English Standard Version
Matthew 27:42
42"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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!
Context of Matthew 27:42
40and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "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. 43He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
Read all of Matthew 27Matthew 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 for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."
- John 12:47If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
- Acts 4:14But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
- Matthew 27:37And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
- Matthew 2:2saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
- Luke 19:38saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
- John 1:49Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, 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
In the dictionaries
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
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