Lexical Summary Hebraikos: Hebrew Original Word: Ἑβραϊκός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew. From Eber; Hebraic or the Jewish language -- Hebrew. see GREEK Eber NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Eber Definition Hebrew, the Jewish language. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1444: ἙβραϊκόςἙβραϊκός, ἑβραικη, ἑβραικον, Hebrew: Luke 23:38 (R G L brackets Tr marginal reading brackets). Topical Lexicon Occurrence in Luke 23:38 “This was written above Him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (Luke 23:38) The single use of Ἑβραϊκοῖς (Hebraikois) identifies one of the three languages in which Pontius Pilate ordered the superscription above Jesus’ cross. The wording emphasizes that the message was accessible to the Jewish population present at the crucifixion. Historical Background: Trilingual Inscription Pilate’s choice of Hebrew, Latin, and Greek mirrored the linguistic realities of first–century Jerusalem: Hebrew for the covenant people, Latin for the occupying Roman authority, and Greek for the wider Hellenistic world. By recording “Hebrew” specifically, Luke affirms that the declaration of Jesus’ kingship addressed the nation whose Scriptures foretold Messiah (Psalm 2:6; Zechariah 9:9). While the other Gospel writers mention the inscription (Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; John 19:19), Luke alone highlights the trilingual setting explicitly, underscoring the universality of the proclamation. Connection to Old Testament Prophecy The witness given in Hebrew links the crucifixion to the prophetic voice of the Old Testament spoken in that language. Psalm 22:16–18 and Isaiah 53 describe Messiah’s suffering; the Hebrew inscription openly ties Jesus of Nazareth to those texts, presenting Him as the long-awaited King even as He hangs in apparent defeat. Gospel Theological Significance 1. Public Declaration: The wording “This is the King of the Jews” functions as unintended evangelism by a pagan governor, echoing Numbers 24:17, where a star will rise out of Jacob—a king for Israel. Implications for Language in the New Testament Era Luke’s precision reveals that Hebrew remained a living, recognizable language in Jerusalem, alongside Aramaic. The term Ἑβραϊκοῖς distinguishes formal Hebrew from the vernacular Aramaic rendered by Ἑβραϊστί (John 19:20; Acts 21:40). Scripture’s consistency is evident: the Spirit inspired exact terms to show both continuity with Israel’s past and expansion to the Gentile world. Ministry and Application • Evangelism: Proclaim Christ’s kingship plainly in the “language of the hearers.” Related Passages for Study Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; John 19:19-22; Psalm 2:6; Psalm 22:16-18; Isaiah 53:5-12; Zechariah 9:9; Acts 2:36; Romans 1:16; Revelation 19:16 Forms and Transliterations Εβραικοις Ἑβραικοῖς Ebraikois Hebraikois HebraikoîsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 23:38 Adj-DNPGRK: Ρωμαικοῖς καὶ Ἑβραικοῖς KJV: Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS INT: Latin and Hebrew |