He is risen or He has risen: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: Both phrases appear in Christian liturgy, but the standard modern English form is he has risen. This construction uses the present perfect tense to describe a past event with current relevance. Older texts and hymns often retain he is risen for tradition.
The Short Answer
The grammatically standard choice in contemporary English is he has risen, which correctly employs the present perfect tense to link the past event to the present moment.
People confuse these forms because he is risen has been entrenched in traditional liturgy, hymns, and older scripture translations for centuries, creating a strong habit of usage that feels authoritative to many speakers.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| He has risen | Standard | Writing modern prose, emails, or speaking in contemporary English settings. |
| He is risen | Traditional | Quoting hymns, liturgical responses, or archaic texts directly. |
| Has risen | Verb Phrase | Focusing on the action of rising rather than the subject's state. |
| Is risen | Predicate Adjective | Treating risen as a state of being, common in older poetic styles. |
Correct Example Sentences
- The congregation replied that he has risen from the dead with great joy.
- Many traditional hymns still declare that he is risen today during Easter services.
- She wrote in her journal that he has risen, bringing hope to the community.
- The pastor explained that he has risen, emphasizing the ongoing nature of faith.
- Older manuscripts might state he is risen, reflecting the language of their time.
- Teachers note that he has risen is the correct structure for modern grammar lessons.
- The choir sang he is risen as a nod to centuries of musical tradition.
- News reports about the holiday often mention that he has risen to celebrate.
- Scholars discuss how he is risen functioned as a declarative statement in ancient texts.
- Believers affirm that he has risen, connecting the resurrection to current life.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- He is risen this morning.
- He has risen this morning.
- We believe he is risen now.
- We believe he has risen now.
- The news is that he is risen.
- The news is that he has risen.
- He is risen after three days.
- He has risen after three days.
- I know he is risen today.
- I know he has risen today.
- She said he is risen forever.
- She said he has risen forever.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Check if the sentence emphasizes a completed action affecting the present. If you are describing the event as a fact with current impact, use he has risen. If you are quoting a specific traditional text or hymn where the phrasing is fixed, he is risen is acceptable.
Related Word Pairs
- Affect vs Effect
- Use affect as a verb and effect as a noun in most cases.
- Their vs There
- Their shows possession while there indicates a place or existence.
- Loose vs Lose
- Loose means not tight and lose means to misplace or forfeit.
- Principal vs Principle
- Principal means main or headmaster while principle is a rule or belief.
- Its vs It's
- Its shows ownership and it's is a contraction for it is.
More Example Sentences
- The choir director insisted that he has risen is the grammatically precise choice for the sheet music.
- Many liturgical calendars still use the phrase he is risen to echo traditional readings.
- When quoting ancient texts, editors often prefer he is risen to maintain historical accuracy.
- The theologian argued that he has risen better captures the present significance of the event.
- Children learn to say he is risen in Sunday school as part of the standard Easter response.
- The bulletin board featured a large sign stating simply that he is risen.
- Academic journals analyzing gospel accounts frequently cite the declaration that he is risen.
- Modern hymn writers sometimes adapt lyrics to reflect that he has risen for contemporary audiences.
- The altar server repeated that he is risen in a clear and confident voice.
- Pastors often explain that while he is risen is traditional, he has risen is also acceptable.
Quick Practice
The congregation responded with joy that he from the dead.
is risen
According to modern grammar rules, the sentence should state that he .
has risen
Traditional Easter greetings often include the phrase that he .
is risen
Scholars note that present perfect tense suggests he recently.
has risen
The ancient manuscript clearly records the declaration that he .
is risen
Teachers emphasize that he is the standard for written English today.
has risen
Frequently Asked Questions
Is he is risen grammatically incorrect?
It is considered archaic or liturgical. In standard modern English grammar, he has risen is the correct present perfect construction for describing a past event with present relevance.
Why do churches still say he is risen?
Many denominations preserve this phrasing to maintain continuity with historical liturgy, scripture translations, and hymns. It serves as a traditional declaration rather than a modern grammatical statement.
Can I use he has risen in a formal essay?
Yes, he has risen is the preferred form for formal academic or journalistic writing because it adheres to standard contemporary English tense rules and clarity guidelines.
Does he is risen mean something different?
Historically, it treated risen as an adjective describing a state of being. Today, it primarily signals a traditional or poetic context rather than a distinct grammatical meaning in modern speech.
