The Sign Above His Head

When our LORD was crucified, a sign was placed above His head in three languages - Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The chief priests complained to Pilate and asked him to change it. Why?







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And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. (John 19:19-22)

To understand why the priests complained requires an understanding of the Hebrew written language. Here is their alphabet -

Hebrew is read from right to left. Here is how the sign over Christ's head would have read in Hebrew -

Yeshua of Nazareth and the king of the Jews

Translated, the sign reads, "Yeshua of Nazareth and the king of the Jews".


Notice the "capitalized" letters at the beginning of each phrase.

YHVH

It becomes the tetragrammaton of Yahweh, the very name of God Himself!


No wonder the priests objected! Hung high above for all to see was the blatant evidence that the man that had been nailed to the cross was indeed the Son of God!


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