Expert: Brenda Martin - 5/29/2003

Question
Dear Brenda,

would you happen to know what was written on the cross(?)/crucifix(?) of Jesus (uncertain about what term is correct in english) when he was crucified? I think it was a four-letter word and I have a vague memory of it being something like "ivri" or "imri". What does it mean?

sincerely

andreas

Answer
Hi Andreas, you asked;-- WHAT WAS WRITTEN ON THE CROSS OF JESUS?

Pilate posted a sign that read: “Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.” So that all may read the sign, Pilate had it written in three languages—in Hebrew, in the official Latin, and in the common Greek.

SOMETHING LIKE "IVRI" OR "IMRI". WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Religious pictures of Jesus' death often show a sign over his head with various letters on it.

The most common letters appearing on such pictures are I.N.R.I. This is an abbreviation of the Latin Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudæorum, meaning Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

A variation of this is I.N.R.J., Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Judæorum (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews). This abbreviation is based on what the apostle John says was on the sign placed on the torture stake, “Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.”—John 19:19.


All the best brenda