And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Parallel translations
- WEB The superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
- KJV And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- NKJV And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- NASB The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
- NLT A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.”
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
The charge nailed above Jesus reads 'THE KING OF THE JEWS.' Pilate's accusation is, ironically, the truth.
Overview
Roman custom posted the condemned man's crime above his head; here the stated offense is Jesus' kingship. Intended as scorn, the title proclaims a deeper reality, for Jesus truly is Israel's promised King. In John's account Pilate refused to change it, and providentially the gospel is announced over the cross itself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Matt 27:37Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- John 19:18–22There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.
- Zech 9:9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- Luke 23:37–38“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”
- Matt 2:2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
- Ps 2:6“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”
- Mark 15:2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- Isa 10:7But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.
- Prov 21:1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
- Deut 23:5Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.
- Isa 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Ps 76:10Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 15:26 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.