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Jesus H. Christ is an example of slang serving as a mild, often humorous profanity. The expression is most commonly used in a wry, sarcastic, cynical, or joking tone, although it may nonetheless be perceived as blasphemy, being a variation of "Jesus Christ". The expression jokingly implies that the "Christ" is a surname rather than a title ("Christ", meaning anointed, is Greek for "Messiah").
Etymology
The expression dates to at least the late nineteenth century (although according to Mark Twain it was already old in 1850), and likely originates with the ancient Christian three-letter symbolism IHS (the Christogram).
Using the name of "Jesus Christ" as an oath has been common for many centuries, but the precise origins of the letter H in the expression Jesus H. Christ are obscure. While many explanations have been proposed, some serious and many humorous, the most widely accepted derivation is from the divine monogram of Christian symbolism. The symbol, derived from the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus, is transliterated "IHS," "IHC," "JHS," or "JHC". Since the transliteration "IHS" gave rise to the backronym Iesus Hominum Salvator (Latin for "Jesus savior of men"), it is plausible that "JHC" similarly led to "Jesus H. Christ".
One factor in the transmutation of the monogram into the expression Jesus H. Christ may be that when the first syllable of the phrase "Jesus Christ" is strongly emphasised (as some speakers of some English accents may do when cursing), the rhythm suggests a missing middle syllable between "Jesus" and "Christ". The H may have been adopted from the monogram to fill this gap.
Other variations
The phrase "Jesus H. Christ" has been extended in many cases, both as a colloquialism, and in its use in television and film. For example, in the film The Blues Brothers, the character Jake exclaims, "Yes! Yes! Jesus H. tap-dancing Christ, I have seen the light!" in a moment of fervor. In Steven Spielberg’s classic film Jaws, war veteran turned fisherman Quint frequently utters the phrase during the movie, usually in moments of frustration.
The variation "Jesus tapdancing Christ" is also frequently used in the animated series South Park.
In the movie Fletch, they say "Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick."
In the TV series Hill Street Blues, SWAT team commander Lt. Hunter can be heard to euphemistically utter, "Judas H. Priest".
Another humorous usage of Jesus H. Christ implies that the H is the abbreviation for the name Harold, a play on words from The Lord's Prayer (the "Our Father") as if Harold is the name of Jesus’ Father: "Our Father, who art in heaven, Harold be thy name …", thus Harold is Jesus’ middle name.
The British situation comedy Bottom features the utterance "Jesus H. Corbett" - a play on words referring to Harry H. Corbett, the British actor who played Harold Steptoe in television's Steptoe and Son.
"Jesus H. Christ on a raft" can sometimes be heard from people from Newfoundland and other Atlantic provinces of Canada. This may be a reference to Christ's walk on water.
The phrase in the song "Stuart", by The Dead Milkmen "Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick! Everybody knows that a burrow owl lives in a hole in the ground! Why the hell do you think they call it a burrow owl, anyway?!" in reference about the intelligence of certain persons.
In the media
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- In the movie The Matrix Revolutions in chapter one of the DVD, when told that the machines will be in Zion in 20 hours the pilot of the ship "AK" says "Jesus H. Christ!!!".
- In Die Hard when John McClane throws the dead body of terrorist Marco out of Nakatomi Plaza's 32nd floor to get Sergeant Al Powell's attention before he leaves, Powell screams "Goddamit, Jesus H. Christ!" when the body hits his car.
- In Edward Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? the first line in the show, Martha's, is "Jesus H. Christ." however she is interrupted between the words "Jesus" and "H" by George, who tries to silence her.
- In the novel Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen, the character Chemo frequently says "Jesus H. Christ".
- In the movie War Games, Airman Doherty at Loring AFB uses the phrase in surprise when a NORAD computer shows the base where he is has been nuked.
The epithet has been used for comedic effect in a several television shows:
- A parody of the phrase, "Science H. Logic", appeared in the South Park episode "Go God Go XII"
- In The Simpsons in a letter sent by Homer to Flanders to make him believe Jesus was waiting for him in Montana, and it was signed "Jesus (H. Christ)".
- Another Simpsons episode, "Bart the Fink", includes the parody phrase "Shiva H. Vishnu" (spoken by Apu, the Hindu shopkeeper).
- In an episode of Scrubs Dr. Cox refers to himself as "Jesus H. Cox M.D.".
- In Christopher Moore's novel Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal "Hallowed" is said to be Jesus' middle name due to the passage in the Our Father prayer "hallowed be thy name."
- Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann uses it throughout Full Metal Jacket
- In Neil Simon's 1976 mystery spoof Murder by Death the doddering geriatric nurse (played by Estelle Winwood) exclaims, "Jesus H. Christ!" after host Lionel Twain (played by Truman Capote) reveals one of the world's greatest detectives' dark secrets.
- The Stephen King book Misery has Annie Wilkes use this phrase.
- A clever twist on the phrase occurs in A Bug's Life when a frustrated insect mutters "Jiminy H. Cricket!".
- In the movie Short Circuit, while the robot Johnny 5 is hit by lightning, a technician cries out "Jesus H. God!"
- In the movie Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter the H is said to stand for "Hector", a play on the fact that "Jesus" is a popular name in Spanish-speaking cultures, as is "Hector".
- In the movie Forrest Gump when he joins the military his drill sergeant exclaims "Jesus H. Christ, Gump, how did you put that rifle together so fast?"
- In the movie Imagine Me & You when the character of Luce asks H what was her name, the girl (H) says :"Everyone calls me 'H'. They tell me it's short for Henrietta, but it's not. It's short for Jesus "H" Christ. That's what my mummy said when she found out she was pregnant with me"
- In the movie The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, Francis kicks the soccer ball at the coach/priest's head, who yells, "Jesus H. Christ!" to which Francis replies, "Sorry, Father....what does the 'H' stand for?"
- In the movie Heathers the policeman mutters "Jesus H. Christ" upon the 'realization' that the two star football players were apparently gay.
In the film Superman 2, General Zod uses his heat vision to appropriate the deputy sheriff's shotgun. Zod appears completely unharmed after shooting himself directly in the stomach, to which the deputy sheriff exclaims "Jesus H Christ".
External links
- Explanation from WorldWideWords by Michael Quinion (supports the IHC theory)
- Why do folks say "Jesus H. Christ"?, from The Straight Dope (inconclusive)
- Church of Jesus F. Christ Parody site that uses the slang term in satire.