Luke 23 · Verse 38

Luke 23:38

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Luke 23:38, King James Version

Luke 23:38 in other translations

BSBAbove Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
WEBAn inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
ASVAnd there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
YLTAnd there was also a superscription written over him, in letters of Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew, ‘This is the King of the Jews.'
DARBYAnd there was also an inscription written over him in Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew letters: This is the King of the Jews.
BBEAnd these words were put in writing over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
WebsterAnd a superscription also was written over him, in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

What does Luke 23:38 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38. In letters of Greek, &c. Mt 27:37

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 A superscription - See Mat 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 in Hebrew, that being the language of the place in which this deed of darkness was committed. But, by the good providence of God, the inscription itself exculpated him, and proved the Jews to be rebels against, and murderers of, their king. See the note on Mat 27:37. It is not to be wondered at that they wished Pilate to alter this inscription, Joh 19:21, as it was a record of their infamy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 23:32-43

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…

Read the full comment on Luke 23:32-43 →

Luke 23:38 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἦνēnThere wasG1510
δὲdenowG1161
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἐπιγραφὴepigraphēan inscriptionG1923
γεγραμμένηgegrammenēwrittenG1125
ἐπ᾽ep᾽overG1909
αὐτῷautōHimG846
γράμμασινgrammasinwritingsG1121
ἙλληνικοῖςHellēnikoisin GreekG1673
καὶkaiandG2532
ῬωμαϊκοῖςRhōmaikoisin LatinG4513
καὶkaiandG2532
Ἑβραϊκοῖς·Hebraikoisin Hebrew;G1444
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὁhotheG3588
βασιλεὺςbasileusKingG935
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἸουδαίωνIoudaiōnJewsG2453
οὗτος.¶houtosThis [is].G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 23:38

  • Matthew 27:37

    And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

  • Mark 15:26

    And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

  • John 19:19-22

    And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 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. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

  • Luke 23:3

    And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

  • Mark 15:32

    Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

  • John 19:3

    And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

  • Mark 15:18

    And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

  • Matthew 27:11

    And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3; Mt 27:11,37; Mr 15:18,26,32; Joh 19:3,19-22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 23:37

    And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

  • Luke 23:38

    And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

  • Luke 23:39

    And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Read all of Luke 23

Luke 23:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y había también sobre él un título escrito con letras griegas, y latinas, y hebraicas: ESTE ES EL REY DE LOS JUDIOS.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il y avait aussi au-dessus de lui un écriteau en lettres grecques, romaines, et hébraïques: Celui-ci est le roi des Juifs.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es war aber auch eine Überschrift über ihm geschrieben in griechischen und lateinischen und hebräischen Buchstaben: Dieser ist der König der Juden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Erat autem et superscriptio scripta super eum litteris græcis, et latinis, et hebraicis: Hic est rex Judæorum.