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The authentic meaning of INRI

Whether it is in medieval paintings or modern film, artistic depictions of our Lord Jesus’ crucifixion often have a sign above the cross saying INRI. You may know that this is a Latin acronym for, “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum” meaning “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. The Gospel of John specifies that this was also written in Hebrew. What was the Hebrew version of the INRI sign and why should you find this important?

INRI and Jehovah
The Romans often attached a sign above those they crucified identifying their name and charge. The Gospel of John 19:20 tells us the famous INRI sign above Jesus’ cross contained the same phrase in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. In Hebrew, the words “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” translates to ישוע הנצרתי ומלך היהודים. Shortening these four words into an acronym, we get יהוה (YHWH), the holiest name of the Lord in Scripture.

An Unchanging God
This is not the first time that Jesus alluded to himself using the sacred name YHWH. Earlier, he said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am” (John 8:28). The phrase “I am” alludes to the divine name that God first revealed to Moses at the burning bush: ehyeh asher ehyeh - “I am what I am” (Ex. 3:14). These names have something in common; the Hebrew root HYH (היה), meaning “to be”.