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 laughed at him. They came up to him and they offered him cheap wine to drink. 37They said, ‘If you are really the King of the Jews, save your own life.’ There was also a notice fixed at the top of the cross. It said, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ 39One of the bad men on a cross at the side of Jesus started to insult him. He shouted, ‘You say that you are the Messiah, don't you? Then save your own life and save our lives too!’ 40But the bad man on the other cross told him that he should be quiet. He said, ‘You should be more afraid of God. We will die here, as well as him.

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 23:3Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘You have said it.’
• Matthew 27:11Now Jesus stood in front of the Roman ruler, Pilate. The ruler asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘You have said it.’
• Mark 15:18Then the soldiers began to laugh at Jesus. They said, ‘Hello, King of the Jews, you are great!’
• John 19:3They came to him many times and they were saying to him, ‘Hello, King of the Jews, you are great!’ At the same time they slapped his face with their hands.

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