Mark 15:9
New International Version
“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,

New Living Translation
“Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked.

English Standard Version
And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

Berean Standard Bible
“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.

Berean Literal Bible
But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you wish that I should release to you the King of the Jews?"

King James Bible
But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

New King James Version
But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

New American Standard Bible
Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

NASB 1995
Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

NASB 1977
And Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

Amplified Bible
Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to set free for you the King of the Jews?”

Christian Standard Bible
Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?”

American Standard Version
And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

Contemporary English Version
Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?"

English Revised Version
And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to free the king of the Jews for you?"

Good News Translation
he asked them, "Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?"

International Standard Version
Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?"

Majority Standard Bible
?Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?? Pilate asked.

NET Bible
So Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?"

New Heart English Bible
Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

Webster's Bible Translation
But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release to you the King of the Jews?

Weymouth New Testament
"Shall I release for you the King of the Jews?" answered Pilate.

World English Bible
Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Pilate answered them, saying, “Will you [that] I will release to you the King of the Jews?”

Berean Literal Bible
But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you wish that I should release to you the King of the Jews?"

Young's Literal Translation
and Pilate answered them, saying, 'Will ye that I shall release to you the king of the Jews?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye I loose to you the King of the Jews?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Pilate answered them, and said: Will you that I release to you the king of the Jews?

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Pilate answered them and said, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”

New American Bible
Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Pilate answered and said, Are you willing that I release to you the King of the Jews?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Pilate answered and said, “Are you willing that I release to you The King of the Judeans?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But Pilate answered them, saying: Do you wish me to release to you the King of the Jews?

Godbey New Testament
And Pilate responded to them, saying, Do you wish that I may release unto you the King of the Jews?

Haweis New Testament
Then Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the king of the Jews?

Mace New Testament
but Pilate answered them, saying, do you chuse to have Jesus releas'd, the king of the Jews?

Weymouth New Testament
"Shall I release for you the King of the Jews?" answered Pilate.

Worrell New Testament
And Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you wish me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

Worsley New Testament
But Pilate answered them, saying, Would ye have me release to you the king of the Jews?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
8So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom. 9“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked. 10For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.…

Cross References
John 18:39-40
But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” / “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

Matthew 27:17-21
So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” / For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. / While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” ...

Luke 23:18-25
But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” / (Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) / Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, ...

John 19:14-15
It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” / At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

Acts 3:13-14
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. / You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Matthew 21:5
“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Luke 19:14
But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

John 12:13
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Isaiah 49:7
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.


Treasury of Scripture

But Pilate answered them, saying, Will you that I release to you the King of the Jews?

Will.

Matthew 27:17-21
Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? …

John 18:39
But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

John 19:4,5,14-16
Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him…

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Desire Free Jews Pilate Release Want
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Desire Free Jews Pilate Release Want
Mark 15
1. Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate.
6. Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
12. and Jesus delivered up to be crucified.
16. He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
21. faints in bearing his cross;
27. hangs between two thieves;
29. suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
39. but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
42. and is honorably buried by Joseph.














Do you want
This phrase is a direct question posed by Pontius Pilate to the crowd. The Greek word used here is "θέλετε" (thelete), which implies a desire or wish. Pilate's question is not merely about preference but about the will of the people. In the context of Roman governance, the will of the people could influence decisions, even though ultimate authority rested with the governor. This question highlights the tension between divine sovereignty and human free will, a theme that runs throughout the Bible.

me to release
The Greek word for "release" is "ἀπολύσω" (apolysō), which means to set free or liberate. In the Roman judicial system, the governor had the power to pardon and release prisoners, especially during festivals. This act of releasing a prisoner was a gesture of goodwill. Spiritually, this word echoes the concept of redemption and liberation found throughout Scripture, where God releases His people from bondage and sin.

to you
This phrase indicates the direct address to the crowd, emphasizing their role in the decision-making process. The crowd's choice reflects the collective heart of the people at that moment. Biblically, it serves as a reminder of the responsibility and consequences of communal decisions, as seen in the history of Israel and their choices before God.

the King of the Jews?
This title, "King of the Jews," is loaded with political and theological significance. In Greek, "βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων" (basilea tōn Ioudaiōn) was a title that carried both messianic expectations and political implications. Historically, the Jews awaited a Messiah who would be a king in the line of David, restoring Israel's glory. However, for the Romans, this title was a potential threat, suggesting insurrection against Roman rule. Pilate's use of this title is both mocking and probing, testing the loyalty of the Jewish leaders and the crowd. Spiritually, it affirms Jesus' identity as the prophesied Messiah, though misunderstood by many at the time. This moment is pivotal, as it contrasts earthly perceptions of kingship with the true, divine kingship of Christ.

(9) Will ye that I release unto you . . .?--The form of the question in the Greek implies (as the like form in John 18:39) a half hope of an affirmative answer.

Verse 9. - Pilate doubtless hoped that they would ask for Jesus. He knew that the chief priests had delivered our Lord for envy. That he could not help observing, as a shrewd Roman judge, from their gestures and manner. And then he knew also, at least by report, of the purity of Jesus, and of the holy freedom with which he rebuked their vices. So he thought, reasonably enough, that if the chief priests wished to destroy him for envy, the people, who had experienced so many kindnesses from him, would desire that he should live.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Do you want
Θέλετε (Thelete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

me to release
ἀπολύσω (apolysō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 630: From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.

to you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

King
Βασιλέα (Basilea)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935: A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews?”
Ἰουδαίων (Ioudaiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

Pilate
Πιλᾶτος (Pilatos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4091: Pilate. Of Latin origin; close-pressed, i.e. Firm; Pilatus, a Roman.

asked.
ἀπεκρίθη (apekrithē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.


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