New King James Version
Matthew 27:38
38Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.
Matthew 27:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
- New International Version (NIV)Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Context of Matthew 27:38
36Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Read all of Matthew 27Matthew 27:38 word by word
Τότε σταυροῦνται σὺν αὐτῷ δύο λῃσταί, εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
- were thereσταυρόωstauroō · to crucifyG4717
- twoδύοduo · twoG1417
- thievesλῃστήςlēstēs · robber/rebelG3027
- withσύνsun · withG4862
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- onἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the leftεὐώνυμοςeuōnumos · left/southG2176
Cross-references for Matthew 27:38
- Matthew 27:44Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
- Isaiah 53:12Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
- Mark 15:27With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.
- Luke 22:37For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”
- Luke 23:32There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
- John 19:18where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.
- John 19:31Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Commentaries on Matthew 27:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Two thieves - ͅϚ, robbers, or cutthroats: men who had committed robbery and murder; for it does not appear that persons were crucified for robbery only. Thus was our Lord numbered (his name enrolled, placed as it were in the death warrant) with transgressors, according to the prophetic declaration, Isaiah 53:12; and the Jews placed him between these two, perhaps to intimate that he was the worst felon of the three.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38Two thieves crucified - Rather two “robbers.” Pilate did not reside in Jerusalem. When he came there on the great feasts, or at other times, it was, in part, to hold courts for the trial of criminals. These robbers had been probably condemned at that time; and to show greater contempt for Jesus, he was crucified between men of that abandoned character, and on a cross that should have been occupied by their companion and leader, Barabbas.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. 38Jesus was crucified between two convicted revolutionaries. This increased his shame and made him appear guilty by association (linked with rebels).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 27:38
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries