SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:37
Y pusieron sobre su cabeza su causa escrita: ESTE ES JESUS EL REY DE LOS JUDIOS.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:37
Verse 37. His accusation] It was a common custom to affix a lHebel to the cross, giving a statement of the crime for which the person suffered. This is still the case in China, when a person is crucified. Sometimes a person was employed to carry this before the criminal, while going to the place of punishment. It is with much propriety that Matthew calls this aitia, accusation; for it was false that ever Christ pretended to be KING OF THE JEWS, in the sense the inscription held forth: he was accused of this, but there was no proof of the accusation; however it was affixed to the cross. From John xix. 21, we find that the Jews wished this to be a little altered: Write, said they, that HE said, l am king of the Jews; thus endeavouring, by the addition of a vile lie, to countenance their own conduct in putting him to death. But this Pilate refused to do. Both Luke, Luke xxiii. 38, and John, John xix. 20, say that this accusation was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. In those three languages, we may conceive the lHebel to stand thus, according to the account given by St. John; the Hebrew being the mixed dialect then spoken. In Hebrew-ebraisti: aydwhyd aklm ayrxn [wsy In Greek- ellhnista: ihsouv o nazwraiov o basileuv twn ioudaiwn In Latin-rwmaisti: IESUS NAZARENUS REX IUDAEORUM It is only necessary to observe, that all the letters, both of the Greek and Roman alphabets, were those now called square or uncial, similar to these above.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 37. And set up over his head his accusation written , etc.] The Evangelist John calls it a title, ( John 19:19,20), and Luke, a superscription, ( Luke 23:38), and Mark, the superscription of his accusation, ( Mark 15:26): it was what contained the sum and substance of what he was accused, and for which he was condemned, and suffered. The Syriac and Persic versions here render it, the cause of his death. It was written by Pilate in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, that all might read it; and by his orders it was put upon the cross, and over the head of Jesus by the soldiers. This title, or inscription, setting forth the persons crime, used to be carried before him, or put upon him, as he was led to execution f1687 : but here it was set upon the cross, and perhaps nailed unto it; to which the apostle seems to allude in ( Colossians 2:14), the substance of it was, this is Jesus the king of the Jews . This was what the chief priests accused him of to Pilate, and about which he questioned him, and for which they desired he might be crucified; urging, that should he let him go, he could not be Caesars friend. Hence Pilate wrote his accusation in this form, not so much in derision of Jesus; for by conversation with him he understood what sort of a king he was, as to the reproach of the Jews for crucifying him who was their king; being the person that was prophesied of in their books, as king of Zion, and whom they expected as such, though now they denied and rejected him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 35-44 - It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one over Christ's head This they designed for his reproach, but God so overruled it, that eve his accusation was to his honour. There were crucified with him at the same time, two robbers. He was, at his death, numbered among the transgressors, that we, at our death, might be numbered among the saints. The taunts and jeers he received are here recorded. The enemie of Christ labour to make others believe that of religion and of the people of God, which they themselves know to be false. The chie priests and scribes, and the elders, upbraid Jesus with being the Kin of Israel. Many people could like the King of Israel well enough, if he would but come down from the cross; if they could but have his kingdo without the tribulation through which they must enter into it. But if no cross, then no Christ, no crown. Those that would reign with him must be willing to suffer with him. Thus our Lord Jesus, havin undertaken to satisfy the justice of God, did it, by submitting to the punishment of the worst of men. And in every minute particular recorde about the sufferings of Christ, we find some prediction in the Prophet or the Psalms fulfilled.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ επεθηκαν 2007 5656 V-AAI-3P επανω 1883 ADV της 3588 T-GSF κεφαλης 2776 N-GSF αυτου 846 P-GSM την 3588 T-ASF αιτιαν 156 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSM γεγραμμενην 1125 5772 V-RPP-ASF ουτος 3778 D-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ιησους 2424 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM βασιλευς 935 N-NSM των 3588 T-GPM ιουδαιων 2453 A-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
37. Accusation (aitian). Lit., cause, and so rendered by Wyc. Tynd., cause of his death. The word accusation is compounded with the Latin causa, a cause. It is the cause of his condemnation and suffering.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
27:37 {His accusation} (tn aitian autou). The title (titlos, #Joh 19:19) or placard of the crime (the inscription, he epigrafe) which was carried before the victim or hung around his neck as he walked to execution was now placed above (ep' an") the head of Jesus on the projecting piece (crux immurus). this inscription gave the name and home, {Jesus of Nazareth}, and the charge on which he was convicted, {the King of the Jews} and the identification, { this is}. The four reports all give the charge and vary in the others. The inscription in full was: this is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. The three languages are mentioned only by John (#Joh 19:20), Latin for law, Hebrew (Aramaic) for the Jews, Greek for everybody. The accusation (charge, cause, aitia) correctly told the facts of the condemnation.
