Called Jesus is literally “called Jesus and said to him,” which reflects the Semitic redundancy used to introduce direct discourse.

Even though the Greek text literally says called Jesus (many translations “summoned Jesus”), the meaning is best expressed as “had Jesus brought to him.” Called Jesus must be rendered in the sense of “summoned Jesus before him” or “commanded Jesus to be brought before him” or “commanded soldiers to lead Jesus in front of him.”

According to the Gospel accounts, the first thing Pilate said to Jesus was Are you king of the Jews? this is the first time in John’s Gospel that Jesus is referred to as “the king of the Jews” (but see 1.49, where he is designated the King of Israel). This designation will play an important part in what follows (note 18.33-37,39; 19.3,12,15,19-22). In Pilate’s question the pronoun you is emphatic and may be used scornfully.

In languages which have no special term for king it is always possible to use a verb meaning “ordering” or “ruling,” for example, “Are you the one who rules over the Jews?” or “Are you the one who commands 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 .