Luke 23:38

Luke 23:38

ESV: There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

KJV: And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NIV: There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NKJV: And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NLT: A sign was fastened above him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."

Meaning

Luke 23:38 states that an inscription, the official charge against Jesus, was placed above His head on the cross. This superscription was written in three languages: Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and it declared, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." While intended by Pontius Pilate as a legal formality and possibly a subtle affront to the Jewish religious authorities who sought Jesus's death, it paradoxically served as a public, international proclamation of Jesus's true identity and inherent royalty.

Cross References

Context

Luke 23:38 occurs within the narrative of Jesus's crucifixion, following His condemnation by Pontius Pilate despite Pilate's repeated declaration of His innocence. After scourging, Jesus is led to Golgotha, where He is crucified between two criminals. Roman crucifixion practice typically included a "titulus" (or "elogium") – an inscription detailing the condemned person's crime, often written on a tablet and carried before the condemned or affixed to the cross itself. In this instance, Pilate's intent was to declare the charge for which Jesus was executed: claiming to be "King of the Jews," a claim seen as sedition against Roman authority. Historically, Roman officials preferred to quell Jewish nationalistic fervor by humiliating anyone perceived as a "king" or leader of potential rebellion. The choice of three languages reflected the diverse populace of Jerusalem: Latin for Roman authority, Greek as the common trade language (lingua franca) of the Hellenistic world, and Hebrew for the local Jewish population and their religious leaders. This act, therefore, had political, cultural, and profoundly ironic theological implications.

Word analysis

• And a superscription also: Greek epigraphē (ἐπιγραφὴ). Refers to a written inscription, label, or title. This was a common Roman legal practice, a formal accusation (titulus) for public display, intended to deter others and signify the official charge.
• was written over him: Placed prominently above His head on the cross, visible to all passersby, ensuring the reason for His execution was publicly known.
• in letters of Greek: Hellenisti (Ἑλληνιστὶ). Greek was the dominant common language (Koine Greek) across the eastern Roman Empire, ensuring the message was understood by the diverse Gentile population present in Jerusalem, including pilgrims and Roman officials.
• and Latin: Romaisti (Ῥωμαϊστί). Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire and its military. This inclusion was for Roman dignitaries, soldiers, and administrators, affirming the legitimacy of the Roman judgment.
• and Hebrew: Hebraisti (Ἑβραϊστί). This referred to the language primarily used for Jewish sacred texts, though Aramaic was more commonly spoken daily by Jews. Its inclusion ensured that the message reached the local Jewish populace and their religious leaders. The trilingual nature gave the proclamation universal significance to the world as it was then known.
• THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS:
  • THIS IS: A direct, declarative statement, an affirmation of identity.
  • THE KING: Greek ho Basileus (ὁ Βασιλεύς). This title was claimed by Jesus, recognized by some, and feared by the Jewish religious elite who saw it as a political threat. Pilate used it ironically and perhaps spitefully against those who demanded Jesus's death, highlighting their rejection of their own "king."
  • OF THE JEWS: tōn Ioudaiōn (τῶν Ἰουδαίων). Specifies His dominion. For Pilate, it marked the crime as sedition against Rome. For believers, it confirmed Jesus as the promised Messiah King of Israel. Its inclusion by Pilate, against the will of the chief priests (Jn 19:21), emphasizes the divine irony. What was intended as mockery became an unwitting proclamation of His ultimate reign.

Commentary

Luke 23:38 captures a moment of profound divine irony amidst human cruelty. Pontius Pilate, in affixing the superscription "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS," intended to state the formal charge of treason against Jesus and perhaps to subtly mock the Jewish leadership who insisted on His execution. Yet, through this very act, a universal truth was proclaimed: Jesus Christ is indeed King, not just of the Jews, but of all humanity, whether recognized or not. The three languages – Greek for intellect and commerce, Latin for power and law, and Hebrew for religion and covenant – ensured that this declaration resonated across the known world, encompassing all strata of society: the sophisticated, the powerful, and the faithful. Even in His greatest humiliation on the cross, His sovereign identity was officially declared for all to see, unknowingly fulfilling prophecies and underscoring the true nature of His mission, far surpassing any earthly political ambition. This declaration serves as a poignant reminder that even the actions of those who oppose Christ can inadvertently advance God's eternal purposes.

Bonus section

The insistence by the chief priests that Pilate change the inscription (Jn 19:21), arguing it should read "He said, I am King of the Jews," and Pilate's steadfast refusal ("What I have written I have written" - Jn 19:22), underscores the tension and the prophetic weight of the inscription. Pilate's refusal, born of political exasperation, sealed the divine proclamation. The title essentially summarized the basis of the conflict between Jesus, the Jewish leadership, and Rome, culminating in the "king's" execution. Paradoxically, the charge for which He was crucified became a timeless testament to His rightful kingship over all, regardless of race, culture, or societal standing. This moment subtly connects to the ultimate worldwide dominion described in passages like Daniel 7:14, where all "peoples, nations, and languages" serve the Son of Man.

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