The Meaning of Matthew 27:32 Explained

Matthew 27:32

KJV: And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

YLT: And coming forth, they found a man, a Cyrenian, by name Simon: him they impressed that he might bear his cross;

Darby: And as they went forth they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to go with them that he might bear his cross.

ASV: And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them , that he might bear his cross.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  as they came out,  they found  a man  of Cyrene,  Simon  by name:  him  they compelled  to  bear  his  cross. 

What does Matthew 27:32 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus was able to carry the crossbeam of His cross until He passed through the city gate (cf. Mark 15:21 John 19:17). Normally crucifixions took place outside the city wall (cf. Leviticus 24:14; Numbers 15:35-36; 1 Kings 21:13; Acts 7:58). This location symbolized added rejection (cf. Hebrews 13:13).
Simon"s name was Jewish. He came from the town of Cyrene on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa (cf. Acts 2:10; Acts 6:9; Acts 11:20; Acts 13:1). The Roman soldiers forced him to carry Jesus" cross. Perhaps Matthew mentioned this because it is another piece of irony. Jesus was really bearing Simon"s cross by dying in his place. The reader understands this, but at the time things looked completely opposite to onlookers. Another reason Matthew may have mentioned Simon by name is that he may have been well known among the early Christians. Ironically Simon Peter should have been present to help Jesus, in view of his previous boasts ( Matthew 26:33; Matthew 26:35), but a different Simon had to take his place.
The Muslim teaching that Simon took Jesus" place and died on the cross in His stead evidently rests on the teaching of Basilides, a second century Gnostic heretic. [1]

Context Summary

Matthew 27:32-44 - "where They Crucified Him"
He will not drink what would dull His keen sense of the momentous issues of the Cross. Those taunts were true. None who save themselves can save others. The cry of forsakenness, the midday midnight, the yielded spirit, the rent veil, the opened tombs, the sympathy of nature-all these proved that this was no common death, and were in keeping with everything that Scripture had foretold, 1 Peter 1:11.
Our Lord was wrapped in midnight, that He might be our "bright and morning star." He became obedient to death, that He might give eternal life. His heel was sorely wounded, that He might break the head of him that had the power of death, and might wear forever at His girdle the keys of death and Hades. Make His soul an offering for thy sin. Hide in the cleft which the soldier's spear opened in His side. He has made peace by the blood of His Cross; we have but to accept and be at rest. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 27

1  Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate
3  Judas hangs himself
19  Pilate, admonished of his wife,
20  and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas
27  Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
33  crucified;
39  reviled;
50  dies, and is buried;
62  his tomb is sealed and watched

Greek Commentary for Matthew 27:32

Compelled [ηγγαρευσαν]
This word of Persian origin was used in Matthew 5:41, which see. There are numerous papyri examples of Ptolemaic date and it survives in modern Greek vernacular. So the soldiers treat Simon of Cyrene (a town of Libya) as a Persian courier Yes, and the burden of sin of the world that was breaking his heart. [source]
His cross [τον σταυρον αυτου]
Jesus had used the term cross about himself (Matthew 16:24). It was a familiar enough picture under Roman rule. Jesus had long foreseen and foretold this horrible form of death for himself (Matthew 20:19; Matthew 23:24; Matthew 26:2). He had heard the cry of the mob to Pilate that he be crucified (Matthew 27:22) and Pilate‘s surrender (Matthew 27:26) and he was on the way to the Cross (Matthew 27:31). There were various kinds of crosses and we do not know precisely the shape of the Cross on which Jesus was crucified, though probably the one usually presented is correct. Usually the victim was nailed (hands and feet) to the cross before it was raised and it was not very high. The crucifixion was done by the soldiers (Matthew 27:35) in charge and two robbers were crucified on each side of Jesus, three crosses standing in a row (Matthew 27:38). [source]
Compelled to go [ἠγγάρευσαν]
See on Matthew 5:41. Rev. has impressed in margin. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 27:32

Matthew 5:41 Shall compel thee [αγγαρευσει]
The Vulgate has angariaverit. The word is of Persian origin and means public couriers or mounted messengers (αγγαροι — aggaroi) who were stationed by the King of Persia at fixed localities, with horses ready for use, to send royal messages from one to another. So if a man is passing such a post-station, an official may rush out and compel him to go back to another station to do an errand for the king. This was called impressment into service. This very thing was done to Simon of Cyrene who was thus compelled to carry the cross of Christ (Matthew 27:32, ηγγαρευσαν — ēggareusan). [source]
Mark 15:21 They compel [αγγαρευουσιν]
Dramatic present indicative again where Matthew 27:32 has the aorist. For this Persian word see Matthew 5:41; Matthew 27:32. [source]
Mark 15:21 Coming out of the country [ερχομενον απ αγρου]
Hence Simon met the procession. Mark adds that he was “the father of Alexander and Rufus.” Paul mentions a Rufus in Romans 16:13, but it was a common name and proves nothing. See note on Matthew 27:32 for discussion of cross-bearing by criminals. Luke adds “after Jesus” But Jesus bore his own cross till he was relieved of it, and he walked in front of his own cross for the rest of the way. [source]
Luke 23:26 They laid hold [επιλαβομενοι]
Second aorist middle participle of the common verb επιλαμβανω — epilambanō The soldiers had no scruples about taking hold of any one of themselves (middle voice). Mark 15:21; Matthew 27:32 use the technical word for this process αγγαρευω — aggareuō which see note for discussion and also about Cyrene. [source]
John 19:17 His cross [τὸν σταυρὸν αὑτοῦ]
The best texts read αὑτῷ or ἑαυτῷ , “bearing the cross for Himself.” John does not mention the impressment of Simon of Cyrene for this service. Compare Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26. [source]
John 19:17 Bearing the cross for himself [βασταζων αυτωι τον σταυρον]
Cf. Luke 14:27 for this very picture in the words of Jesus. The dative case of the reflexive pronoun αυτωι — hautōi “for himself” is in strict accord with Roman custom. “A criminal condemned to be crucified was required to carry his own cross” (Bernard). But apparently Jesus under the strain of the night before and the anguish of heart within him gave out so that Simon of Cyrene was impressed to carry it for Jesus (Mark 15:21.; Matthew 27:32.; Luke 23:26). See Mark 15:22.; Matthew 27:33.; Luke 23:33 for the meaning of “place of a skull” or Calvary and Golgotha in Hebrew (Aramaic). Luke has simply Κρανιον — Kranion (Skull), a skull-looking place. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 27:32 mean?

Going forth now they found a man of Cyrene named Simon Him they compelled that he might carry the cross of Him
Ἐξερχόμενοι δὲ εὗρον ἄνθρωπον Κυρηναῖον ὀνόματι Σίμωνα τοῦτον ἠγγάρευσαν ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ

Ἐξερχόμενοι  Going  forth 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
εὗρον  they  found 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
ἄνθρωπον  a  man 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
Κυρηναῖον  of  Cyrene 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Κυρεῖνος 
Sense: a native of Cyrene.
ὀνόματι  named 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
Σίμωνα  Simon 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Σίμων  
Sense: Peter was one of the apostles.
ἠγγάρευσαν  they  compelled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀγγαρεύω  
Sense: to employ a courier, dispatch a mounted messenger, press into public service, compel to go.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἄρῃ  he  might  carry 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: αἴρω  
Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up.
σταυρὸν  cross 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: σταυρός  
Sense: an upright stake, esp.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.