Mark 15:26
New International Version
The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

New Living Translation
A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.”

English Standard Version
And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”

Berean Standard Bible
And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Berean Literal Bible
And there was the inscription of the accusation against Him, having been written: The King of the Jews.

King James Bible
And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

New King James Version
And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

New American Standard Bible
The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

NASB 1995
The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

NASB 1977
And the inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Amplified Bible
The inscription of the accusation against Him had been written [above Him]: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Christian Standard Bible
The inscription of the charge written against him was: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The inscription of the charge written against Him was: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

American Standard Version
And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Contemporary English Version
On it was a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is the King of the Jews."

English Revised Version
And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There was a written notice of the accusation against him. It read, "The king of the Jews."

Good News Translation
The notice of the accusation against him said: "The King of the Jews."

International Standard Version
The written notice of the charge against him read, "The king of the Jews."

Majority Standard Bible
And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NET Bible
The inscription of the charge against him read, "The king of the Jews."

New Heart English Bible
The superscription of his accusation was written over him, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Weymouth New Testament
Over His head was the notice in writing of the charge against Him: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

World English Bible
The superscription of his accusation was written over him: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the inscription of His accusation was written above: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Berean Literal Bible
And there was the inscription of the accusation against Him, having been written: The King of the Jews.

Young's Literal Translation
and the inscription of his accusation was written above -- 'The King of the Jews.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the inscription of his accusation was inscribed above, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the inscription of his cause was written over: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the title of his case was written as: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

New American Bible
The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”

New Revised Standard Version
The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the reason for his death was inscribed in writing, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the pretext of his death was written in this writing: “This is The King of the Judeans.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the superscription containing his accusation was written above him: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Godbey New Testament
And the superscription of His accusation was written over Him, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Haweis New Testament
And there was an inscription of his crime written over him, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Mace New Testament
and the inscription of the charge against him was thus express'd, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Weymouth New Testament
Over His head was the notice in writing of the charge against Him: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Worrell New Testament
And the inscription of His accusation was written above Him, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Worsley New Testament
and the title of his charge was written over Him, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Crucifixion
25It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:37
Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Luke 23:38
Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John 19:19-22
Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. / Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. / So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” ...

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 22:16-18
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. / I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me. / They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

John 18:33-37
Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” / “Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?” / “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” ...

Acts 2:36
Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”

Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Daniel 9:26
Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.

John 3:14-15
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, / that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.


Treasury of Scripture

And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

the superscription.

Deuteronomy 23:5
Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

Psalm 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Psalm 2:6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Matthew 2:2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

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Accusation Accused Charge Crime Cross Head Inscription JEWS Notice Read Statement Superscription Writing Written
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Accusation Accused Charge Crime Cross Head Inscription JEWS Notice Read Statement Superscription Writing Written
Mark 15
1. Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate.
6. Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
12. and Jesus delivered up to be crucified.
16. He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
21. faints in bearing his cross;
27. hangs between two thieves;
29. suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
39. but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
42. and is honorably buried by Joseph.














And the charge inscribed against Him
This phrase refers to the Roman practice of placing a titulus, or a written notice, above the head of a crucified person to indicate the crime for which they were being executed. The Greek word for "inscribed" is "epigrapho," which means to write upon or engrave. This inscription was meant to publicly declare the reason for Jesus' crucifixion, serving both as a legal statement and a deterrent to others. Historically, this practice underscores the Roman emphasis on law and order, and the public nature of crucifixion as a means of instilling fear and maintaining control over the populace.

read
The Greek word used here is "epigraphe," which refers to something written or inscribed. The act of reading this charge would have been a public declaration, ensuring that all who passed by understood the supposed crime of the condemned. This highlights the irony and the fulfillment of prophecy, as Jesus, who was indeed the King of the Jews in a spiritual and messianic sense, was being mocked through this inscription.

The King of the Jews
This title is central to understanding the charge against Jesus. In the Roman context, claiming to be a king was seen as a direct challenge to Caesar's authority, thus a political crime worthy of death. However, from a theological perspective, this title is profoundly significant. It acknowledges Jesus' true identity and mission, as foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. The phrase "King of the Jews" is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah, such as those found in Isaiah and Zechariah. Historically, this title was used mockingly by the Roman soldiers and others who did not recognize Jesus' divine kingship. Yet, for believers, it affirms Jesus' role as the promised deliverer and ruler, not just of the Jewish people, but of all who would come to faith in Him. This phrase encapsulates the tension between earthly power and divine authority, a theme that runs throughout the Gospel of Mark.

(26) The King of the Jews.--St. Mark gives the shortest form of the inscription.

Verse 26. - And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. This would probably be the shortest form of inscription, and in Latin, "Rex Judaeorum." All the evangelists mention the inscription; but no two of them in precisely the same words. It appears by comparison of them that the whole title was, "This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." In the case of remarkable prisoners the accusation was written on a white tablet, and carried before them as they went to the place of execution. It was then placed over their heads when the cross was erected. St. John tells us that our Lord's title was written in three languages - Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Such appears to be the proper order of the words, namely, the national, the official, and the common dialect. St. Mark, writing at Rome, would naturally mention the Latin title. It is quite possible that the superscription may have varied in the different renderings in which it was given. It is evident from St. John (John 21:19-22) that the title was much canvassed by the Jews and the chief priests. Bode says that this title was fitly placed over his head, because, although he was crucified in weakness for us, yet he shone with the majesty of a King above his cross. The title proclaimed that he was after all a King; and that from henceforth he began to reign from his cross over the Jews. And therefore Pilate was divinely restrained from making any alteration in the title, so that it should mean anything less than this.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

charge
αἰτίας (aitias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 156: From the same as aiteo; a cause, i.e. reason, crime.

inscribed
ἐπιγραφὴ (epigraphē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1923: An inscription, title, label. From epigrapho; an inscription.

against Him
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

read:
ἐπιγεγραμμένη (epigegrammenē)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1924: To write upon, inscribe, imprint a mark on. From epi and grapho; to inscribe.

The
Ο (HO)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

King
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ (BASILEUS)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935: A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

of the
ΤΩΝ (TŌN)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews.
ΙΟΥΔΑΙΩΝ (IOUDAIŌN)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.


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NT Gospels: Mark 15:26 The superscription of his accusation was written (Mar Mk Mr)
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