And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Parallel translations
- WEB The superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
- BSB And the charge inscribed against Him read: 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 27:37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- John 19:18–22Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
- Zech 9:9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
- Luke 23:37–38And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
- Matt 2:2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
- Ps 2:6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
- Mark 15:2And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.
- Isa 10:7Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
- Prov 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
- Deut 23:5Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
- Isa 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
- Ps 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
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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
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