Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 19:21

"The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews." — John 19:21 (ASV)

The placard (see comment on v.17) was written in three languages, in order to make the inscription plain to all: Aramaic, for the local inhabitants; Latin, for the officials; Greek, the lingua franca of the eastern Mediterranean world. Its content was Pilate’s psychological revenge on the Jewish hierarchy for forcing his decision. It proclaimed loudly to all passersby that Rome had crucified the king of the Jews as a common criminal. Stung by the insult, the priests remonstrated, asking that Pilate make clear that it was only Jesus’ claim to be king of the Jews. Having succeeded by his unjust compromise in removing any possible ground of accusation that he was derelict in his duty to the Roman state, Pilate resumed his haughty attitude and refused to change the wording. “What I have written, I have written” means essentially, “Take it and like it!”