John 19 20

John 19:20 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.

John 19:20 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.

John 19:20 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.

John 19:20 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.

John 19:20 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.

John 19 verses

John 19 20 Meaning

John 19:20 describes the public nature and widespread accessibility of the inscription placed on Jesus' cross. It clarifies that a large number of Jews were able to read this "title" (or charge against Him) due to two primary reasons: the execution site's close proximity to the city of Jerusalem, making it easily visible and accessible to the bustling Passover crowds, and the inscription itself being written in three major languages of the time—Hebrew (likely Aramaic), Greek, and Latin—thereby ensuring legibility for diverse segments of the population. This verse highlights how Pilate's decision, despite his own motives, unwittingly served to universally proclaim Jesus' identity as "King of the Jews" to an international audience.

John 19 20 Context

John 19:20 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion. It immediately follows Pilate's instruction to inscribe a titulus (title) on the cross with the declaration, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS" (Jn 19:19). This declaration was a cynical assertion by Pilate, intended perhaps as a sneering insult to both Jesus and the Jewish authorities who had handed Him over. The broader chapter describes Jesus' scourging, Pilate's repeated attempts to release Him, the crowd's demand for His crucifixion, His journey to Golgotha, His actual crucifixion between two criminals, and the subsequent events like the division of His garments. Verse 20 provides crucial detail regarding the broad dissemination of Pilate's declaration, serving as a transitional explanation before the chief priests' vehement protest against the inscription in the following verses (Jn 19:21-22). Historically, Roman executions were public spectacles, and the titulus was common practice to declare the condemned's crime as a warning. The setting during Passover would have meant an extraordinary influx of pilgrims from across the Roman Empire, making Jerusalem an especially diverse and crowded city.

John 19 20 Word analysis

• Many (πολλοὶ - polloi):
  • Significance: Denotes a substantial quantity, not merely a few individuals. It emphasizes the widespread observation, indicating the public nature of the crucifixion. During Passover, Jerusalem's population swelled significantly, ensuring a vast potential audience.
• of the Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων - tōn Ioudaiōn):
  • Significance: Refers to the Jewish people residing in Jerusalem and Judea, many of whom were present for the Passover feast. It specifically identifies the primary audience of the inscription, distinguishing them from Roman officials or other gentiles, though all would have been able to read it due to the multilingual format.
• read (ἀνέγνωσαν - anegnōsan):
  • Significance: An aorist verb, indicating a completed action—they saw and processed the information. It implies not just seeing the words, but understanding their content. It also highlights the widespread literacy expected in Jewish society.
• this title (τὸν τίτλον - ton titlon):
  • Transliteration: Greek from Latin titulus.
  • Meaning: The placard or inscription identifying the condemned person and the crime for which they were executed.
  • Significance: In this context, it referred to Pilate's declaration: "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS" (Jn 19:19). This titulus was unique as it was more of an accusation and an insult than a mere identification of a criminal, and it carried prophetic weight, however unintentionally from Pilate's perspective.
• for (γὰρ - gar):
  • Significance: An explanatory conjunction. It introduces the reasons for the prior statement—why many Jews read the title. It directly links the preceding action (reading) with the following explanations (location and languages).
• the place where Jesus was crucified (ὁ τόπος οὗ ἐσταυρώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς - ho topos hou estaurōthē ho Iēsous):
  • Significance: This refers to Golgotha, or Calvary, located "outside the gate" (Heb 13:12) of Jerusalem, as was customary for executions to avoid ceremonial defilement of the city. However, it was "nigh to the city," meaning it was close enough to be easily seen and accessed by large crowds. This location made the crucifixion a highly visible public event, serving as a deterrent.
• was nigh to the city (ἐγγὺς τῆς πόλεως - engys tēs poleōs):
  • Significance: "Nigh" (near) means within close proximity. This physical closeness ensured maximum visibility from the city walls, main roads, and paths leading to the city, allowing large numbers of people to see and approach the site, particularly during a festival.
• and it was written (καὶ ἦν γεγραμμένον - kai ēn gegrammenon):
  • Significance: Introduces the second reason for the title's wide readability. "Was written" (perfect passive participle) emphasizes the completed, enduring nature of the inscription.
• in Hebrew (Ἑβραϊστί - Hebraïsti):
  • Meaning: In the Jewish language. While strictly "Hebrew," in first-century Judea, this primarily referred to Aramaic, the vernacular Semitic language spoken by the local Jewish populace. Classical Hebrew was reserved for religious texts.
  • Significance: Ensured legibility for the majority of local Jews.
• and Greek (Ἑλληνιστί - Hellēnosti):
  • Meaning: Koine Greek, the common language (lingua franca) throughout the Hellenized Roman Empire.
  • Significance: Addressed Hellenistic Jews (Jews from outside Judea who spoke Greek) and other Greek-speaking inhabitants or visitors from across the Empire. This greatly broadened the inscription's audience.
• and Latin (Ῥωμαϊστί - Rōmaïsti):
  • Meaning: The official language of the Roman Empire, spoken by Roman officials, soldiers, and some educated elites.
  • Significance: While not the primary language of the masses, its inclusion underscored the official Roman authority behind the execution and made the declaration accessible to Roman authorities and any Roman citizens present.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "Many of the Jews therefore read this title": Emphasizes the immediate impact and the intended public disclosure. The word "many" contrasts with Pilate's likely expectation of merely satisfying official procedure, showing a broader reach than might be assumed.
  • "for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city": This phrase explains the physical accessibility of the cross. Executions were always public for deterrent purposes. The Passover pilgrims in Jerusalem would have amplified the audience.
  • "and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin": This highlights the deliberate trilingual nature of the inscription, ensuring maximal intelligibility across the diverse ethnic and linguistic groups present in Jerusalem, especially during a festival. It serves as an ironic testament to the global implications of Christ's kingship.

John 19 20 Bonus section

The trilingual inscription on the cross profoundly symbolizes the universal scope of Jesus' kingship and the future global reach of the gospel. Pilate, acting according to Roman custom and his own stubborn will, unintentionally served as a herald for God's divine purpose. The very accusation meant to humiliate Jesus ironically declared His supreme authority to Jew, Gentile (Greek-speaker), and the governing Roman power. This singular act during the crucifixion prefigures the diverse audience who would one day hear and respond to the good news of Christ, demonstrating that His message transcends all languages, cultures, and societal statuses. It’s an example of God using human instruments, even hostile ones, to fulfill His perfect plan.

John 19 20 Commentary

John 19:20 offers vital insights into the far-reaching impact of Jesus' crucifixion, particularly concerning the identity proclaimed for Him. Pilate, in a display of obstinacy and disdain for the Jewish leaders, ensures that the placard stating "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS" is not only displayed but widely comprehended. The choice of location—a prominent execution site just outside Jerusalem's city walls, accessible to the throng of Passover pilgrims—guaranteed that an enormous multitude witnessed the spectacle. Furthermore, Pilate's decision to inscribe the charge in Hebrew (Aramaic), Greek, and Latin was strategically masterful in its effectiveness. Hebrew communicated to the indigenous Jewish population, Greek served the Hellenized Jews and the wider Roman world's common tongue, and Latin catered to Roman authority and officialdom. Unwittingly, Pilate became an instrument of divine providence, declaring Jesus' kingship universally, beyond ethnic or political boundaries. What began as a derisive taunt by Roman authority ironically became one of the first explicit multi-national, multi-lingual proclamations of Jesus' true royal identity on the very instrument of His suffering, foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel message that would emanate from this crucifixion.