Luke 23:38

Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The text records a notice placed above Jesus during the crucifixion, occurring immediately after religious leaders mock His kingship (Luke 23:37) and a criminal on a adjacent cross demands salvation (Luke 23:39).

The words — ἐπιγραφὴ (epigraphē) means an inscription, and γεγραμμένη (gegrammenē) specifies that it was written.

The thread — Parallel accounts record the same charge at the crucifixion site in Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26, and John 19:19.

Why it lands — The text states a public declaration of Jesus’ title is affixed to the cross, asking the reader to confront the factual claim that a condemned man is king before considering its theological implications.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἦνēnThere was δὲdenow καὶkaialso ἐπιγραφὴepigraphēan inscription γεγραμμένηgegrammenēwritten ἐπ᾽ep᾽over αὐτῷautōHim γράμμασινgrammasinwritings ἙλληνικοῖςHellēnikoisin Greek καὶkaiand ῬωμαϊκοῖςRhōmaikoisin Latin καὶkaiand Ἑβραϊκοῖς·Hebraikoisin Hebrew;ἐστινestinis ὁhothe βασιλεὺςbasileusKing τῶνtōnof the ἸουδαίωνIoudaiōnJews οὗτος.¶houtosThis [is].

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Matthew 27:37 Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mark 15:26 And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
John 19:19 Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mark 15:32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.
Luke 23:3 So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Matthew 27:11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Mark 15:18 And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
John 19:3 And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.