KJV: And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
YLT: And Pilate also wrote a title, and put it on the cross, and it was written, 'Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews;'
Darby: And Pilate wrote a title also and put it on the cross. But there was written: Jesus the Nazaraean, the King of the Jews.
ASV: And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was written, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Ἔγραψεν | Wrote |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: γράφω Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters. |
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καὶ | also |
Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but. |
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τίτλον | a title |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: τίτλος Sense: a title. |
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ὁ | - |
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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Πιλᾶτος | Pilate |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Πειλᾶτος Sense: the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified. |
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ἔθηκεν | put [it] |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: τίθημι Sense: to set, put, place. |
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σταυροῦ | cross |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: σταυρός Sense: an upright stake, esp. |
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ἦν | It was |
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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δὲ | now |
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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γεγραμμένον | written |
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: γράφω Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters. |
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ΙΗΣΟΥΣ | Jesus |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor. |
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ΝΑΖΩΡΑΙΟΣ | Nazareth |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ναζωραῖος Sense: an inhabitant of Nazareth. |
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ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ | King |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: βασιλεύς Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king. |
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ΤΩΝ | of the |
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ΙΟΥΔΑΙΩΝ | Jews |
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: Ἰουδαῖος Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race. |
Greek Commentary for John 19:19
Only John tells us that Pilate himself wrote it and John alone uses the technical Latin word titlon (several times in inscriptions), for the board with the name of the criminal and the crime in which he is condemned; Mark (Mark 15:26) and Luke (Luke 23:28) use επιγραπη epigraphē (superscription). Matthew (Matthew 27:37) has simply αιτιαν aitian (accusation). The inscription in John is the fullest of the four and has all in any of them save the words “this is” (ουτος εστιν houtos estin) in Matthew 27:37. [source]
Only here and John 19:20, in the New Testament. John uses the technical Roman term titulus, a placard or notice. Used for a bill or notice of sale affixed to a house. Thus Ovid, of a heartless creditor: “She sent our household goods under the placard (sub-titulum )i.e., put the house and furniture up for sale (“Remedia Amoris,” 302). Meaning also the title of a book; an epitaph. Matthew has αἰτίαν , accusation; Mark, ἐπιγραφὴ τῆς αἰτίας superscriptionof the accusation; Luke, ἐπιγραφὴ superscriptionJohn alone mentions the fact that Pilate wrote the inscription. [source]
Mark: The King of the Jews. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- Luke: This is the King of the Jews. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- John: Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.The essential element of the superscription, King of the Jews, is common to all. It expressed, on its face, the main intent of Pilate, which was to cast contempt on the Jews. “In the sense of the man Pilate, it meant: Jesus, the King of the Jewish fanatics, crucified in the midst of Jews, who should all be thus executed. In the sense of the Jews: Jesus, the seditionary, the King of the rebels. In the sense of the political judge: Jesus, for whose accusation the Jews, with their ambiguous accusation, may answer. In the sense of the divine irony which ruled over the expression: Jesus, the Messiah, by the crucifixion become in very truth the King of the people of God” (Lange). [source]
The wording of the title is differently given by each Evangelist.Matthew: This is Jesus the King of the Jews. Mark: The King of the Jews. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- Luke: This is the King of the Jews. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- John: Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.The essential element of the superscription, King of the Jews, is common to all. It expressed, on its face, the main intent of Pilate, which was to cast contempt on the Jews. “In the sense of the man Pilate, it meant: Jesus, the King of the Jewish fanatics, crucified in the midst of Jews, who should all be thus executed. In the sense of the Jews: Jesus, the seditionary, the King of the rebels. In the sense of the political judge: Jesus, for whose accusation the Jews, with their ambiguous accusation, may answer. In the sense of the divine irony which ruled over the expression: Jesus, the Messiah, by the crucifixion become in very truth the King of the people of God” (Lange). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 19:19
The writing upon the top of the cross (our word epigraph). Luke 23:38 has this same word, but Matthew 27:37 has “accusation” See Matthew for discussion. John 19:19 has “title” (τιτλον titlon). [source]
Mark 15:26 has “the superscription of his accusation” Matthew 27:37, “his accusation,” John 19:19 “a title.” But they all refer to the charge written at the top on the cross giving, as was the custom, the accusation on which the criminal was condemned, with his name and residence. Put all the reports together and we have: This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. This full title appeared in Latin for law, in Aramaic for the Jews, in Greek for everybody (John 19:20). [source]
An old word for pest, plague, pestilence, Paul the pest. In N.T. only here and Luke 21:11 This was an offence against Roman law if it could be proven. “Plotted against at Damascus, plotted against at Jerusalem, expelled from Pisidian Antioch, stoned at Lystra, scourged and imprisoned at Philippi, accused of treason at Thessalonica, haled before the proconsul at Corinth, cause of a serious riot at Ephesus, and now finally of a riot at Jerusalem” (Furneaux). Specious proof could have been produced, but was not. Tertullus went on to other charges with which a Roman court had no concern (instance Gallio in Corinth). Throughout the world The Roman inhabited earth Πρωτοστατης Prōtostatēs is an old word in common use from πρωτος prōtos and ιστημι histēmi a front-rank man, a chief, a champion. Here only in the N.T. This charge is certainly true. About “sect” (αιρεσις hairesis) see note on Acts 5:17. Ναζωραιοι Nazōraioi here only in the plural in the N.T., elsewhere of Jesus (Matthew 2:23; Matthew 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5, John 18:7; John 19:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 6:14; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:9). The disciple is not above his Master. There was a sneer in the term as applied to Jesus and here to his followers. [source]
The Roman inhabited earth Πρωτοστατης Prōtostatēs is an old word in common use from πρωτος prōtos and ιστημι histēmi a front-rank man, a chief, a champion. Here only in the N.T. This charge is certainly true. About “sect” (αιρεσις hairesis) see note on Acts 5:17. Ναζωραιοι Nazōraioi here only in the plural in the N.T., elsewhere of Jesus (Matthew 2:23; Matthew 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5, John 18:7; John 19:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 6:14; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:9). The disciple is not above his Master. There was a sneer in the term as applied to Jesus and here to his followers. [source]