✨WEB · Luke 23:38
What does Luke 23:38 mean?
"An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”"
— Luke 23:38 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,
and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
Explanation
Luke 23:38 describes a small but significant detail from the crucifixion of Jesus. As he hung on the cross, a sign was placed above him bearing the words "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS," written in three languages: Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. This inscription was known as a "titulus," a placard Roman authorities commonly used to state the crime of a person being executed, both as a form of public record and as a warning to onlookers.
The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, a physician and companion of the apostle Paul, likely for a largely Gentile audience, to give an orderly and reliable account of the life of Jesus and the origins of the Christian faith. All four Gospels record this inscription, though with slightly different wording, and this reflects the reality that eyewitnesses recalled the essential meaning rather than a single fixed script. The placard was ordered by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who had interrogated Jesus and found the charge against him to be that he claimed kingship. In writing "King of the Jews," Pilate likely intended it mockingly or as a warning against rebellion, satisfying the religious leaders who had accused Jesus while also subtly asserting Rome's authority over any rival claims to kingship.
The choice of three languages is meaningful. Hebrew was the language of the Jewish people and their Scriptures, Greek was the common language of trade and culture across the Mediterranean world, and Latin was the official language of Rome. By using all three, the inscription communicated its message to every group
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