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Mk 15:18 ... And they begin to salute him, ... "Rejoice! King of the Jews!"

Verse 18 has 3 phrases and these 4 text and 4 dialog words ... Kai ērksanto aspazesthai auton, Xaire, basileu tōn Ioudaiōn (And they begin to salute him, ... "Rejoice! King of the Jews")!

Roman soldiers begin a salute by standing, then finish it by raising an arm. The soldiers then insult Jesus by not completing the salute. They are standing like kings waiting for the salute of a subordinate.

Instead they say these four words to Jesus ... Chaire basileu tōn Ioudaiōn (Hail! King of the Jews) and order him to raise both his arms in joy as an ironic double salute to them! The verb chairo in the text is 2nd person singular so it acts as an order to Jesus. The diagram shows the words of the soldiers raise Jesus above the ground inside the double sign of the Star of David, the sign of the King of the Jews.

15:17b < Verse > 15:19a