The Meaning of Luke 23:11 Explained

Luke 23:11

KJV: And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

YLT: and Herod with his soldiers having set him at nought, and having mocked, having put around him gorgeous apparel, did send him back to Pilate,

Darby: And Herod with his troops having set him at nought and mocked him, having put a splendid robe upon him, sent him back to Pilate.

ASV: And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  Herod  with  his  men of war  set  him  at nought,  and  mocked  [him], and arrayed  him  in a gorgeous  robe,  and sent  him  again  to Pilate. 

What does Luke 23:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 23:1-12 - Silent Under False Accusations
The Jewish Sanhedrin, hastily summoned at the hour of dawn, having elicited from Jesus the profession of His messiahship and deity, and having concluded on the death sentence, set themselves to induce Pilate, the Roman governor, to concur in their verdict. In order to do this, they urged that Jesus imperiled the Roman supremacy.
Pilate was accustomed to deal with men, and after careful examination, was satisfied that there was no ground for the death sentence. I find no fault. As God's Paschal Lamb, the Savior was searched to discover if there were spot, or blemish, or anything that could invalidate His claim to sinlessness. Only the sinless could save sinners. In his heart Pilate knew that our Lord should be acquitted, but his fear of the Jews deflected the verdict of his conscience. By sending the case to Herod, he hoped to get the right thing done, without incurring the odium incident to doing it. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 23

1  Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod
8  Herod mocks him
12  Herod and Pilate become friends
13  Barabbas is desired of the people,
24  and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified
26  He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;
34  prays for his enemies
39  Two criminals are crucified with him
46  His death
50  His burial

Greek Commentary for Luke 23:11

Set him at nought [εχουτενησας]
First aorist active participle from εχουτενεω — exoutheneō to count as nothing, to treat with utter contempt, as zero. [source]
Arraying him in gorgeous apparel [περιβαλων εστητα λαμπραν]
Second aorist active participle of περιβαλλω — periballō to fling around one. Λαμπραν — Lampran is brilliant, shining as in James 2:2, so different from the modest dress of the Master. This was part of the shame. [source]
Gorgeous [λαμπρὰν]
Lit., bright or brilliant. Compare Acts 10:30; Revelation 15:6. Wyc. and Tynd., white. Mark has purple ( πορφύραν )and Matthew scarlet ( κοκκίνην )Apparel ( ἐσθῆτα )The general term for raiment. Matthew specifies the garment (Matthew 27:28). Mark has simply purple (sa40" translation="">Mark 15:17).sa40 [source]
Lit., bright or brilliant. Compare Acts 10:30 ; Revelation 15:6 . Wyc. and Tynd., white. Mark has purple [ἐσθῆτα]
The general term for raiment. Matthew specifies the garment (Matthew 27:28). Mark has simply purple (sa40" translation="">Mark 15:17).sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 23:11

Matthew 22:7 Armies [στρατεύματα]
Not in our grand sense of armies, but troops, soldiers. Compare Luke 23:11, where the word is rendered men of war; Rev., soldiers. [source]
Luke 23:7 Sent [ἀνέπεμψεν]
Lit., sent him up ( ανα ). Used of sending up to a higher court. Compare Acts 25:21, of sending Paul to Caesar. It also means to send back, as in Luke 23:11, and Philemon 1:11. [source]
Luke 2:7 In the inn [ἐν τῷ καταλύματι]
Only here, Luke 23:11; Mark 14:14, on which see note. In both these passages it is rendered guest-chamber, which can hardly be the meaning here, as some have maintained. (See Geikie, “Life and Words of Christ,” i., 121.) In that case the expression would be, they found no κατάλυμα ,guest-chamber. The word refers to the ordinary khan, or caravanserai. Tynd., hostrey. “A Syrian khan is a fort and a mart; a refuge from thieves; a shelter from the heat and dust; a place where a man and his beast may lodge; where a trader may sell his wares, and a pilgrim may slake his thirst … .Where built by a great sheikh, it would have a high wall, an inner court, a range of arches or lewans, an open gallery round the four sides, and, in many cases, a tower from which the watcher might descry the approach of marauding bands. On one side of the square, but outside the wall, there is often a huddle of sheds, set apart from the main edifice, as stables for the asses and camels, the buffaloes and goats. In the centre of the khan springs a fountain of water, the first necessity of an Arab's life; and around the jets and troughs in which the limpid element streams, lies the gay and picturesque litter of the East. Camels wait to be unloaded; dogs quarrel for a bone; Bedaween from the desert, their red zannars choked with pistols, are at prayer. In the archways squat the merchants with their bales of goods … .Half-naked men are cleansing their hands ere sitting down to eat. Here a barber is at work upon a shaven crown; there a fellah lies asleep in the shade … .Each man has to carry his dinner and his bed; to litter his horse or camel; to dress his food; to draw his water; to light his fire, and to boil his mess of herbs” (Hepworth Dixon, “The Holy Land”). [source]
Luke 23:7 Of Herod‘s jurisdiction [εκ της εχουσιας ηρωιδου]
Herod was naturally jealous of any encroachment by Pilate, the Roman Procurator of Judea. So here was a chance to respect the prerogative First aorist active indicative of αναπεμπω — anapempō This common verb is used of sending back as in Luke 23:11 or of sending up to a higher court as of Paul to Caesar (Acts 25:21).Who himself also was Being also himself in Jerusalem. Present active participle of ειμι — eimi f0). [source]
Luke 23:7 Sent him up [ανεπεμπσεν]
First aorist active indicative of αναπεμπω — anapempō This common verb is used of sending back as in Luke 23:11 or of sending up to a higher court as of Paul to Caesar (Acts 25:21). [source]
John 19:2 Robe [ἱμάτιον]
Better, as Rev., garment, since robe gives the impression of a trailing garment. See on Matthew 5:40. Matthew has χλαμύδα , a short military cloak (Matthew 27:28). Luke describes the garment as λαμπρὰν , gorgeous, bright or brilliant (Luke 23:11). [source]
Romans 14:3 Set at nought [εχουτενειτω]
Present active imperative of εχουτενεω — exoutheneō to treat as nothing and so with contempt (Luke 23:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:20). [source]
1 Corinthians 1:28 Of no family. The reverse of εὐγενεῖς noble Despised [ἐξουθενημένα]
Lit., set at nought. Not merely despised, but expressly branded with contempt. See Luke 23:11. [source]
1 Corinthians 1:28 Base [ὠγενῆ]
Of no family. The reverse of εὐγενεῖς nobleDespised ( ἐξουθενημένα )Lit., set at nought. Not merely despised, but expressly branded with contempt. See Luke 23:11. [source]
Galatians 4:14 Ye despised not nor rejected [οὐκ ἐξουθενήσατε οὐδὲ ἐξεπτύσατε]
Commonly explained by making both verbs govern your temptation. Thus the meaning would be: “You were tempted to treat my preaching contemptuously because of my bodily infirmity; but you did not despise nor reject that which was a temptation to you.” This is extremely far fetched, awkward, and quite without parallel in Paul's writings or elsewhere. It does not suit the following but received me, etc. It lays the stress on the Galatians' resistance of a temptation to despise Paul; whereas the idea of a temptation is incidental. On this construction we should rather expect Paul to say: “Ye did despise and repudiate this temptation.” Better, make your temptation, etc., dependent on ye know (Galatians 4:13); place a colon after flesh, and make both verbs govern me in the following clause. Rend. “Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you the first time, and (ye know) your temptation which was in my flesh: ye did not despise nor reject me, but received me.” The last clause thus forms one of a series of short and detached clauses beginning with Galatians 4:10. Ὁυκ ἐξουθενήσατε yedid not set at nought, from οὐδέν nothingThe form οὐθέν occurs Luke 22:35; Luke 23:14; Acts 19:27; Acts 26:26; 1 Corinthians 13:2; 2 Corinthians 11:8. For the compound here, comp. Luke 18:9; Luke 23:11; Acts 4:11; 2 Corinthians 10:10. oClass. Ἑξεπτύσατε spurnedN.T.oLit. spat out. A strong metaphor, adding the idea of contempt to that of setting at nought. Comp. Hom. Od. v. 322; Aristoph. Wasps, 792. The two verbs express contemptuous indifference. Ἑμέσαι tovomit, as a figure of contemptuous rejection, is found in Revelation 3:16. The simple πτύειν tospit only in the literal sense in N.T. Mark 7:33; Mark 8:23; John 9:6, and no other compound occurs. [source]
James 2:2 In fine clothing [εν εστητι λαμπραι]
“In bright (brilliant) clothing” as in Matthew 11:8; Luke 23:11; Acts 10:30. In contrast with “vile clothing” υπαρος — Ruparos (late word from ρυπος — rupos filth, 1 Peter 3:21) means filthy, dirty. In N.T. only here and Revelation 22:11 (filthy).Poor man (πτωχος — ptōchos). Beggarly mendicant (Matthew 19:21), the opposite of πλουσιος — plousios (rich). [source]
James 2:2 If there come in [εαν εισελτηι]
Condition of third class (supposable case) with εαν — ean and second (ingressive) aorist active subjunctive of εισερχομαι — eiserchomai your synagogue The common word for the gathering of Jews for worship (Luke 12:11) and particularly for the building where they met (Luke 4:15, Luke 4:20, Luke 4:28, etc.). Here the first is the probable meaning as it clearly is in Hebrews 10:25 “A gold-fingered man,” “wearing a gold ring.” The word occurs nowhere else, but Lucian has χρυσοχειρ — chrusocheir (gold-handed) and Epictetus has χρυσους δακτυλιους — chrusous daktulious (golden seal-rings). “Hannibal, after the battle of Cannae, sent as a great trophy to Carthage, three bushels of gold-rings from the fingers of Roman knights slain in battle” (Vincent).In fine clothing “In bright (brilliant) clothing” as in Matthew 11:8; Luke 23:11; Acts 10:30. In contrast with “vile clothing” υπαρος — Ruparos (late word from ρυπος — rupos filth, 1 Peter 3:21) means filthy, dirty. In N.T. only here and Revelation 22:11 (filthy).Poor man (πτωχος — ptōchos). Beggarly mendicant (Matthew 19:21), the opposite of πλουσιος — plousios (rich). [source]
Revelation 22:1 Clear [λαμπρὸν]
See on Luke 23:11. Rev., bright. [source]
Revelation 18:14 Goodly [λαμπρὰ]
A too indefinite rendering. Better, Rev., sumptuous. See on Luke 23:11; see on James 2:2. Mostly in the New Testament of clothing. See on Revelation 15:6. [source]
Revelation 15:6 White [λαυπρὸν]
Mostly applied in the New Testament to clothing, as Luke 23:11; Acts 10:30; James 2:2. Also to the water of life (Revelation 22:1), and the morning-star (Revelation 22:16). Rev., bright. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 23:11 mean?

Having set at naught then Him also - Herod with the troops of him and having mocked [Him] having put on [Him] apparel splendid sent back to Pilate
ἐξουθενήσας δὲ αὐτὸν ‹καὶ› Ἡρῴδης σὺν τοῖς στρατεύμασιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐμπαίξας περιβαλὼν ἐσθῆτα λαμπρὰν ἀνέπεμψεν τῷ Πιλάτῳ

ἐξουθενήσας  Having  set  at  naught 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐξουθενέω 
Sense: to make of no account, despise utterly.
‹καὶ›  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἡρῴδης  Herod 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἡρῴδης  
Sense: the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles.
στρατεύμασιν  troops 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: στράτευμα  
Sense: an army.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐμπαίξας  having  mocked  [Him] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐμπαίζω  
Sense: to play with, trifle with.
περιβαλὼν  having  put  on  [Him] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: παρεμβάλλω 
Sense: to throw around, to put around.
ἐσθῆτα  apparel 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐσθής  
Sense: clothing, raiment, apparel.
λαμπρὰν  splendid 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: λαμπρός  
Sense: shining.
ἀνέπεμψεν  sent  back 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀναπέμπω  
Sense: to send up.
Πιλάτῳ  Pilate 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Πειλᾶτος 
Sense: the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified.