What does IHS on a Christian cross mean?

Answer 1

Many confused and erroneous explanations of the meaning of the IHS monogram exist, most ascribing meanings to each letter as an acronym. However, IHS is not an acronym at all.

The monogram originated from abbreviations of the name 'Jesus' in ancient Greek script written by Hebrew scribes. The English 'Jesus' derives from the Hebrew name 'Yeshua' (יֵשׁוּעַ), a common alternative form of the name 'Joshua' (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - Yehoshuah) from Hebrew "to rescue, deliver, save". Hebrew scribes translating the Old Testament into Greek (before the birth of Christ) transliterated 'Yeshua' to Greek Ἰησοῦς ("Iēsous") using the same root sound 'Yesh-' combined with the Greek nominative case suffix "-ous" later reduced to "Iesus". Later Roman scribes, rather than repeatedly writing this full name in their texts on the subject, abbreviated or contracted the root of the name to two capital Greek letters, 'IH' (iota - eta), and added their own 'S' for the nominative case suffix "-us" (masculine singular, second declension). This was very common for such repeated words as sacred names (nomina sacra) and there are many more such instances in Greek and Roman manuscripts from the period, including other early Christian monograms.

Thus יֵשׁוּעַ became Ἰησοῦς became IHS for JE-su-S

The IHS monogram gained popularity in the 12th century when St. Bernard insisted much on devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and 14th century Blessed John Colombini, founder of the Jesuati, often wore it on his breast. It became a symbol not unlike the Chi-Rho first popularized in the 4th century, and it was iconographic for St. Vincent Ferrer (d. 1419). St. Bernardine of Sienna (d. 1444) truly spread its use by brandishing it as a shield at sermons and having it inscribed on plaques and walls as a symbol of peace and piety. St. Ignatius of Loyola adopted the monogram as the emblem of the Jesuit Order (1541), incorporating a cross above the "H" and three nails below, surrounded by the sun.

Answer 2

This is a monogram of the name of Jesus Christ. From the 3rd century the names of Christ were sometimes shortened, particularly in Christian inscriptions (IH and XP, for Jesus and Christus). In the 4th century the "sigla" (chi-rho) occurs not only as an abbreviation but also as a symbol. From the beginning, however, in Christian inscriptions the names of Jesus Christ, were shortened by contraction, thus IC and XC or IHS and XPS for Iesous Christos. These Greek monograms continued to be used in Latin during the Middle Ages.

IHS is the Christogram for the Greek spelling of Jesus (ΙΗΣ- iota-eta-sigma; short for ΙΗΣΟΥΣ)

Answer 3

The IHS Christian Emblem is a Monogram which represents the Holy Name of Jesus consisting of the three letters.

During the Middle Ages, the Name of Jesus was written: IHESUS. The monogram, or emblem, IHS is an abbreviation of the name IHESUS.

Roman Catholic AnswerThere is no letter "J" in Latin, at least until John Paul II decided there was, so that is why Jesus is spelled with an Iesus. The IHesus spelling above is a mistake from the Middle Ages, and the above explanation is backwards, the IHesus spelling came from the Greek IHS, not the other way around. From the Catholic Encyclopedia:

From the beginning, however, in Christian inscriptions the nomina sacra, or names of Jesus Christ, were shortened by contraction, thus IC and XC or IHS and XPS for Iesous Christos. These Greek monograms continued to be used in Latin during the Middle Ages. Eventually the right meaning was lost, and erroneous interpretation of IHS led to the faulty orthography "Jhesus."

Answer 4

It is a monogram for the name of Jesus - see related link below:

Answer 5

you mean INRI? Jesus of Nazareth king of the Jews

Answer 6

Inhissoul