices and the soldiers' common drink (sour wine). It underscores Jesus' humanity and suffering, even as it aligns with prophetic fulfillment.

c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is arrested, tried, and sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. This event is the culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry and the central event of Christian theology.
c. 30-33 AD
Mockery by Soldiers and Bystanders
Following Jesus' crucifixion, Roman soldiers and Jewish bystanders mocked him, offering him sour wine (vinegar) as a cruel jest, fulfilling prophetic scriptures.
c. 30-33 AD
Darkness Over the Land
From the sixth to the ninth hour (noon to 3 PM), a supernatural darkness covered the land of Judea while Jesus was on the cross.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Final Words and Death
Jesus utters his final words, including 'It is finished,' and then gives up his spirit, demonstrating his voluntary sacrifice.

Key themes

01Humanity in suffering
02Mockery and contempt
03Relief in extreme thirst

Cross-references

John 19:28

This passage directly complements Matthew's account by revealing Jesus' own words, 'I thirst,' which immediately preceded this act of being given vinegar, adding a layer of Jesus' human experience to the event.

Psalm 69:21

This Old Testament psalm prophesied this very moment, stating 'They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink,' showing how Jesus' suffering was foretold and part of God's plan.

Luke 23:36

Luke's Gospel mentions the soldiers offering Jesus sour wine earlier, portraying it as mockery, which highlights the complex and potentially shifting intentions of those present at the crucifixion.

Matthew 27:34

This verse shows Jesus refusing wine mixed with gall earlier in the crucifixion, underscoring that when He accepted the sour wine on the reed, it was not to dull His pain but likely out of genuine thirst and in fulfillment of prophecy.

Scholarly commentary

Matthew 27:45-50: "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."

27:45-50 During the three hours which the darkness continued, Jesus was in agony, wrestling with the powers of darkness, and suffering his Father's displeasure against the sin of man, for which he was now making his soul an offering. Never were there three such hours since the day God created man upon the earth, never such a dark and awful scene; it was the turning point of that great affair, m…
henry

Matthew 27:48: "And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink."

And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge,.... Which was not far from the cross, where a vessel full of vinegar was set, John 19:29 , and filled it with vinegar; dipping it into it, it sucked it up. Some of these sponges had leathern handles to them. (r). And put it on a reed; a stalk of hyssop; See Gill on John 19:29, and gave him to drink; not t…
gill

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What Matthew 27:48-49 means

Original language

sour wineὄξος

oxos · Greek Noun

saveσῴζω

sōzō · Greek Verb

To rescue, deliver, or preserve from danger, destruction, or death. In the Gospels, it is often used in the context of both physical and spiritual salvation.

Historical background

c. 30-33 AD— this verse

Jesus' Crucifixion

Jesus is arrested, tried, and sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. This event is the culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry and the central event of Christian theology.

c. 30-33 AD

Mockery by Soldiers and Bystanders

Following Jesus' crucifixion, Roman soldiers and Jewish bystanders mocked him, offering him sour wine (vinegar) as a cruel jest, fulfilling prophetic scriptures.

c. 30-33 AD

Darkness Over the Land

From the sixth to the ninth hour (noon to 3 PM), a supernatural darkness covered the land of Judea while Jesus was on the cross.

c. 30-33 AD

Jesus' Final Words and Death

Jesus utters his final words, including 'It is finished,' and then gives up his spirit, demonstrating his voluntary sacrifice.

Scholarly commentary

Matthew 27:45-50: "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."

27:45-50 During the three hours which the darkness continued, Jesus was in agony, wrestling with the powers of darkness, and suffering his Father's displeasure against the sin of man, for which he was now making his soul an offering. Never were there three such hours since the day God created man upon the earth, never such a dark and awful scene; it was the turning point of that great affair, m…
henry

Matthew 27:48: "And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink."

And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge,.... Which was not far from the cross, where a vessel full of vinegar was set, John 19:29 , and filled it with vinegar; dipping it into it, it sucked it up. Some of these sponges had leathern handles to them. (r). And put it on a reed; a stalk of hyssop; See Gill on John 19:29, and gave him to drink; not t…
gill

Frequently asked questions

What does Matthew 27:48-49 mean?

Explain the meaning of Matthew 27:48-49

What is the context of Matthew 27:48-49?

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "sour wine" mean in the original Greek?”
“Why did Matthew, one of Jesus' twelve disciples and an apostle. write Matthew 27:48-49?”
“How does humanity in suffering show up in Matthew 27:48-49?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Matthew 27:48-49 is available in the Sola app.

What Matthew 27:48-49 means

A Soldier's Rough Compassion

The Meaning of the Sour Wine

Original language

Historical context

Historical background

Key themes

Cross-references

Scholarly commentary

Frequently asked questions

Study this verse in Sola

Ask Sola about this verse

What Matthew 27:48-49 means

A Soldier's Rough Compassion

The Meaning of the Sour Wine

Original language

Historical context

Historical background

Key themes

Cross-references

Scholarly commentary

Frequently asked questions

Study this verse in Sola

Ask Sola about this verse

Fulfilling Scripture in Suffering