Mark 15:29

οἱ παραπορευόμενοι. Syr-Sin. omits. Cicero (In Verr. v. 66) says that public places along the highways were chosen for crucifixions; that the sufferers might serve as scares to criminals and warnings to passers by. The executed were treated as vermin, nailed to a tree or door. To this public place outside Jerusalem “passers by” would be brought by animosity, curiosity, business, or accident. The expression at once recalls Lamentations 1:12; Lamentations 2:15; but Psalms 22:8 may also be in the minds of the Synoptists. In O.T. “shaking the head” is often given as a sign of mock pity or derision; 2 Kings 19:21; Psalms 22:7; Psalms 109:25; Job 16:4; Isaiah 37:22.

ἐβλασφήμουν. Cf. Acts 13:45; Acts 18:6; Romans 3:8.

Οὐᾶ. Here only in Bibl. Grk. It expresses respect or amazement, genuine or sarcastic, while οὐαί, which is frequent in LXX. and N.T., expresses pity. There is much the same difference between vah and vae.

ὁ καταλύων. Nom. with art. for voc. as often; cf. Mark 5:8; Mark 5:41; Mark 9:25; and especially Revelation 18:10.