Hodie mecum eris in paradiso
“Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Vulgate, Luke 23:43
What does “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso” mean?
Hodie mecum eris in paradiso translates as “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
It is a promise of mercy and hope at the very end of life. Many find comfort in it as a sign that it is never too late for grace.
“Hodie mecum eris in paradiso” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Hodie | today | adverb, formed from the old phrase hoc die, “on this day” |
| mecum | with me | the pronoun me (ablative singular of ego, “I”) joined to the preposition cum, which is attached to the end of personal pronouns |
| eris | you will be | second person singular, future indicative of sum, “I am” |
| in | in | preposition; here it takes the ablative and marks place |
| paradiso | paradise | ablative singular of paradisus, “paradise” (a masculine noun borrowed from Greek); ablative after in |
How to pronounce “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso”
The main differences are the opening h, which is sounded in Classical and silent in Church Latin, and the s in paradiso, which is often voiced like z in Church Latin. The stress falls on the first syllable of hodie, mecum and eris, and on the third syllable of paradiso.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “today with me you will be in paradise”. It comes from the Latin Vulgate, the Bible translation largely made by Jerome in the late fourth century, and renders the Greek of the Gospel of Luke.
In Luke 23:43 Jesus speaks these words from the cross to one of the two criminals crucified beside him. The man had asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom, and this is the answer.
The verse became a central text on forgiveness and last-minute repentance. It is often quoted at funerals, on memorial cards and in sermons about hope. Some editions of the Vulgate write Amen dico tibi (“truly I say to you”) before the line.
How to use “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso”
It suits a memorial card, a funeral reading or a reflection on forgiveness and hope at the end of life. It also works as an inscription for those who want a quiet, comforting Christian verse.
- Latin
- Hodie mecum eris in paradiso
- English
- Today you will be with me in paradise.
- Source
- Vulgate, Luke 23:43
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Hope
Common mistakes
- The line is addressed to one person. Speaking to several people would need the plural form eritis (“you will be”).
- Do not write “me cum”. With personal pronouns the preposition is attached at the end, so the correct form is mecum.
- Hodie means “today”, not “tomorrow” or “soon”. The promise in the verse is immediate.
- Some versions place Amen dico tibi before the line. That is part of the fuller verse, not a mistake, but it changes the length of the quote.
Questions about “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso”
What does “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso” mean?
It means “Today you will be with me in paradise”. It is a promise of salvation made at the moment of death.
Who said “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso”?
In the Gospel of Luke (23:43), Jesus speaks these words to the repentant thief crucified next to him. The Latin comes from the Vulgate translation.
How do you pronounce “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso”?
In Classical Latin it is HOH-dee-eh MEH-koom EH-ris in pah-rah-DEE-soh. In Church Latin the h is silent, so it begins OH-dee-eh.
Is “Hodie mecum eris in paradiso” correct Latin for a tattoo or memorial?
Yes, it is correct Vulgate Latin and addressed to one person. For several people, change eris to eritis.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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