"INRI" and the Name of God

Anonymous 

The inscription on the cross according to the Gospel of John (written by Pontius Pilate) displayed either the Latin phrase IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDÆORVM or its acronym INRI. It is not known for certain in what form it appeared. The same phrase or acronym also appeared on the cross in both Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew/Aramaic.

That said, IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDÆORVM does not mean "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews". In-fact, the correct translation is "Jesus the Nazarene, King (or Ruler) of the Judeans".

In Koine Greek the wording was "Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων" with INBI as the acronym. Using the Roman alphabet it would read "Iēsûs ho Nazōraêos ho Basileùs tôn Iudaéōn", and strangely enough rendering the same acronym INBI.

Much more important, however, is the translation into the Hebrew alphabet of the phrase. It reads “ישוע הנוצרי ומלך היהודים“ in the Biblical Hebrew/Aramaic language. The acronym for this is “יהוה” which translates to YHVH in the Roman alphabet. YHVH in Hebrew/Aramaic (is interchangeable with YHWH) actually means “God”. Whether the entire phrase appeared on the placard or just the acronym is beside the point! The Jews recognized the acronym as their word for God, as they saw the crucified Jesus at Calvary.

Just like the Israelites put their family name on their lamb for sacrifice at the Temple, God put his name on his sacrificial lamb Jesus Christ. That’s the reason the Jewish priests (without success) pressured Pontius Pilate to reword his statement, because they did not want the people to know that Jesus was in-fact God in the Flesh.

John 19:19-22 “Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”