Matthew 27:11
And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Original Language Analysis
Ὁ
G3588
Ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
3 of 26
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
ἔστη
stood
G2476
ἔστη
stood
Strong's:
G2476
Word #:
4 of 26
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
ἔμπροσθεν
before
G1715
ἔμπροσθεν
before
Strong's:
G1715
Word #:
5 of 26
in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἡγεμὼν
the governor
G2232
ἡγεμὼν
the governor
Strong's:
G2232
Word #:
7 of 26
a leader, i.e., chief person (or figuratively, place) of a province
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 26
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἡγεμὼν
the governor
G2232
ἡγεμὼν
the governor
Strong's:
G2232
Word #:
12 of 26
a leader, i.e., chief person (or figuratively, place) of a province
λέγεις
sayest
G3004
λέγεις
sayest
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
13 of 26
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
βασιλεὺς
the King
G935
βασιλεὺς
the King
Strong's:
G935
Word #:
17 of 26
a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
22 of 26
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Cross References
Matthew 26:25Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.Mark 14:62And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.Matthew 2:2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.Matthew 26:64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.Matthew 10:18And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.Matthew 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?1 Timothy 6:13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
Historical Context
Pontius Pilate governed Judea AD 26-36 under Syrian legate oversight. Roman prefects like Pilate held military and judicial authority, including capital punishment rights. The charge 'King of the Jews' threatened maiestas (treason against Rome), punishable by crucifixion.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus's response to Pilate model how to answer hostile interrogation with truth while refusing false premises?
- What does it mean that Jesus, the true King, voluntarily submitted to an unjust earthly authority to accomplish salvation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest (Σὺ λέγεις)—Pilate's question addressed the political charge: sedition against Caesar. Jesus's enigmatic response (su legeis, 'you say') neither denies nor affirms in Pilate's terms, for Christ's kingdom is 'not of this world' (John 18:36).
This was Rome's cognitio procedure—a magistrate's investigation without jury. As praefectus (prefect), Pilate held ius gladii (right of the sword), absolute power over capital cases. Yet here stands the true King before an earthly governor, sovereign over His own trial.