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pig | 23:37 Thu 27th Jan 2005 | History
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 what do the letters mean on the cross when he was crucified?
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INRI is Latin for 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews' (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Judaeorum)

maxi29 is certainly correct insofar as the Latin inscription is translated, however John states the titilum was rendered in Greek and Hebrew as well.  Probably the Hebrew was more than likely Habraisti, the dialect that was Aramaic.

According to Luke, the Greek title read:


This is the King of the Jews pronounced:

OUTOS ESTIN O BASILEUS TON IOUDAION

According to Matthew, the text translated to Hebrew  was:

This is Jesus (Yeshua), the king of the Jews

זה הוא ישוע מלך היהודים

The letters "INRI" are initials for the Latin title that Pontius Pilate had written over the head of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 19:19). Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire.

The words were "Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm." Latin uses "I" instead of the English "J", and "V" instead of "U" (i.e., Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum). The English translation is "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

Pilate's title for Christ was actually written in three languages according to John 19 (referred above)...
"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."


The Early Church adopted the first letters of each word of this inscription "INRI" as a symbol.

o God damn it i was going to write it but Octavius got there first

yeah there is a good bit where they say,do not....and Pilate says I have written what I have written

I will have to go and read it at bed time. thanks for the references.

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