Matthew 27:42

Matthew 27:42 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.

Context of Matthew 27:42

40and they said, ‘You said that you could destroy the temple and then build it again in three days. If you really are the Son of God, save yourself. Come down from the cross.’ 41The leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law and the important Jews also laughed at him. They said, ‘This man saved other people, did he? But he cannot save his own life! He says that he is the king of Israel. So he should come down from the cross now. Then we will believe in him. 43He says that he trusts in God. So if God wants him, God should save him now. He did say that he is the Son of God.’ 44Then the two robbers who were on the crosses next to Jesus also insulted him.

Matthew 27:42 word by word

ἄλλους ἔσωσεν, ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σῶσαι. βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ ἐστιν, καταβάτω νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ, καὶ πιστεύσομεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He savedσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
• othersἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• he cannotοὐou · noG3756
• he cannotδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• he beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the Kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
• of IsraelἸσραήλIsraēl · IsraelG2474
• let himκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the crossὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• we will believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Matthew 27:42

• John 9:24So the leaders again spoke to the man who had been blind. They said to him, ‘In front of God, promise that you will speak only true things. We know that this man Jesus does not obey God.’
• John 12:47Not everyone who hears my words will obey them. I will not judge anyone who is like that. I did not come to judge the people in the world. I came to save them.
• Acts 4:14The man who was now well stood in front of the Jewish leaders. They could see that his legs had become strong again. So they could not say anything against Peter and John.
• Matthew 27:37Above his head they fixed a notice. This showed the reason why they were killing him. It said, ‘This man is Jesus, the king of the Jews.’
• Matthew 2:2When they arrived there, they asked people, ‘Where is the baby who has been born as the king of the Jews? We saw his special star when it first appeared in the sky. So now we have come here to worship him.’
• Luke 19:38They said: ‘May the Lord God bless the king who comes with his authority! We want everything to be well in heaven. We praise our powerful God above!’
• John 1:49Nathanael said, ‘Teacher, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.’

Commentaries on Matthew 27:42

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 42He 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42He 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 … - It may seem strange to some that Jesus did not vindicate by a miracle his claims to be the Messiah, and come down from the cross. But the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-44Verses 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 saints. The taunts and jeers he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32-44The crowd mocked Jesus, but their words were still true. He is the Son of God, the King of Israel, and the Messiah.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 27:42

• Blasphemy
• Death
• Infidelity
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Malefactors (Criminals)
• Mocking
• Persecution
• Presumption
• Reviling

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Accusation
• Notable
• Plat
• Seal
• Wag
• Watch
• Wont

Commentaries on Matthew 27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings