John 19:20

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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

18where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 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. 21Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

John 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 19:13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
• John 5:2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
• Acts 21:40So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
• Acts 22:2And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:
• Acts 26:14And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying 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 gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
• Acts 21:37Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek?
• Revelation 9:11And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name 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

• Death
• Hebrew
• Indictments
• Jesus, the Christ
• Language
• Latin

In the dictionaries

• Greek
• Jesus
• Chaldee language
• Encamp
• Humiliation of Christ
• Latin
• Thenceforth
• Writing
• Golgotha
• Grecians; Greeks

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