So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Parallel translations
- WEB Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”
- KJV And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
- NKJV Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “ It is as you say.”
- NASB Now Pilate asked Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”
- NLT So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pilate asks if Jesus is the King of the Jews, and He answers, 'So you say.' Jesus affirms a kingship that transcends political rebellion.
Overview
Pilate probes the political charge, and Jesus gives a measured affirmation. His answer acknowledges His kingship while signaling that it is not the earthly threat Pilate fears. He stands as the true King whose reign is established not by force but through His coming death and resurrection.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- John 1:49“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
- 1 Tim 6:13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:
- Luke 22:70So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
- Luke 1:32–33He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- Mark 15:2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- Mark 15:32Let 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 23:38Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- Mark 15:18And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- Matt 27:11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- John 19:3And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.
- Luke 19:38–40“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
- John 18:33–37Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
- John 19:19–21Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 23:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.