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This article discusses the phrase "Jesus H. Christ". For information about the historic and religious figure, visit Jesus.

Jesus H. Christ is an example of slang serving as a mild, joking curse. 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" in "Jesus Christ" is a surname rather than a title ("Christ", meaning anointed, is Greek for "Messiah"). 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). Comically, some people have stated the "H" stands for "Harvey,", "Hubert," or even "Hermaphrodite.".

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 comedy The Blues Brothers, a 1980 film starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, Jake Blues (Belushi) exclaims, "Yes! Yes! Jesus H. Tapdancing Christ, I have seen The Light!" in a moment of fervor. Also a parody of the phrase ,"Science H. Logic", appeared in the second part of the South Park episode ' Go god, Go'

Etymology

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.

External links

Explanation from WorldWideWords by Michael Quinion (supports the IHC theory)
Why do folks say "Jesus H. Christ"?, from The Straight Dope (inconclusive)
The Etymology of Jesus H. Christ by Peter Kirby (sarcastic quasi-parody)

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 :''This article discusses the phrase "Jesus H. Christ". For information about the historic and religious figure, visit [[Jesus]].''
-'''Jesus H. Christ''' is an example of [[slang]] serving as a mild, joking [[profanity|curse]]. 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 [[joke|jokingly]] implies that the "Christ" in "Jesus Christ" is a [[family name|surname]] rather than a title ("[[Christ]]", meaning ''anointed'', is Greek for "[[Messiah]]"). 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]]'').  Comically, some people have stated the "H" stands for "Harvey" or "Hubert."
+'''Jesus H. Christ''' is an example of [[slang]] serving as a mild, joking [[profanity|curse]]. 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 [[joke|jokingly]] implies that the "Christ" in "Jesus Christ" is a [[family name|surname]] rather than a title ("[[Christ]]", meaning ''anointed'', is Greek for "[[Messiah]]"). 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]]'').  Comically, some people have stated the "H" stands for "Harvey,", "Hubert," or even "Hermaphrodite.".
 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 comedy ''[[The Blues Brothers]]'', a 1980 film starring [[John Belushi]] and [[Dan Aykroyd]], [[Jake Blues]] (Belushi) exclaims, "Yes! Yes! Jesus H. Tapdancing Christ, I have seen The Light!" in a moment of fervor.