REVEALED: True Story of INRI on the Cross of Jesus Christ
The initials INRI may be seen on crucifixes all around the world, including those in Italy. The significance of these letters naturally piques the interest of all who encounter them. So, what exactly does INRI stand for on the cross? The Latin inscription Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (Iesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) is abbreviated as INRI, which means “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” However, there is a more in-depth and complicated approach to comprehend what INRI is all about. More on it in the near future.
At the time of Jesus Christ, the Romans were the ones who had the ability to impose the death penalty on criminals.
This inscription was written out in three languages, according to John’s Gospel (19:19-22), and it was written in three languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
As a result, even though Latin was the official language, Hebrew and Greek were also extremely significant and widely spoken throughout the country.
- The task would have been extremely tough due to the fact that these three separate foreign languages were not commonly spoken in Medieval Europe at the time when all of these paintings were created.
- And even if you were successful in putting your thoughts on paper, who would be able to read them?
- They chose to utilize the initials of the four Latin terms since it was simpler to instruct the audience on what INRI stands for when they saw the initials.
- That would be a really uninteresting conclusion to the narrative if that were the only thing there was to it.
Take a look at these amazing facts: Interestingly, this is not the first time that Jesus has been referred to as the “King of the Jews.” When the Magi (Wise Men from the East) came to visit the newborn Jesus in Matthew 2:2, they referred to him as “King of the Jews,” which is another title for him.
- Jonathan Cahn describes how the Old Testament foretells Nazareth as a city that would be indelibly identified with the Messiah hundreds of years before the events of the New Testament take place.
- When John the Baptist introduced Jesus, he used language from Old Testament Messianic prophesies, such as “Behold the lamb of God who wipes away the sin of the world.” The INRI inscription is not intended to be a declaration, but rather an indictment.
- It was normal practice back in the day to place the charge on the cross over the head of the defendant.
- As recorded in John 19:21, when the Rabbis saw the INRI inscription on the cross of Jesus, they protested to it.
- They did so because they were aware that the Messiah would wield the scepter (Genesis 49:10).
- It is clear from Psalm 2:1-2 that the Messiah will be referred to be God’s son – or the Son of the Father.
- Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace are some of the words used to describe him in Isaiah 53:3.
The New Testament contains the words of Jesus, who states that “just as Moses hoisted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” (John 3:14 in the New International Version) When Jesus stated “lifted up,” he was referring to his own crucifixion, which had already occurred.
The serpent, on the other hand, had it coming.
And Man is deserving of punishment because he chose to follow the snake instead of following God.
And the snake deserved to be punished.
More information about this intriguing tale may be found in the following article: Moses and the Bronze Serpent in the Wilderness: A Strange Tale of Moses and the Bronze Serpent” Despite the fact that the Old Testament prophets predicted that the Messiah would be born at Bethlehem, Matthew informs us in Matthew 2:23 that Jesus would be known as a Nazarene because of what the prophets had predicted.
- Strangely enough, Matthew makes no mention of any one prophet, and researchers have never been able to pinpoint a single prophet who stated it.
- Is this what Matthew was referring to?
- It has been suggested that if you translate INRI into Hebrew, it will spell out YHWH (the tetragrammaton), which is God’s ineffable name, among other things.
- But keep in mind that the full charge is included in the Biblical inscription of John 19:21, which was more than enough to irritate the Rabbis.
- It is true that INRI is never mentioned in the Bible.
- Here are a few examples of Bible scriptures that are relevant to the story: According to Matthew 2:2, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
- Pilate also inscribed an inscription on the crucifixion and placed it above the head of Jesus, according to John 19:19-22.
- Because the site of Jesus’ crucifixion was close to the city, many Jews were able to see this inscription, which was inscribed in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
- “What I have written is what I have written,” Pilate said.
- The kingdoms of the earth gather themselves together, and the rulers form a council against the Lord and against his Anointed, proclaiming.
- There will be no end to the expansion of his rule and the establishment of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, as he establishes and upholds it with justice and righteousness from this time forward and forevermore.
ESV translation of John 8:28 “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own power but speak only in accordance with what the Father has taught me,” Jesus explained. Is your faith based on facts? Have you made a commitment to follow Christ?
The Meaning of INRI on the Cross
One of the primary reasons that Jesus, the son of man, came to the earth was to demonstrate His love for us by dying in our place. Many prophets in the Old Testament foretold His birth, and they referred to Him as King – a King in Israel – at the time of His birth. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 is a biblical passage. More information on Jesus’ sacrifice may be found in this article: When Jesus died on the cross, what does it mean that he died for our sins? Have you ever wondered what was written on the sign that was put just over the head of Jesus Christ when he was hanging on a cross?
We may learn about what was written on the cross and who wrote it by studying the Scriptures, which are available online.
1) The Meaning of the Letters INRI
The abbreviations are as follows: It is abbreviated as INRI, which stands for Jesus of Nazareth, Rex Iudaeorum, which translates as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” What is the significance of the acronym INRI, which is the Latin for the charge on the crucifixion, Jesus of Nazareth, The King Of The Jews? Why is it used? The reason for this is because the Vulgate Latin version of the Bible was the very first copy ever created. St. Jerome’s translation of the first complete combined bible into Vulgate Latin is considered the first complete combined bible.
It is thought that the Latin portion of the charge became more familiar to the public and was reduced to INRI.
2) Pontius Pilate
When it came to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who was the person in charge? It was Pontius Pilate, who was also the one who scrawled INRI on the crucifixion above the head of Jesus, who was responsible for this. What was his name? The majority of people only remember Pontius Pilate as the man who issued the order to crucify Jesus; they are unaware of his background, origin, complete name, or the language in which he communicated. Pontius Pilate was a Roman, and it is likely that he spent his early years in the city of Rome.
Pontius’ birth date and place of birth are unknown, however he was a Roman governor in the Roman province of Judaea at the time of his birth.
3) INRI – Bible Reference
Matthew, like the other books of the Gospel, provided us the text that was written there: “And raised up above his head his charge inscribed, this is Jesus the king of the Jews.” Matthew 27:37 (KJV) The Gospel of John also describes what was written above the head of the Son of God on the crucifixion: “And Pilate inscribed a title on the cross and nailed it there.” “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews,” was written on the wall in Hebrew.
John 19:19 King James Version John didn’t stop there; he went on to explain why it was so simple for people to understand what was written: “This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city: and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.” “This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city: and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.” John 19:20 King James Version The letter inscribed on our Lord Jesus’s head was written in three different languages.
It should be noted that the most frequent languages spoken during the time of Jesus were Greek and Aramaic, with some individuals also speaking Hebrew.
4) INRI and Titulus Crucis
What exactly is the Titulus Crucis? We can tell from the words that it is written in Latin and that the meaning is “The Title of the Cross” from the Latin. One typical blunder that people make is to refer to the Titulus Crucis as the cross, which is incorrect. However, this is not the whole cross; rather, it is a portion of the true cross (relic). When Jesus is hanging on the cross, a piece of wood is placed above his head to serve as a support. That is precisely wherePontius Pilate penned the ChargeINRI in the ChargeINRI (Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews).
- At subsequent years, the relic was housed in the Catholic Church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which literally translates as “Holy Cross in Jerusalem.” After Jesus’ wrists and feet were nailed to the crucifixion, an inscription was put above his head, indicating that he had died (the relic).
- What happened to the crucifixion was not explicitly specified, but it must have been removed a few days after Jesus was taken down from it and re-erected near Golgotha, according to tradition (where Jesus was crucified, also called Calvary).
- It was constructed during the reign of Hadrian, the Roman Emperor at the time.
- Hadrian had constructed a temple known as the Temple of Venus, which stood on the site.
- The temple was completely demolished.
- Artifacts were also gathered, and it is possible that the relic from the cross was included in this grouping.
- When Helena discovered the relic, she split it into pieces and scattered them across the city.
- One of the final sections of theTitulus was unearthed in 1492 in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which literally translates as “Holy Cross in Jerusalem.” That was the church that Helena had erected for herself a few years before.
Discover Crucifix Necklaces
The Titulus Crucis is a religious symbol in Latin. We can tell from the phrases that it is written in Latin and that the meaning is “The Cross’s Title.” Some individuals make the mistake of referring to the Titulus Crucis as the cross, which is a widespread misunderstanding. Despite the name, this is not the true cross; rather, it is a portion of it (relic). When Jesus is hanging on the crucifixion, a piece of wood is placed over his head to serve as a cross. Pontius Pilate penned the ChargeINRI in precisely that location (Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews).
- At following years, the relic was housed in the Catholic Church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which literally translates as “Holy Cross in Jerusalem”.
- Once Jesus’ death on the crucifixion, he was removed from the scene; where did the cross with the placard end up after it was carried away?
- Aelia Capitol Ina is the name of the city that was founded on the site where the cross was cast.
- Helena, Constantine the Great’s mother, traveled to Jerusalem some years later, according to legend.
- Goddesses were worshiped at this location.
- A few graves may be found beneath this temple, and it is thought that one of them is that of Jesus’ tomb.
- After taking the relic, Helena placed it in the Chapel of her own design.
- At least two of the sections were destroyed, possibly during a battle or during the Moslem invasion in the 9th century in Europe.
Titulus was discovered in 1492 at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which translates as “Holy Cross in Jerusalem,” and was the final piece of the puzzle. That was the church that Helena had erected for herself a few years before.
What does INRI on a crucifix mean?
It is recorded in the first three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke that when Jesus is nailed on the cross, the soldiers “put over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews,” according to the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 27:37). The Gospel of John goes into further detail on this particular part of Jesus’ Passion tale, noting how the Jewish officials objected to the appearance of this sign. Pilate is the one who orders the sign and sees to it that it is printed in many languages so that everyone may understand what is being said.
- “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews,” the inscription stated.
- Thus, the chief priests of the Jews instructed Pilate to write “The King of the Jews,” rather than “I am the King of the Jews,” because Jesus had stated, “‘I am the King of the Jews.” “What I have written is what I have written,” Pilate said emphatically.
- This alludes to the Latin version of Pilate’s accusation, Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum, which means “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews” (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews).
- Because the Catholic Church was founded in the Roman Empire and Latin eventually became the “official” language of the Roman Church, INRI was chosen for the inscription rather than the Greek or Hebrew phrases that were originally proposed.
- Despite the fact that his throne was the cross, he lords over us with compassion and mercy.
- More information may be found at: A majestic anthem in praise of Jesus, King of the Universe.
What does INRI mean?
A symbol with the letters ‘INRI’ may be found on a number of paintings of the cross. What exactly does this mean?
Meaning of INRI
INRI is an abbreviation for ‘Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum,’ which means ‘Jesus Nazarenus, King of the Jews’. It’s a Latin phrase. INRI is an acronym that stands for ‘Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.’ On a wooden sign, the Roman ruler Pilate penned these phrases in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew and nailed it on the cross as a message to everyone who happened to be passing by (See John 19:19). INRI is the ‘title’ that Pilate assigns to Jesus as the basis for His trial and execution on the cross.
You may read in the gospels that Jesus refers to the kingdom of God as His own kingdom on a number of occasions. During His ascension to the right hand of God, Jesus implies that He is the Son of Man, the Messiah. Because of this, the leaders despise Him.
Jesus as ‘king of the Jews’
During Jesus’ trial, Pilate interrogates Him, asking if He is, in fact, the “king of the Jews.” “You say it,” Jesus responds, before telling him that “My Kingdom is not of this world.” It would have been necessary for My servants to fight in order to prevent me from being given to the Jews if My Kingdom were of this world; nevertheless, My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). He is, without a doubt, the king of the Jews and the ruler of all the nations of the world. However, Jesus did not come to govern, but rather to serve humanity through His life and death.
Consequently, God has elevated him to a position of honor and conferred on him the name that is above other names (Philippians 2: 8-9).
Jesus the Nazarene
Pilate wrote “Jesus the Nazarene” since that was the moniker by which most people were familiar with Him. Jesus had been a resident of Nazareth for a long period of time. This location was not well-liked in Israel. It was located in the Galilee area, which was known as the ‘Galilee of the Gentiles’ because of the large number of Gentiles who lived there. Upon hearing of Jesus’ arrival in Nazareth for the first time, Nathanael questions whether anything good can come out of the place where he comes from.
As a result, several doubters questioned: “Does the Christ intend to arrive from Galilee?
However, they failed to remember that Jesus, the ‘king of the Jews’ (Matthew 2:2), was born in the town of Bethlehem.
Why Pilate wrote INRI on the sign
According to the Bible, Pilate was motivated to write INRI on the sign for reasons that are not specifically stated. It’s possible that he intended to make his feelings regarding Jesus’ case crystal plain to everyone. He judged Him to be innocent, and he attempted to get him released from a death sentence on multiple occasions. Pilate said to the leaders, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no blame in him,” and, “Behold your King!” Pilate also remarked to the people. (See also John 19:6, 14).
- In their warning to Pilate, they stated that if he did not indict Jesus, they would label him an enemy of the Roman emperor.
- If the caesar in Rome were to hear that, he may lose his position as well as his wealth and assets.
- Pilate, on the other hand, was given the opportunity to exact vengeance on the accusers.
- It should come as no surprise that they are not pleased with the text.
The Lord transforms it into a message of hope and redemption through the person of Jesus Christ.
The verdict for your sins
When it comes to your sins, the decision of Pilate was the verdict of God, in a spiritual sense. “He was pierced for our trespasses, he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and it is through his wounds that we are healed,” says the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53: 5-6). A wonderful poem written by a Christian poet about Jesus’ death on the cross is the final piece I want to share with you at the conclusion of this exposition. It was my sin, O Lord, that led you there; I am the heavy cross you were forced to shoulder; I am the rope that bound you to the tree; the whip, nail, hammer, and spear; the blood-stained crown of thorns you were forced to wear; it was, alas, for me that it happened.
What does INRI stand for? What was written on the sign nailed to the cross above Jesus’ head?
QuestionAnswer “Pilate had a notice made and nailed on the cross,” according to John 19:19 (NIV). JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS” was written on the wall. “Many Jews read this sign,” John 19:20 says, “since the spot where Jesus was crucified was close to the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.” The sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. When the cross of Jesus is presented today, the initials INRI are frequently placed on the sign above the cross, as is the case in the past.
- The text is referred to as a “title” in John’s gospel, but the gospels of Mark and Matthew also refer to it as a “accusation.” It was traditional to place a cross over the heads of those who had been crucified, along with the crime for which they had been punished and the name of the victim.
- However, in an ironic twist, the “crime” for which Jesus was crucified was not a crime at all, but rather a statement that is entirely true.
- He is the ruler of the entire universe and all of its people.
- The handwriting of ordinances that were against us, that were contradictory to us, has been “blotted out” by Christ, who “nailed it to the cross” in order to remove it from the way of the people (Colossians 2:14).
Who knew what was on the sign that was affixed to the crucifixion over Jesus’s head, but we do.
Subscribe to the
Get our Question of the Week emailed to your inbox every weekday morning! Got Questions Ministries is a trademark of Got Questions Ministries, Inc., registered in the state of California in the year 2002. All intellectual property rights are retained. Policy Regarding Personal Information The information on this page was last updated on January 4, 2022.
What does INRI mean?
The INRI abbreviation stands for International Nuclear Research Institute. On crosses, these letters are usually seen over Jesus’ head, and they represent the apostles. As a result, the New Testament does not provide a straightforward definition for INRI since these letters reflect Latin words rather than Greek ones. But the book of Matthew does provide us with information on what was placed over Jesus’ head when he was on the cross. When Pontius Pilate was accused of being the King of the Jews, he ordered that the following charge be put over his head: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37, HBFV throughout).
- While the passages in Matthew and Mark do not show which languages the accusation was written in, the references in Luke and John DO reveal which languages the allegation was written in.
- There are three versions of this sentence written in three different languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (verse 20).
- One-third of the book of John’s appearances in the New Testament are attributed to it.
- On Catholic paintings of the crucifixion, these letters are frequently seen in the upper right corner.
Why was it used?
One of the reasons why the acronym INRI is used to signify the charge against Christ is that academics often adopted the phrasing supplied in the Gospel of John rather than Matthew, Luke, or Mark when presenting the case against Christ. Because they believed that the reference to Christ’s hometown of Nazareth in the accusation against him was a more complete and accurate recording of the charge against him than the other three gospel accounts, they made this decision. Another explanation for the adoption of this abbreviation, which is derived from the book of John, is because the Scriptures were first translated into the Latin language at a relatively early date.
For the Catholics, it became such an important translation that, in the 16th century, they declared it their official Bible, replacing the King James Version. INRI was contained inside this translation.
What did it mean?
As a result, how does this Latin abbreviationrepresent the official allegation against Jesus, which was used by the Roman authorities to justify sending him to the cross for execution? The letter “I” stands for Jesus’ given name, which is written Iesus. Strangely enough, despite the fact that the Latin alphabet has the letter “J,” it was decided to begin the spelling of Christ’s name with a “I.” This is most likely due to the fact that the Greek and Hebrew alphabets do not have the letter “J.” The letter “N” in INRI stands forNazarenvs, which is pronounced Nazareth or Nazarene in the English language.
The last letter ‘I’ is an acronym for the word Ivdaeorum, which means “Jews” in Latin and may be rendered as “Jews” (again, using “I” in place of using of “J”).
What do the letters “INRI” on the crucifix mean?
INRI is an acronym for the Latin title that Pontius Pilate had put over the head of Jesus Christ on the crucifixion, and it is pronounced “INRI” (John 19:19). The language of the Roman Empire was Latin, which was the official language. “Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm” were the words that were said. Latin utilizes the letter “I” instead of the English letter “J,” and the letter “V” instead of the English letter “U.” (i.e., Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum). “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” is the English translation of the Hebrew phrase.
- INRI has featured in a number of crucifixion artwork over the course of history.
- Pilate also scribbled a title for the cross and nailed it on it.
- This title was read by many Jews at the time, because the location of Jesus’ crucifixion was close to the city; it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, among other languages.
- — Matthew 19:19-22 (KJV)
- Why do the four Gospels present different descriptions of what was written on the sign that hung on the cross? Is it because they were written by different people? Answer
Paul S. Taylor of Christian Answers is the author of this article.
Also see
- What is the meaning of crucifixion? Answer: What exactly is THE CROSS, and what does it mean to sincere followers of Jesus Christ, is the question. Answer
Films for Christ reserves all rights, with the exception of those noted on the attached “Usage and Copyright”page, which grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights to put this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing, churches and schools. Version of the article published on July 18, 2021
INRI – New World Encyclopedia
With the initials INRI above him, we have the crucifiedJesus. INRIis an acronym of the Latin phraseIESVSNAZARENVSREXIVDORVM(Jesus Nazarenus, rex Judorum), which translates into English as “Jesus Nazarene, King of the Jews.” INRIis an acronym of the Latin phraseIESVSNAZARENVSREXIVDORVM(Jesus Nazarenus, rex Judorum), which translates into English as “Jesus Nazarene, King of This term first appears in the New Testament, in the Passion account in the Gospel of John, where it is translated as (19:19).
While Jesus was being crucified, aTitulus Crucis (Latin for “Title of the Cross”) was engraved on a piece of wood and put over Jesus’s heart.
A stylized plaque or parchment, known as a titulus (title), depicting the Latin letters INRI is found on many crucifixes and other depictions of the crucifixion in Western Christianity.
AChristogramis a monogram or collection of letters that represents an abbreviation for the name ofJesusChrist, and it has historically been used as a Christian emblem to represent him.
Different styles of Christograms are linked with different Christian faiths, and each tradition has its own Christogram. When two or more letters or other graphemes are overlapped or combined to form a single sign, the result is known as a monogram.
Historical context
Jesus was kidnapped in Jerusalem and sent to Pontius Pilate, according to the biblical narratives of his murder and crucifixion, where he was interrogated about his claimed act of treason/sedition against the Roman Empire. However, when Pilate inquired as to whether Jesus was actually the supposed “King of the Jews,” it is noteworthy that Jesus neither acknowledged nor disputed this claim, instead just responding that he was being addressed as such by the authorities. In this case, Pilate took Jesus’ hesitation on this point as an implied acceptance of the allegation, giving him justification to sentence him as a possible danger to Roman power as well as a disrupter of the peace in the city of Jerusalem.
During the time when the Roman soldiers were nailing Jesus on the crucified, they insulted him and put a placard on the cross that said, “Jesus, King of the Jews.” This term was put to the crucifixion in order to taunt Jesus and to mock his supporters’ belief that he was the Messiah who would lead the Jews in the downfall of Roman power in the Middle East.
Gospel Versions
The meaning of the inscription is described in the Gospel of John (19:19-20): “Pilate also inscribed a title for the cross and nailed it to it. The inscription on the wall read, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. This title was read by many Jews at the time, because the location of Jesus’ crucifixion was close to the city; it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, among other languages ” (King James Version). Each of the other tales of Jesus’ death has a sign that is slightly different from the others: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews,” says Matthew (27:37); Mark (15:26) “The King of the Jews,” says Mark; and Luke (KJV) “This is the King of the Jews.” The title was written in several languages, including Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
| Mark | Luke | Matthew | John | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verse | Mk 15:26 | Lk 23:38 | Mt 27:37 | Jn 19:19-20 |
| Inscription | ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων | ουτος εστιν ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιωνHIC·EST·REX·IVDÆORVMזה ומלך היהודים | ουτος εστιν ιησους ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων | ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודיםιησους ο ναζωραιος ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιωνIESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM |
| English translation | The King of the Jews | This is the King of the Jews | This is Jesus, the King of the Jews | Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews |
Christian symbolism
Over the course of history, a variety of symbols have been employed in Christianity to symbolize parts of the life and teachings ofJesus Christas well as characteristics of the Christian faith itself. Because Christians were being persecuted by the Roman Empire throughout the early years of the church’s development, it was extremely perilous for Christians to exercise their beliefs in public. A number of symbols evolved as a consequence, which were used to surreptitiously communicate the teachings of Jesus without drawing the attention of Roman authorities.
- With overlines around terms of veneration for Christ such as “Lord,” Son,” “Son,” “Spirit,” “Savior,” and so on, the early Christians were indicating their unique significance to the early Christians.
- This “C” symbolizes the medieval “lunate” version of the Greek sigma; sigma may also be translated into the Latin alphabet by sound, resulting in the letters IHS and XPS in the Latin alphabet.
- It is made out of the Greek letters Chi and Rho, which are the first two letters of the word Christ in Greek, overlaid on each other.
- In the late Roman period, a Christogram, which was a picture of the Greek letters Chi Rho, was placed to the flag as a representation of the cross.
When used in the Latin-speaking West, the Greek letteretawas transliterated as the letterH (because the Greek lettereta and the Latin-alphabetH had the same visual appearance and shared a common historical origin), and the Greek letterigmawas either transliterated as the Latin letterC (due to the visually-similar form of the lunate sigma) or as LatinS (due to the visually-similar form of the lunate sigma) (since these letters of the two alphabets wrote the same sound).
“JHS” and “JHC” are the same as “IHS” and “IHC,” respectively, due to the fact that the Latin-alphabet letters I and J were not systematically differentiated until the seventeenth century.
This symbol’s use in the West dates back to St. Bernardine of Siena, a 13th-century priest who popularized the use of the three letters against a background of blazing sun to displace both widely used paganic emblems and political party seals such as those of the Guelphs and Ghibellines.
Alternate forms
In the Greek version of the inscription, B , many Eastern Orthodox churches employ the Greek letters INBI. It is possible that some representations of the title will read “The King of the World” or “The King of Glory,” which is not meant to imply that this is what was actually written, but rather to reflect the tradition that icons depict the spiritual reality, rather than the physical reality, rather than the title “The King of Glory.” Some other Orthodox Churches (such as the Romanian Orthodox Church) use the Latin form of the acronym INRI instead of the Greek version.
The Russian Orthodox Church uses the abbreviation (which is the Church Slavonic equivalent of INBI) or the acronym р Cлв (which is the Russian equivalent of INBI) (“King of Glory”).
It is probable that the titulus was written in Aramaic, the local vernacular, rather than Hebrew, to distinguish it from the rest of the text.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Maurice Dilasser is a writer who lives in New York City. The Church’s Symbols are as follows: The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1999, ISBN 081462538x
- Grabar, Andre. Christian Iconography: An Investigation into Its Origins Isbn: 978-0691018300
- Hurtado, L.W. The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins, Princeton University Press, 1981. ISBN 978-0691018300
- Hurtado, L.W. Patricia Karlin-book, Hayter’s Cambridge University Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0802828958. History of Byzantium from the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 9780198140986 (Oxford University Press, 2002)
- Paap, A.H.R.E., Nomina Sacra in the Greek Papyri of the First Five Centuries (Oxford University Press, 2002)
- Paap, A.H.R.E., Nomina Sacra in the Greek Papyri of the First Five Centuries (Oxford University Press, 2002). Sill, Gertrude Grace, Papyrologica Lugduno-Batava VIII, Leiden, 1959
- Papyrologica Lugduno-Batava VIII, Leiden, 1959. A Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art is a collection of symbols used in Christian art. Alva William Steffler is the author of Touchstone, 1996, ISBN 978-0684826837. Christians use several symbols to represent their faith. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002, ISBN 978-0802846761
- Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002, ISBN 978-0802846761
Credits
Writing and editing staff from the New World Encyclopedia revised and finished theWikipediaarticle in accordance with the New World Encyclopedia’s standards. It is permitted to use and distribute this content under the provisions of the Creative Commons Acknowledgement-ShareAlike 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which states that it may be used and distributed as long as due attribution is given. According to the provisions of this license, credit is due to both the New World Encyclopediacontributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation, and credit can be given to both groups.
Researchers can explore the history of prior contributions by wikipedians by visiting the following link:
- Chronogramhistory, Chronmonhistory, Nomina sacrahistory, Chronogramhistory, INRIhistory, Titulus (inscription)history, Chronogramhistory, Chronogramhistory
The history of this article since it was first published in the New World Encyclopedia is as follows: Please keep in mind that some limitations may apply to the usage of individual photos that have been licensed separately.
INRI Meaning And Its Significance On The Cross
The initialism is an abbreviation of the Latin inscription Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, INRI, which translates as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” and is used to refer to Jesus of Nazareth. Because of His infinite love for us, Jesus Christ descended from His heavenly throne to take on the form of a humble servant on this world. He became a human being for our benefit. God’s love for us was so great that He was ready to die the death of a criminal in order to pay the penalty for our crimes.
Even artists have used the tale to make their work the focal point of their exhibitions.
There would be a banner over the head of Jesus on the crucifixion that reads INRI, if you were to look closely enough. Have you ever questioned what the acronym INRI stood for? What was the significance of the object hanging above Jesus’ head? What did it have to do with anything?
INRI Meaning
THE abbreviation “INRI” comes from the Latin words “IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDORVM” (Isus Nazarenus, Rx Idaerum), which translates as “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews” in English. INRI is an acronym for “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.” (Instead of the English letters “J” and “U,” the Latin letters “I” and “V” are used.) It was the accusation that Pontius Pilate leveled against Jesus. Pilate inscribed it as a sign above Jesus’s head when he was hanging on the crucifixion. The INRI inscription on the cross was inscribed in three languages: Latin, Hebrew, and Greek.
(See also John 19:20.) Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire.
By writing his accusation in three languages, Jesus’ accuser meant to make his crime known to a large number of people.
Origin of INRI
The word “initialism” means “from the beginning.” When Jesus was killed on the cross, the allegations leveled against him were known as INRI. It all started off as an accusation. The Lord Jesus afterwards used it as a conclusive declaration, and it has remained such ever since. It played an important part in bringing God’s redemption tale to life on earth. In addition, it’s vital to remember that the phrase INRI wasn’t exactly written on the cross. It is expressly stated in John 19:20 that it is read as “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews” and written in three languages, and that it is written in three languages.
Those involved in the preparation of a crucifix believed it would be a problem to write the entire inscription on the cross.
Viewers would most certainly lose interest if they were forced to read such a lengthy inscription.
In addition to being more convenient, using INRI is also a more innovative option.
Other Forms
INRI can also be written as INBI, which is an alternative spelling of the word. v v is the Greek version of the acronym INBI, which is written as a contraction of INRI and reads as a contraction of v. In Eastern Christianity, the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as the Eastern Catholic Church) mostly use the Greek form INBI.
Biblical Reference of INRI
According to the Gospel of Matthew, three wise men traveled to Jerusalem to King Herod to ask about and seek out the infant Jesus. In the Bible, the Magi referred to Jesus as “the King of the Jews,” which enraged King Herod to no end.
This clearly demonstrates how agitated and threatened King Herod was. Even before the birth of Jesus, the title “King of the Jews” had sparked widespread consternation, culminating in the spectacular killing of newborns ordered by King Herod in response to the title. (Matthew 2:19-21)
The Passion of Jesus
The term “King of the Jews” is also used in the stories of Jesus’ Passion, which indicates that he was the Messiah. According to Mark 15:2, Jesus revealed his true identity to Pilate, confirming his status as King of the Jews. As described in John 18:33-37, Jesus expounded on the concept of his identity as King. “My kingdom is not of this world,” he said emphatically. Jesus was referring to his spiritual kingdom when he said this.
Significance of INRI
The crucifixion was the method through which the Romans enforced the death penalty on offenders. It was customary to post a placard above the heads of offenders, listing their crimes and their identities. It was a terrible and horrible means of putting offenders away for their crimes. The accusation that Pontius Pilate leveled against Jesus was that he claimed to be the King of the Jews. It wasn’t even a crime that was deserving of a life sacrifice, yet it was essential for Jesus’ crucifixion to occur.
- Even though Pilate had the title “King of the Jews,” his position as Governor of the Roman Province would not have been life-threatening to anyone.
- However, we’ll get into more detail regarding Pontius Pilate later in this essay.
- Pilate had prepared a sign to be displayed above Jesus’ head while he was hanging on the crucifixion.
- (See also John 19:19-20.) The leading priests of the Jews, on the other hand, did not recognize Jesus as their King.
- Pilate, on the other hand, was emphatic about not modifying anything, saying, “What I have written, I have written.” (See also John 19:21-22.) A large number of individuals had long ago arranged to prevent Jesus’ death.
- They had a difficult time, though, figuring out how to corner Jesus and uncover his Achilles heel.
- Despite the fact that Jesus was innocent and had committed no sin, there was a huge build-up before the dramatic conclusion.
- But he is now revered as the King of kings across the world, and he is truly worshipped as such.
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
The crucifixion was a method of punishment utilized by the Romans for offenders. It is a technique that involves attaching convicts to a wooden cross and hanging them until they are dead. As a result of Jesus’ status as “King of the Jews,” they chose this way of punishing him. What an inhumane sentence for the innocent Jesus, who deserved nothing more than death. Because the Jewish officials were unable to discover any fault with Jesus, they turned their attention to his teachings.
They saw it as blasphemy and attempted to have Jesus put to death. The allegation given to Jesus by Pontius Pilate that ended in his crucifixion and death was given under the title “King of the Jews.”
Salvation of Mankind
We are all sinners, and we all deserve to be condemned to an eternity of punishment. It doesn’t matter how great or tiny the crimes we’ve done are in the sight of God; they are all the same. (See also Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23) Unfortunately, money, fame, brilliance, and beauty will not be enough to deliver us from the fires of hell. Even our excellent acts will not be enough to save us. Our good actions are described as “filthy rags” in Isaiah 64:6. It follows that our good deeds do not qualify us for salvation!
- In accordance with Ephesians 2:8, it is God’s undeserved love toward us that has resulted in our redemption.
- It is not a product of our good deeds or efforts.
- The International Nuclear Research Institute (INRI) played a crucial role in the redemption of mankind.
- Instead of Jesus’ offenses being nailed to the cross, it was ours that were crucified to it.
- (See Colossians 2:14 for more information.)
Why Should You Know the Meaning of INRI?
Only a small number of Christians are familiar with the significance of the initialism INRI. Understanding the underlying meaning and history of something is not something that many people find valuable. As followers of Christ, we should, on the other hand, make an effort to learn more about our Lord. We should not take things lightly and should make every effort to find out everything we can about him. There may be some people who have paintings of the crucifixion of Jesus hanging in their homes, but this is unlikely.
- The acronym INRI is commonly found on artworks such as these.
- INRI is more than simply an inscription; it is also a tale that will have a tremendous influence on the globe.
- In the end, Jesus’ death resulted in the salvation of all of mankind.
- Despite the fact that Jesus was fully innocent, they need a reason to crucify Him in order to make redemption possible.
- He gave his life for us, even though we were the ones who deserved it.
INRI and Pontius Pilate
Tiberius named Pontius Pilate as Governor of the Roman Province of Judaea, and he served in that capacity until his death. Pontius Pilate was the one who scribbled the INRI inscription over Jesus’ head when he was hanging on the cross (John 19:19). As the one who made the decision to crucify Jesus, he bore ultimate responsibility. The reason why Pilate ordered Jesus’ crucifixion is not well understood by most people. However, there were a variety of variables that played a role in his decision.
- It was the Jewish authorities that put pressure on him to carry out the execution order given by the Sanhedrin.
- They accused Jesus of blasphemy because of his teachings and his claim to be the King of the Jews, and they were right.
- As a result, these clever leading priests hauled Jesus to Pilate rather than the Romans.
- Pontius Pilate was conscientious enough to carry out his responsibilities and interrogated Jesus.
- He was kind enough to allow Jesus the opportunity to explain himself to him.
- Pontius Pilate saw nothing wrong with Jesus, so he sentenced him to death and handed him over to Herod.
- But even with Herod as the judge over Jesus’ offenses, he was unable to find anything wrong with him.
However, he was responsible for maintaining control of the throng and preventing a riot from breaking out.
Pilate attempted to free Jesus on a couple of occasions, but was unsuccessful.
Pontius Pilate took advantage of the situation to release Jesus.
Surprisingly, the audience preferred that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus (John 18:40).
When compared to Jesus, who was absolutely innocent, Barabbas was the absolute worst of the worst.
He, on the other hand, cleansed his hands with water and declared, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” He did not want Jesus to die, but he recognized that it was the will of the people.
Even at this point, the Jewish authorities were opposed to Jesus’ claim to be the Messianic Messiah.
Ironically, the charge leveled against Jesus was the exact opposite of the reality about who he is. (See also John 19:21-22.)
INRI as a Christian Symbol
I’d want to emphasize that INRI was not the same as the letters Pilate inscribed on Jesus’ head, as some have speculated. INRI is an acronym for the Latin inscription that Pilate used to record his thoughts. The artists came up with a novel way to condense the lengthy inscription. They came up with the acronym INRI by combining the initial letters of each term. It’s more convenient for them to employ in their artwork, and it’s more attractive to the eyes of the audience. Consider the possibility of writing the entire inscription on an artwork depicting the crucifixion of Jesus!
Latin, Hebrew, and Greek are no longer understood by everyone in today’s world.
It’s a monogram that is used to generate an abbreviation for the name of Jesus.
In Summary
INRI has an important history that provides us with further information concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It helps to explain some of the riddles of the Bible and may be a real eye-opener at times. INRI has a major influence on Jesus as well as on ourselves. A crucial build-up to God’s exciting redeeming finale was completed during this time period. Instead than only displaying the allegations against Jesus, it is the truth about his true identity that may be seen on this stone. Jesus’ detractors ridiculed him by referring to him as “King of the Jews.” However, they were completely oblivious that they were seeing the fulfillment of a heavenly prophesy.
Faith-Filled Content Delivered To Your Inbox
Receive uplifting verses, inspiring articleshelpful guidance to support your faith. Thank you for subscribing! Something went wrong.
On the cross what does inri mean?
Prof. Major Spencer DVM posed the question. 4.4 out of 5 stars (47 votes) INRI is commonly considered to relate to “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum,” which translates as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” but there appears to be more to it than that.
What does the 4 letters on the cross mean?
The letters “INRI” are the initials of the Latin title that Pontius Pilate had inscribed over the head of Jesus Christ while he was hanging on the cross: “I am the Redeemer of the World” (John 19:19). Moreover, the lettering said, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
Who placed INRI on the cross?
2) Pontius Pilate was a Roman senator who was assassinated in a riot in Rome. It was Pontius Pilate, who was also the one who inscribed the letters INRI on the cross above the head of Jesus?
What does INRI mean on gold?
The Latin initials “Inri” at the top of the charm stand for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” which translates as “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
What was Jesus last name?
When Jesus was born, there was no indication of his last name. He was known only by his given name, Jesus, and not by his biological father, Joseph, and while he acknowledged Joseph as his earthly father, he recognized a greater father from whom he was descended. Due to the fact that he was born of his mother’s womb, he is sometimes referred to as Jesus of Mary. There were 41 questions that were connected.
What is Jesus favorite color?
God’s favorite color is the color blue.
What does the H stand for in Jesus?
Possibly, it derives from a monogram consisting of the first three letters of the Greek word for Jesus, which is the most plausible explanation. In Greek, the name “Jesus” is represented by the letter o in capital letters and by the letter o in lowercase letters. The first three letters of the Greek alphabet (iota, eta, and sigma) combine to form a monogram, or visual sign, which may be represented as IHS or IHC in Latin letters, respectively.
What is Jesus on the cross called?
As opposed to a naked cross, which is what it is called a crucifix (from the Latin crucifixus, which means “attached to a cross”) is a representation of Jesus on the crucifixion. The corpus Christi, or the portrayal of Jesus himself on the crucifixion, is referred to as the corpus (Latin for “body”).
Is the cross a pagan symbol?
As opposed to a naked cross, which is what it is called a crucifix (from the Latin crucifixus, which means “attached to a cross”) is a representation of Jesus on the crucifixion. Corpus Christi is the term used to allude to the portrayal of Jesus himself on the crucifixion (Latin for “body”).
How old was Jesus at the time of his crucifixion?
A crucifix (from the Latin crucifixus, which means “(one) fastened to a cross”) is a representation of Jesus on the cross, as opposed to a plain cross. The corpus Christi, which is the portrayal of Jesus himself on the crucifixion, is referred to as the corpus (Latin for “body”).
What did Jesus say before he died?
It was just before Jesus took his final breath that he uttered the statement “it is done.” When Jesus realized that his mission was complete, he declared, in accordance with the Scripture, “I am thirsty.” Because there was a container of sour wine nearby, they wet a sponge in it and placed it on a hyssop branch, which they then brought up to his lips.
Where is Nazareth now?
Nazareth, Israel’s largest Arab city and one of the largest cities in northern Israel, is located in the beautiful Lower Galilee region of the country and is famous for being the city where Jesus had lived and grown up. It is also the country’s largest Arab city and one of the largest cities in northern Israel.
What language did the Jesus speak?
Hebrew was the language of scholars and the language of the Bible. However, Aramaic would have been the “daily” spoken language of Jesus. And it is Aramaic, according to the majority of biblical academics, that he used in the Bible.
Does Jesus have a brother?
The brothers and sisters of Jesus Jesus’ brothers, James, Joseph/Joses, Judas/Jude, and Simonas are mentioned in both the Gospel of Mark (6:3) and the Gospel of Matthew (13:55–56) as being the son of Mary. The same lines also refer to unidentified sisters of Jesus who are mentioned in passing.
Where did Jesus buried?
Outside the city’s perimeter walls. Jews were not permitted to be buried within the city walls, and the Gospels explicitly state that Jesus was buried outside the city walls of Jerusalem, at the scene of his crucifixion on Golgotha (“the place of skulls”).
Is wearing a cross a sin?
The fact that we, as Christians living under the new covenant, are at liberty (Galatians 5:1) is another aspect of this question that people frequently overlook; this is not to say that we should use our freedom in Christ as an excuse to sin, but rather that, according to the Bible, wearing a Christian cross is not considered a sin in and of itself (1 Peter 2:16).
What does a cross mean spiritually?
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the blessings of his Passion and death, are represented by the cross, which is the primary emblem of the Christian religion. As a result, the cross serves as a symbol of both Christ himself and the faith of Christians.
What is Jesus most famous quote?
“You must love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your mind.” This is the very first and most important commandment. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the second and equally vital commandment. These two commandments serve as the foundation for the whole law and all of the prophetic demands.”
Did Jesus have a twin?
However, while orthodox Christians believe that Jesus did not have any siblings, let alone a twin, there was an early style of Christianity known as Thomasine Christianity that held the belief that Judas Thomas had a particular relationship with Jesus.
What is Jesus’s number?
According to certain Christian numerology, the number 888 indicates Jesus, or more precisely Christ the Redeemer, in some instances. This representation may be justified either through gematria, by calculating the letter values of the Greek transcription of Jesus’ name, or as a counter-value to 666, the number of the beast, depending on how you look at things.
What was Jesus favorite flower?
In Christianity, the passion flower is connected with Christ because different portions of this flower symbolise different aspects of Christ’s crucifixion.
What was Jesus favorite fruit?
Jesus ate figs, as evidenced by the fact that, on his trip to Jerusalem, he grabbed for a fig tree, despite the fact that it was not fig season at the time. In John’s Gospel, at the Last Supper, Jesus offers Judas a bite that has been dipped in a dish of olive oil, which was probably definitely a dish of olive oil.
Who is God’s favorite son?
It tells the narrative of Billy Bragg, a 22-year-old high school dropout who is now working at a low-wage fast food business in order to supplement his income. A youngster who had a lot of friends in high school and a girlfriend who cared about him, but who managed to screw up every chance that was provided to him, is described as follows: