Tag Archives: Mark 15:18

In this chilling moment of ironic mockery, Greek grammar reflects both formality and contempt. The verse καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀσπάζεσθαι αὐτόν· χαῖρε ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων from Mark 15:18 shows Roman soldiers mimicking royal salutation while abusing Jesus. The participle construction, middle voice, and vocative form combine to paint a scene where syntax reveals sarcasm and suffering side by side.

The Greek Text in Focus

καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀσπάζεσθαι αὐτόν· χαῖρε ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων (Mark 15:18)

“And they began to greet him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’”

Grammatical Highlights ἤρξαντο — aorist indicative middle, third plural; “they began,” auxiliary to the infinitive.… Learn Koine Greek