And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

MARK 15:17KJV
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Mark 15:17 (KJV)

What does Mark 15:17 mean?

Mark 15:17 describes Roman soldiers dressing Jesus in a way that makes fun of him as a king. The purple clothing and the crown suggest royal status, but the crown is made of thorns. The soldiers use these signs of honor to humiliate him.

After the soldiers gather around Jesus in verse 16, they become the actors in Mark’s account. “Platted” means woven or braided: the soldiers weave thorny material into a crown and place it on his head.

The Greek behind Mark 15:17

  • “purple” — πορφύρα (porphyra): The word refers to purple cloth or clothing. Purple was associated with wealth and high status, so it suited the soldiers’ imitation of royal dress.
  • “crown” — στέφανος (stephanos): The word can mean a wreath worn on the head. The picture is of something woven into a circle, not necessarily a metal crown.

Why Mark 15:17 matters

  • The soldiers’ actions are part of a deliberate insult. In verse 18, they salute Jesus as “King of the Jews,” making the meaning of the costume clear.
  • The crown combines a sign of honor with cruelty. Mark names its material as “thorns,” turning a wreath into something painful.
  • The scene follows the charge displayed later above Jesus: “THE KING OF THE JEWS” (verse 26). The soldiers’ treatment brings that claim into the story before the written charge appears.

Where else these words appear

“thorns” Greek G174 · used in 2 verses

  • John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

“platted” Greek G4120 · used in 3 verses

  • Matthew 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
  • John 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

“purple” Greek G4209 · used in 5 verses

  • Mark 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
  • Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
  • Revelation 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

“about” Greek G4060 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
  • Matthew 27:48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
  • Mark 15:36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.