Luke 23:38

Luke 23:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
• New International Version (NIV)There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
• English Standard Version (ESV)There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Context of Luke 23:38

36The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him and [cruelly] offering Him sour wine, 37and sarcastically saying, “If you are [really] the King of the Jews, save Yourself [from death]!” Now there was also an inscription above Him: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39One of the criminals who had been hanged [on a cross beside Him] kept hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us [from death]!” 40But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

Luke 23:38 word by word

ἦν δὲ καὶ ἐπιγραφὴ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων οὗτος.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• a superscriptionἐπιγραφήepigraphē · inscriptionG1923
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• in lettersγράμμαgramma · something writtenG1121
• of GreekἙλληνικός=ἙλληνικόςHellēnikos · GreekG1673
• LatinῬωμαϊκόςRhōmaikos · LatinG4513
• HebrewἙβραϊκόςHebraikos · HebrewG1444
• THISοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• THE KINGβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
• OF THE JEWSἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453

Cross-references for Luke 23:38

• Luke 23:3So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is just as you say.”
• Matthew 27:11Now Jesus stood before [Pilate] the governor, and the governor asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [In affirmation] Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”
• Mark 15:18and they began saluting and mocking Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
• John 19:3and they kept coming up to Him, saying [mockingly], “Hail, King of the Jews [Good health! Peace! Long life to you, King of the Jews]!” And they slapped Him in the face.

Commentaries on Luke 23:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38A superscription - See Matthew 27:37. In letters of Greek, and Latin and Hebrew - The inscription was written in all these languages, which were the most common, that all might see the reason why he was put to death. The inscription was written in Greek, on account of the Hellenistic Jews, who were then at Jerusalem because of the passover; it was written in Latin, that being the language of the government under which he was crucified; and it was written…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35-39Verses 35-39 See the notes at Matthew 27:41-44. Luke 23:38 In letters of Greek … - See the notes at Matthew 27:37. Luke 23:39 One of the malefactors - Matthew Matthew 27:44 says “the thieves - cast the same in his teeth.” See the apparent contradiction in these statements reconciled in the notes at that place. If thou be Christ - If thou art the Messiah; if thou art what thou dost pretend to be. This is a taunt or reproach of the same kind as that of the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 32-43Verses 32-43 As soon as Christ was fastened to the cross, he prayed for those who crucified him. The great thing he died to purchase and procure for us, is the forgiveness of sin. This he prays for. Jesus was crucified between two thieves; in them were shown the different effects the cross of Christ would have upon the children of men in the preaching the gospel. One malefactor was hardened to the last. No troubles of themselves will change a wicked…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38The sign confirmed that Jesus was crucified on the charge of claiming to be the King of the Jews (compare John 19:19–22).Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 23:38

• Death
• Indictments
• Inscriptions
• Irony
• Jesus, the Christ
• Language
• Latin
• Malefactors (Criminals)
• Superscription (Inscription)

In the dictionaries

• Greek
• Greek, Grecian, Hellenist
• King of the Jews
• Certainly
• Commend
• Condemnation
• Crucify
• Gorgeous
• Humiliation of Christ
• Paradise

Commentaries on Luke 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings