INRI - These initials are a Latin acronym for a sentence written in Latin, Greek and

Hebrew on a board which was then affixed to the top of the cross on which Jesus was
crucified. You can see this acronym sometimes reproduced on communion wafers. They
stand for the Latin words: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum. The English translation is
Jesus of Nazareth - King of the Jews.

What do the letters INRI at the top of Jesus' cross

mean?

John 19 "1Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2The
soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head,
and they put a royal purple robe on him. 3"Hail! King of the Jews!"
they mocked, and they hit him with their fists... 19:12 Then Pilate
tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders told him, "If you release
this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself
a king is a rebel against Caesar." 13When they said this, Pilate brought
Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat
on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew,
Gabbatha). 14It was now about noon of the day of preparation for the
Passover.

And Pilate said to the people, [1] "Here is your king!" 15"Away with
him," they yelled. "Away with him--crucify him!" "What? Crucify your
king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the leading priests
shouted back. 16Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified. So
they took Jesus and led him away. 17Carrying the cross by himself,
Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha).
18There they crucified him. There were two others crucified with him,
one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19And Pilate posted a
sign over him that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
20The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the sign
was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could
read it. 21Then the leading priests said to Pilate, "Change it from `The
King of the Jews' to `He said, I am King of the Jews.' " 22Pilate
replied, "What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is."
(NLT)

It literally read: Jesus the Nazarean, the King of the Jews in

Latin, as it was the custom to place a sign stating the crucified's
offense on the cross in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
Your sister in Christ,

AJ

Question:

I have just been reading your article on the inscription over the cross. One often sees, in
artistic symbolism, a reference to "I.N.R.I." Can you tell me what these finials stand for,
and what language is being used?

Answer:

The initials, I.N.R.I., are from the Latin phrase, "Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm," (The
Latin "I" and "V" is the English "J" and "U" respectively) which means, "Jesus of
Nazareth, King of Jews." This was the phrase Pilate penned and displayed over Jesus on
the cross.

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

*Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivd ....... in Latin!!!!
The English translation is
"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

• 6 months ago

Rakefet
I. N. R. I. Four letters found at the head of pictures of Jesus on the cross, and generally interpreted as the
initials of Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews) but according to others
representing a Rosicrucian motto: Ingne natura renovatur integra (by fire, nature is renewed entire).