Pilate wrote a notice and had it put on the cross is literally “Pilate wrote a notice and placed it on the cross.” However, it is evident that others did these things at Pilate’s command. New American Bible translates “Pilate had an inscription placed on the cross,” while Barclay translates “Pilate had an inscription written and fixed to the cross.” It is appropriate in most languages to treat the actions by Pilate as causative, for example, “Pilate caused a notice to be written, and caused it to be put on the cross” or “… attached to the cross.” It may be expressed in some languages as a command with direct discourse, for example, “Pilate commanded, ‘Write a notice and attach it to the cross.’ ”

The Greek word translated notice in Good News Translation is the technical name for the board bearing the name of the condemned man, or his crime, or both. The Greek term used by (Mark 15.26) and (Luke 23.38) is a different word.

For Jesus of Nazareth see the discussion at 18.5. The only other Gospel besides John which includes Jesus’ name in the notice is (Matthew 27.37) “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Mark (15.26) has the shortest version: “The King of the Jews.” Luke (23.38) has “This is the King of the Jews.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .