INRI

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A Roman Catholic Crucifix with the INRI plaque, Mt. Adams, Cincinnati

A Crucifix with the stylized INRI plaque attached, the cornfields near Mureck in rural Styria, Austria

INRI is an acronym of the Latin phrase IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM, which translates to English as: "Jesus Nazarene, King of the Jews". It appears in the New Testament of the Christian Bible in the Gospel of John (19:19). Each of the other accounts for Jesus's death have a slightly different sign: Matthew (27:37) "This is Jesus the King of the Jews"; Mark (15:26) "The King of the Jews"; and Luke (KJV) "This is the King of the Jews". The title was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin.

Within Western Christianity many crucifixes and other depictions of the crucifixion include a stylized plaque or parchment, called a titulus or title, bearing only the Latin letters INRI, occasionally carved directly into the cross, and usually just above the head of Jesus.

In the Gospel of John (19:19-20) the inscription is explained:

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. (King James Version)

Many Eastern Orthodox Churches use the Greek letters INBI based on the Greek version of the inscription, Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων. Some representations change the title to "ΙΝΒΚ" ὁ Bασιλεὺς τοῦ κόσμου ("The King of the World"), or "ΙΝΒΔ" ὁ Bασιλεὺς τῆς Δόξης ("The King of Glory"), not implying that this was really what was written, but reflecting the tradition that icons depict the spiritual reality rather than the physical reality. Some other Orthodox Churches (such as the Romanian Orthodox Church) use the Latin version INRI. The Russian Orthodox Church uses ІНЦІ (the Church Slavonic equivalent of INBI) or the abbreviation Цръ Слвы ("King of Glory").

In Hebrew, the phrase is commonly rendered ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודים (Yeshua` HaNotsri U'Melech HaYehudim IPA: [jeːʃuːɑʕ hɑnːɑtseri meleχ hɑjːəhuðiːm]), which translates instead to "Jesus the Nazarite and King of the Jews." This version was most probably chosen in order that the acronym constitute the tetragrammaton (יהוה) name corresponding with Yahweh or Jehovah. It is possible that the titulus was written in Aramaic, the local vernacular, rather than Hebrew.

As Pilate was loath to crucify Jesus without justification, he used the standing Roman treaty with the Jews which allowed them limited self-government, see Iudaea Province for details. When the Jewish priests complained that Jesus was interfering with that self-rule by claiming to be the Son of God (see Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus), Pilate challenged him to deny that he was the "King of the Jews". Jesus did not deny the accusation. Pilate's reluctance to crucify Jesus, according to Christian texts, stands in contrast to his willingness to crucify countless thousands of other Jews and Samaritans during his rule.^[1]

Some believe that the justification for his crucifixion was his claim to an illegitimate title. However, John 19:21-22, alludes that Pilate rejected the charge that Jesus was crucified because he falsely claimed to be king and instead stated that Jesus was crucified because he was the King of the Jews. Thus, some Christians as early as the second century^[2] report that Pilate was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah.

[edit] Summary

[edit] Related acronyms and concepts

• For abbreviations of the name of Jesus, see Christogram, Ichthys.
• For related concepts in Judaism, see Jewish Messiah and Jewish eschatology.
• Within the Alchemical tradition, the phrase often holds a second meaning of the Latin phrase, Igne Natura Renovatur Integra; that is, "Through fire nature is reborn whole".
• In Ulysses by James Joyce, Leopold Bloom (a Jew) guesses that it stands for "Iron nails ran in", and that "IHS" signifies "I have suffered" or "I have sinned."
• In Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, Goto Dengo speculates that INRI might stand for "Initiate Nail Removal Immediately".
• INRI is also the name of an album and song released by the Industrial band Psyclon Nine.
• INRI is the name of an influential LP released by the Brazilian Black Metal band Sarcófago.
• INRIhab is the name of a song off Every Time I Die's album, "The Big Dirty".
• In the Prince of Nothing series by R. Scott Bakker, a prophet who founded a religion similar to Christianity is named Inri Sejenus.

[edit] See also

• Titulus Crucis
• Death of Jesus
• Passion (Christianity)

[edit] References