“He is risen” and “He has risen” both communicate the same essential message — but they do so from different grammatical and historical angles.
“He is risen” is the traditional, liturgical phrase emphasizing a permanent living state. “He has risen” is the modern English form emphasizing the completed past action.
This guide breaks down the difference between he is risen and he has risen, the grammar behind each, and when each phrase is used.
What Does “He Is Risen” Mean?
“He is risen” is the traditional, archaic form — rooted in older English grammar where the verb to be (is) served as a helping verb for certain intransitive verbs of motion and change, including rise, go, come, and fall.
In this construction, “is risen” does not simply describe a past action — it describes a resulting state of being. The emphasis is on the present condition: he is currently alive, not dead. The resurrection happened — and its effect is permanent and ongoing.
Example: “He is risen! Alleluia!”
This phrasing is most commonly heard in Easter liturgy, hymns, and traditional Christian worship — where the emphasis is on the living, present reality of resurrection rather than the moment it occurred.
The traditional call and response:
- “He is risen!” ✅ — spoken by the congregation or priest
- “He is risen indeed!” ✅ — the traditional response
Why “is” instead of “has”: Older English — the English of the King James Bible and earlier translations — used to be as the auxiliary for intransitive verbs. This is the same pattern seen in:
Old English Pattern: “Is + Past Participle”
The implication in each case goes beyond the action — it emphasizes the lasting result of that action.
What Does “He Has Risen” Mean?
“He has risen” is the modern, grammatically standard form using have as the auxiliary verb with the past participle risen. This follows the present perfect tense pattern that dominates contemporary English — have/has + past participle.
In this construction, the focus is on the completed action — the resurrection event that took place on Easter Sunday morning. The emphasis is historical and factual: the rising happened.
Example: “He has risen, just as he said.” — Matthew 28:6 (modern translations)
This form appears in modern Bible translations, contemporary Christian writing, and everyday conversation about the resurrection event. It is the grammatically natural choice for modern English speakers.
Present Perfect Structure
Why “has” is standard today: Modern English dropped to be as an auxiliary for intransitive verbs and replaced it universally with have/has. So while “he is risen” was natural in 1611 when the King James Bible was written, “he has risen” is the grammatically expected form in contemporary English.
The Key Difference Between “He Is Risen” vs “He Has Risen”
State vs Action — A Subtle But Meaningful Distinction
Both phrases communicate resurrection. The grammatical difference creates a slight but meaningful nuance:
“He is risen” → the resurrection produced a permanent change of state — he is alive right now “He has risen” → the resurrection was a completed event — it happened and is finished
The Archaic “Be” Auxiliary Pattern
The grammar of “he is risen” belongs to an older English system that used to be — not to have — as the helper verb for intransitive verbs expressing motion, arrival, or change of state.
This pattern survives today in a few fixed expressions:
- “She is gone” — she has left and is currently absent
- “He is come” — old form of he has come
- “The time is past” — old form of the time has passed
- “He is risen” — he has risen and is currently alive
These phrases are not errors — they are preserved archaic forms that carry theological and literary weight. In the context of Easter proclamation, “he is risen” deliberately retains this older grammar to express something beyond a simple past event.
When to Use Each Phrase
Use “He Is Risen” When:
- Participating in or writing about Easter liturgy and worship
- Quoting or referencing traditional hymns and religious texts
- Using the traditional Easter greeting — “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”
- Emphasizing the present reality of resurrection — he is alive now
Examples:
- “Every Easter Sunday, the congregation proclaims: He is risen!”
- “The ancient Easter proclamation — He is risen — echoes through churches worldwide.”
Use “He Has Risen” When:
- Reading or quoting modern Bible translations
- Writing in contemporary, everyday English about the resurrection
- Emphasizing the historical event of the resurrection
- Using standard modern grammar in formal or academic discussion
Examples:
- “He has risen, just as he promised his disciples.”
- “Modern translations render the angel’s words as: He has risen from the dead.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Memory trick:
- He is risen → think “he IS currently alive” — the state continues right now
- He has risen → think “the event HAS occurred” — it happened and is complete
- Liturgy and Easter greetings → he is risen. Modern writing and translation → he has risen.
FAQs — He Is Risen or He Has Risen
Does the Bible say he is risen or he has risen?
Both appear depending on the translation. The King James Bible (1611) uses “He is risen.” Most modern translations — including the NIV, ESV, and NLT — use “He has risen.” The original Greek supports both readings.
What singer no longer believes in God?
This question falls outside the scope of this grammar guide. For information about public figures and their beliefs, reputable entertainment or news sources would be the appropriate place to look.
Does God prefer burial or cremation?
This is a theological question beyond the scope of a grammar guide. Different Christian denominations hold varying views — consulting a theologian or religious leader would provide the most informed answer.
Which sin will God never forgive?
This is a theological and Biblical interpretation question outside the scope of this grammar guide. Different traditions interpret relevant scripture differently — a pastor, theologian, or religious scholar would be best placed to answer.
Is it better to say he is risen or he has risen?
Neither is better — both are correct. “He is risen” is preferred in traditional liturgical and worship settings. “He has risen” is the modern grammatically standard form. The choice depends on context — tradition and worship favor is risen, while modern writing favors has risen.
Conclusion
Both “he is risen” and “he has risen” are grammatically correct and theologically consistent. “He is risen” carries the weight of tradition — emphasizing a permanent, present reality rooted in archaic English grammar. “He has risen” follows modern grammar — emphasizing the completed resurrection event in clear, contemporary language.
Neither phrase is wrong. Neither is more truthful than the other. The one you choose depends on context — whether you are proclaiming in a centuries-old liturgical tradition or writing in modern English about the resurrection event. Both point to the same truth, expressed through two different moments in the history of the English language.
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