English Standard Version
John 19:20
20Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.
John 19:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
- New International Version (NIV)Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.
Context of John 19:20
18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" 22Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."
Read all of John 19John 19:20 word by word
τοῦτον οὖν τὸν τίτλον πολλοὶ ἀνέγνωσαν τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ὅτι ἐγγὺς ἦν ὁ τόπος τῆς πόλεως ὅπου ἐσταυρώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς· καὶ ἦν γεγραμμένον Ἑβραϊστί, Ῥωμαϊστί, Ἑλληνιστί.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- titleτίτλοςtitlos · titleG5102
- thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- readἀναγινώσκωanaginōskō · to readG314
- manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- of the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- the placeτόποςtopos · placeG5117
- whereὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- crucified wasσταυρόωstauroō · to crucifyG4717
- nighἐγγύςeggus · nearG1451
- to the cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- in HebrewἙβραϊστίHebraisti · HebrewG1447
- GreekἙλληνιστί=ἙλληνικόςHellēnisti · GreekG1676
- LatinῬωμαϊστίRhōmaisti · in LatinG4515
Cross-references for John 19:20
- John 19:13So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.
- John 5:2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.
- Acts 21:40And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
- Acts 22:2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
- Acts 26:14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
- Revelation 16:16And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
- Acts 21:37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?
- Revelation 9:11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
Commentaries on John 19:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Hebrew,... Greek,... Latin - See on Luke 23:38; (note). On Matthew 27:37; (note), I have given this title in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, as mentioned by this evangelist. The reader, however, will not be displeased to find the same title repeated here in a character which was written in the fourth century, and is probably nearly resembling that used in the earliest ages of Christianity. The Greek and Latin character, which is inserted here, is an exact…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 See the notes at Matthew 27:32-37. John 19:22 What I have written - This declaration implied that he would make no change. He was impatient, and weary of their solicitations. He had yielded to them contrary to the convictions of his own conscience, and he now declared his purpose to yield no further.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-30Verses 19-30 Here are some remarkable circumstances of Jesus' death, more fully related than before. Pilate would not gratify the chief priests by allowing the writing to be altered; which was doubtless owing to a secret power of God upon his heart, that this statement of our Lord's character and authority might continue. Many things done by the Roman soldiers were fulfilments of the prophecies of the Old Testament. All things therein written shall be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-22Pilate posted a sign on the cross. Roman soldiers usually provided a written notice of the criminal’s name and crimes. As a possible act of revenge against the Jewish high council, Pilate ordered the sign to identify Jesus of Nazareth as the King of the Jews. The sign was posted in three languages for the whole world to understand.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2219-22. Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross ... Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews ... and it was written in Hebrew--or Syro-Chaldaic, the language of the country. and Greek--the current language. and Latin--the official language. These were the chief languages of the earth, and this secured that all spectators should be able to read it. Stung by this, the Jewish ecclesiastics entreat that it may be so altered as to express, not His real…Read the comment
Topics related to John 19:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 19
- 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
- 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
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