Matthew 27 37

Matthew 27:37 kjv

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

Matthew 27:37 nkjv

And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Matthew 27:37 niv

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Matthew 27:37 esv

And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

Matthew 27:37 nlt

A sign was fastened above Jesus' head, announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 37 Meaning

Matthew 27:37 details the charge for which Jesus was crucified, displayed prominently above His head on the cross. This inscription, prepared by Roman authorities, identified Jesus of Nazareth and declared His kingship, serving as the official legal reason for His execution. For the Jewish religious leaders, it was an acknowledgment of their accusation that Jesus claimed to be their king, seen as a challenge to Roman authority and a blasphemous assertion of messianic power. For Pilate, it was a subtle act of defiance against the Jewish leadership and a Roman declaration of the specific crime of rebellion. Yet, paradoxically, for believers, it was an unintentional proclamation of Jesus' true identity as the promised Messiah and King, fulfilling ancient prophecies even in His moment of profound humiliation.

Matthew 27 37 Context

Matthew chapter 27 describes the culminating events of Jesus' earthly life, leading to His crucifixion. Prior to verse 37, Jesus has been condemned by the Sanhedrin, brought before Pilate, scourged, mocked by Roman soldiers, and then led to Golgotha to be crucified. The immediate verses describe His arrival at Golgotha, the offering of wine mixed with gall (which He refused), and the soldiers gambling for His clothes. Verse 37 specifically refers to the titulus or accusation placard affixed to the cross, a standard Roman practice to publicly declare the reason for an execution. This specific accusation—"THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS"—was the result of the Jewish leaders accusing Jesus of sedition before Pilate, claiming He proclaimed Himself a king, which was seen as a direct challenge to Caesar's authority (Lk 23:2; Jn 19:12). Pilate's decision to inscribe this particular charge, despite the Jewish leaders' objections (Jn 19:21), carried multiple layers of meaning, reflecting Roman political pragmatism, personal antagonism towards the Jewish religious elite, and an unwitting declaration of divine truth.

Matthew 27 37 Word analysis

• And set up: Signifies an intentional, public act by Roman authorities. The verb implies erection or placement. It underscores the official nature of the declaration.

• over his head: This was the conventional placement for such an inscription on a cross, making it clearly visible to all who passed by and stood near. It was positioned for maximum public effect.

• his accusation: (Greek: tēs aitias autou). Aitia means "charge," "cause," or "ground of accusation." It points to the official legal basis, from the Roman perspective, for Jesus' execution. It wasn't merely a statement but a judicial declaration of guilt.

• written: (Greek: gegrammenēn). Indicates that it was a formal, official record, inscribed in a durable manner. In John's Gospel (Jn 19:20), it's stated that the inscription was in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, ensuring widespread understanding and amplifying its public nature. This multi-language detail, while not explicit in Matthew, emphasizes its formality.

• THIS IS JESUS: Identifies the person being executed, giving the full name to distinguish Him. The phrase confirms the man on the cross is indeed the specific individual accused.

• THE KING OF THE JEWS: (Greek: ho Basileus tōn Ioudaiōn).

  • The King: Refers to a sovereign ruler. This was the specific title Jewish people looked for in their Messiah (Lk 1:32).
  • of the Jews: Designates the specific nation over whom this "king" was proclaimed to rule.
  • This phrase was deeply ironic and profoundly significant. From the Roman perspective, it was the charge of sedition—claiming to be a rival king to Caesar. From the Jewish leadership's perspective, it was a blasphemous messianic claim and an embarrassment. From God's perspective, and for those who had faith, it was a literal truth and an unwitting fulfillment of divine prophecy about the Messiah's true identity (Is 9:6-7; Jer 23:5; Zech 9:9). Pilate’s intent was likely to mock the Jewish leadership by crucifying "their King" as a common criminal, or to signal to Caesar that he had dealt with a potential insurrectionist decisively.

• words-group analysis:

  • "And set up over his head his accusation written": This entire phrase describes a standard Roman legal procedure for crucifixion, ensuring that the condemned person's crime was publicly known. It emphasizes the Roman judicial system's involvement and its role in authorizing Jesus' death. It serves as an official, unarguable public statement about the alleged crime.
  • "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS": This full sentence constitutes the precise "accusation" or "title." It succinctly encapsulates the core conflict surrounding Jesus: His identity and the nature of His authority. It’s both a legal charge and, unwittingly, a theological declaration. The use of "THIS IS" (Greek: houtos estin) provides an immediate, present-tense declaration, confronting onlookers with Jesus' declared status. It stands as a pivotal point of truth amidst a scene of injustice.

Matthew 27 37 Bonus section

• The variations in the exact wording of the inscription across the four Gospels (Mt 27:37; Mk 15:26; Lk 23:38; Jn 19:19) are not contradictions but rather demonstrate the core truth communicated in different perspectives, perhaps abbreviated for clarity or emphasis by the respective Evangelists. John's version (Jn 19:19) adds "of Nazareth," providing a more complete identity, while Luke adds "in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew" (Lk 23:38), highlighting its universal legibility and impact.
• This inscription foreshadows Jesus' ultimate coronation not in glory initially, but through suffering and sacrifice. His "throne" was the cross, His "crown" was thorns, and His "scepter" was His pierced hands. Yet, through this ignominy, His eternal Kingship was secured and ultimately proclaimed.
• The persistence of Pilate despite the protests of the Jewish leaders (Jn 19:21-22) —"What I have written I have written"—shows a rare firmness in Pilate, often seen as weak. This highlights the providential hand of God ensuring the exact title was displayed.

Matthew 27 37 Commentary

Matthew 27:37 stands as a powerful summary of the underlying reason for Jesus' crucifixion, encapsulating the confluence of political, religious, and divine intentions. The inscription, crafted by Pilate, functioned on multiple levels: it was a Roman declaration of sedition against Jesus (as a perceived rebel against imperial authority), a scornful response to the Jewish leaders who presented Him as such, and most profoundly, an ironic, yet true, announcement of Jesus' actual identity.

Pilate, though unwilling to condemn Jesus for blasphemy, found a convenient political charge: the claim to be a king. This was Jesus' "crime" in Roman eyes. Yet, the inscription’s directness – "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS" – inadvertently validated His claims. He was the King, not of a worldly dominion Pilate would understand (Jn 18:36), but of an eternal kingdom. Thus, in the lowest point of His humiliation, nailed to a cross, the true nature of His reign was publicly declared for all to see. This titulus became a paradoxical testament, simultaneously representing Rome’s perceived triumph, the Jewish leadership’s perceived victory, and God’s undeniable declaration of His Anointed One. It points to God's sovereignty, where even the acts of unbelievers serve His ultimate purpose.