Passage

Matthew 27.39-44

Book: Matthew · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"37. And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38. Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left."

"39. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, 40. and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41. In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42. He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. 43. He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44. And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach."

"45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:37-46, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"37. They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38. Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left."

"39. Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, 40. and 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!” 41. Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said, 42. “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43. He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44. The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach."

"45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46. About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”" (Matthew 27:37-46, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"37. And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left."

"39. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40. And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42. 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. 43. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth."

"45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:37-46, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"37. and they put up over his head, his accusation written, 'This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.' 38. Then crucified with him are two robbers, one on the right hand, and one on the left,"

"39. and those passing by were speaking evil of him, wagging their heads, 40. and saying, 'Thou that art throwing down the sanctuary, and in three days building [it], save thyself; if Son thou art of God, come down from the cross.' 41. And in like manner also the chief priests mocking, with the scribes and elders, said, 42. 'Others he saved; himself he is not able to save! If he be King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him; 43. he hath trusted on God, let Him now deliver him, if He wish him, because he said, Son of God I am;' 44. with the same also the robbers, who were crucified with him, were reproaching him."

"45. And from the sixth hour darkness came over all the land unto the ninth hour, 46. and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why didst Thou forsake me?'" (Matthew 27:37-46, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD

Quoted in

Argument from Prophecy Fulfillment

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.