A Conversation for Ask h2g2

Jesus Christ

Post 1

Taipan - Jack of Hearts

What does the 'H' in that well known british phrase 'Jesus H Christ' stand for?

I first discovered this phrase on a saturday many years ago when my dad was into DIY. I thought then it was some kind of zen like mantra that all DIY experts used, until I actually saw him in action.


Jesus Christ

Post 2

Cheerful Dragon

I have sometimes heard the 'H' replaced by 'F***ing' (and I've mentally done it myself). I've always assumed that the 'H' stood for 'Holy', but I'm guessing.


Jesus Christ

Post 3

Mustapha

It's very difficult to say what the 'H' stands for, especially since Jesus Christ wasn't his real name to begin with. 'Jesus' is a Latinicised variation on 'Yeshua' and 'Christ' is Greek for 'Annointed One'.


Jesus Christ

Post 4

DelphicOracle

Well, since you don't often hear it, it's probably one of those slightly embarrassing middle names that Jesus wanted to have hushed up.

My bet is that it's Hilary. smiley - smiley


Jesus Christ

Post 5

Mustapha

Maybe he was working in the shed one day with his dad and hit his thumb with a hammer...smiley - fish


Jesus Christ

Post 6

Mustapha

Perhaps he learnt it from HIS dad, who I understand was something of a DIY guy.


Jesus Christ

Post 7

The Q

Its all part of the great con that is Christianity.

The H stands for "Ha, suckers!". Its their version of funny, which is about as mirthsome as having yourself crucified, probably.


Jesus Christ

Post 8

Fruitbat (Eric the)

My guess is that since cursing with any sort of religious expletive doesn't carry any power other than to inform listeners of the abuser's emotional state and lack of verbal control, adding ANY words to the middle of the name is supposed to emphasize some degree of additional import. (did all of you follow that? My run-on sentence for the day.)

Fruitbat


Jesus Christ

Post 9

Luc777

I think it stands for "Jesus Heroin?, Christ!". It seems that modern society has tried to deplete the basic human instinct to destroy ourselves, ans so when something like heroin addiction comes up people seem superised.


Jesus Christ

Post 10

The Artist formerly known as Researcher 103670

I've heard the H stands for Horatio (sp?) but I'm not into the vain usage of His name...dig?


Jesus Christ

Post 11

Y. Cope

Ah, 'tis a delicate quiestion indeed...

See, the 'H' in this sentence is there merely for one reason: to distinguish the two Jesuses from eachother. Most of us have heard about the Jesus Christ with the unfortunate faith of annoying some guys much enough to get a lot of nails run through his hands (don't worry - you have to be really, REALLY anoying to accomplish that!). Now, not so many have heard about his younger half brother (they shared mother - different father) - Jesus Horatius Christ.

And here's the thingie; using (or abusing) the name of Jesus Christ to curse a disturbing chain of events is a prophane and unnice thing to do, you see he has a certain religous importance to a lot of guys. His brother, though, hasn't. Therefore the britts all jump this poor fellow. A typical case of "now-I-may-not-be-much-but-I-have-this-REALLY-important-brother-of-mine-who-you-all-love-and-worship-and-just-wait-until-I-call-his-father-on-you"-complex.

Anyway, it's a theory.


Jesus Christ

Post 12

Dilapidated

This is possibly not frivolous. On a lot of crucifixion paintings, the letters "IHC" are painted on a sign at the top of the cross. As Jesus only got his Christ after his resurrection and ascension, I have a feeling that it stands (either in Greek or Latin) for "This is the King of the Jews". However, it is an easy enough trap to assume it is JC's full initials (allowing for a lack of the letter J in Latin).

Or possibly it is just to add emphasis....

smiley - winkeye


Jesus Christ

Post 13

Uncle Fester

The British actor Harry H Corbett used the 'H' to differentiate himself from the bloke with his hand up Sooty. Maybe JC also had an embarssing namesake.


Jesus Christ

Post 14

Researcher 108826

Isn't it IHS? That's what I've seen, but possibly this is the swedish
version. I think it's for "Ihsos Hominum Salvator" or
something (expect lots of spelling errors, I do not know latin!),
meaning "Jesus saviour of humans". Don't take my word for it though.


Jesus Christ

Post 15

Gnomon - time to move on

IHS and IHC are the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek letters.

The letter J was original just a variation in shape of the letter I. It was only later considered a separate letter, and Jesus was spelt with an I.

The H is the Greek letter Eta which was pronounced "ay".

The C was the Mediaeval way of writing the letter Sigma, which represented the S sound.

So writing IHC was just the first three letters of Jesus.

Writing IHS is slightly odd, as the sigma has been changed to an S, the letter iwth the same sound, while the eta has been left as a H, although eta and aitch have different sounds.


Jesus Christ

Post 16

Hoovooloo


The "H", as any fule kno, stands for "Harold".

As in the Lord's Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Harold be thy name.


Jesus Christ

Post 17

~ jwf ~ scribblo ergo sum

smiley - flyhi
Yeah, he had his own backup group called the Harold Angels.
with just one album called the Harold Angels Recording Koral
or HARK.

One hit wonders to be sure.

smiley - diva
-jwf-


Jesus Christ

Post 18

Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic.

Haploid!


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