τίτλος (titlos)
titlos
title
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun titlos refers to a written title or inscription, specifically one that identifies the crime or charge against a condemned person. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in John 19:19-20, where Pilate orders a notice to be placed on the cross of Jesus. This small word captures the legal formalism of Roman execution, marking the official reason for the death sentence.
Its origin is Latin, reflecting the direct influence of Roman administrative practices on the Gospel narrative. The inscription read "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews," a title that served as both an accusation and, ironically, a proclamation. Translators typically render it simply as "title" or "inscription," preserving its function as a public marker of identity and guilt.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word titlos refers to a written notice or inscription, specifically one placed on a condemned person to state their crime. In the Gospel of John, Pilate orders this title to be put on Jesus’ cross, declaring Him “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” What began as a legal formality intended to mock Jesus became an unexpected proclamation of His true identity.
This small detail reminds us that God often uses human actions to reveal deeper truths. The title was written in three languages so that many could read it, showing that Jesus’ kingship is not limited to one group or language. It stands as a public marker of who He really is, even amidst suffering.
When we face situations where our faith seems misunderstood or mocked, this word offers hope. Just as the title on the cross turned an act of shame into a declaration of truth, God can use difficult circumstances to reveal His purposes. We trust that He writes stories greater than our own.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- title1×
- a title1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τίτλον2×
Key Verses
-
John 19:19
Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
This verse shows Pilate writing the title and placing it on the cross, establishing the word's use for an official inscription identifying the accused.
-
John 19:20
Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.
Here the note explains that many read the title because the location was near the city, highlighting its public nature and multilingual presentation.