And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
Parallel translations
- WEB Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”
- BSB So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- 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 1:49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
- 1 Tim 6:13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
- Luke 22:70Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
- Luke 1:32–33He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
- Mark 15:2And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
- Mark 15:32Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
- Luke 23:38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- Mark 15:18And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
- Matt 27:11And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
- John 19:3And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
- Luke 19:38–40Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
- John 18:33–37Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
- John 19:19–21And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.