The phrases “he is risen” and “he has risen” look almost identical, but they have different grammatical structures and slightly different shades of meaning. Both are associated with the idea that someone has risen, especially in religious contexts, but they are not always interchangeable. Understanding the difference can help you write more naturally and accurately in English.
The confusion often comes from the unusual use of “risen” after “is.” In modern English, risen is normally the past participle of rise and is commonly used with has, have, or had. However, “He is risen” has a long-standing religious and traditional use, particularly in Christian language referring to Jesus Christ. “He has risen,” meanwhile, follows the standard present perfect structure and emphasizes the completed action and its relevance to the present.
Quick Answer
“He has risen” is the standard modern English construction because has is followed by the past participle risen. “He is risen” is a traditional or religious expression, especially in Christian contexts. Both can refer to the Resurrection, but their grammatical style and usage differ.
Why People Confuse It
The confusion comes from the fact that rise has several forms:
- Rise — base form
- Rose — simple past
- Risen — past participle
For example:
- He rises early every day.
- He rose early yesterday.
- He has risen early every day this week.
So why do we hear “He is risen”?
The phrase is an established traditional expression. In religious English, particularly in the phrase “He is risen,” risen is used in a construction that is now somewhat archaic or literary.
In ordinary modern English, “He has risen” is much more straightforward grammatically.
First Word: “He Is Risen”
“He is risen” is a traditional expression meaning that he has risen or he is now in a risen state.
It is strongly associated with Christian language about the resurrection of Jesus.
For example:
“He is risen!”
This expression is particularly familiar in Easter greetings and religious services.
Is “He Is Risen” grammatically correct?
Yes. It is a recognized and established construction, although it sounds traditional, biblical, religious, or somewhat archaic in modern everyday English.
The important point is that “He is risen” should not be treated as the normal modern equivalent of every sentence involving rise.
For example:
- He is risen. — Traditional/religious expression.
- He has risen. — Standard modern English.
The first phrase has a special historical and religious character.
Second Word: “He Has Risen”
“He has risen” uses the present perfect tense:
has + past participle
Here:
- has = auxiliary verb
- risen = past participle of rise
The phrase means that he rose at some point before now, and the result or significance is relevant to the present.
For example:
“The sun has risen.”
This is completely normal modern English.
You could also say:
“He has risen from his seat.”
This means he got up from his seat.
Why “has risen” is standard
The verb rise is irregular:
rise → rose → risen
Therefore, when using the present perfect, we say:
- He has risen.
- They have risen.
- She has risen.
Not:
- He has rose. ❌
Comparison Table
| Phrase | Grammar | Main Use | Style | Example |
| He is risen | Traditional/archaic construction | Religious or literary | Biblical, traditional | “He is risen!” |
| He has risen | Present perfect | Modern English | Standard | “He has risen from his chair.” |
| He rose | Simple past | Completed past action | Standard | “He rose early yesterday.” |
| He had risen | Past perfect | Earlier past action | Standard | “He had risen before sunrise.” |
When to Use Each
Use “He is risen” when:
Use “He is risen” primarily when you want a traditional Christian, biblical, or religious tone.
Common examples include:
- Easter messages
- Church services
- Religious writing
- Biblical quotations or references
- Traditional Christian greetings
For example:
“Rejoice! He is risen.”
The phrase immediately creates a religious context.
Use “He has risen” when:
Use “He has risen” in normal modern English when describing an action that has happened.
Examples:
- “He has risen from his chair.”
- “The temperature has risen.”
- “The sun has risen.”
- “The river has risen after the rain.”
It can also be used in religious writing:
“He has risen from the dead.”
This sounds modern and grammatically conventional.
Examples: He Is Risen vs He Has Risen
Here are examples showing how the two expressions work.
- He is risen!
A traditional Christian Easter declaration. - He has risen from the dead.
A modern statement about the Resurrection. - The Lord is risen.
A traditional religious expression. - The sun has risen above the horizon.
A normal modern-English sentence. - He has risen from his chair.
He has stood up. - He is risen indeed!
A traditional Christian response to “He is risen!” - The water level has risen overnight.
The water level became higher. - The king has risen from his throne.
He has stood up. - He is risen, according to the Gospel account.
Traditional religious wording. - He has risen to a position of great influence.
He has advanced to a higher position. - The temperature has risen significantly.
The temperature has increased. - He has risen early every morning this week.
He has gotten up early repeatedly. - He is risen! Alleluia!
Traditional religious language. - The moon has risen over the mountains.
A standard present-perfect construction.
Common Mistakes
1. Using “rose” after “has”
A frequent error is:
He has rose. ❌
The correct form is:
He has risen. ✅
Remember:
rise → rose → risen
2. Assuming “is risen” is always the standard form
Although “He is risen” is correct in its traditional context, it isn’t the usual modern construction for describing someone getting up.
For example:
He has risen from his chair. ✅
is more natural than:
He is risen from his chair. ❌/awkward
3. Confusing “rise” with “raise”
Rise usually happens without a direct object:
The sun rises.
Raise normally takes an object:
She raises her hand.
Therefore:
- The temperature has risen. ✅
- They have raised the temperature. ✅
4. Writing “He has rose”
This mixes the simple past form rose with the present perfect auxiliary has.
Correct:
He has risen.
Not:
He has rose.
Memory Trick
Use this simple rule:
Has + risen = modern grammar
Is + risen = traditional/religious expression
You can also remember the three forms:
RISE → ROSE → RISEN
Think:
- Today: rise
- Yesterday: rose
- Has happened: risen
So:
He rose yesterday.
but:
He has risen today.
And in traditional Christian language:
He is risen!
American vs British English
There is no major American-versus-British English difference between these expressions.
Both American and British English recognize:
He has risen
as the normal present-perfect construction.
Both also understand:
He is risen
as a traditional or religious expression.
The difference is primarily about style, context, and historical usage, rather than nationality.
In everyday American or British conversation, “He has risen” is generally the more natural grammatical construction when talking about a completed act of rising.
Similar Words
Understanding rise alongside related verbs makes the distinction easier.
Rise vs Raise
Rise means to move upward or get up.
The sun rises.
Raise means to lift something or cause something to move upward.
She raised her hand.
Rise vs Get Up
Get up is much more common in casual conversation.
He got up from the sofa.
Rise can sound more formal.
He rose from the sofa.
Risen vs Rose
Rose is the simple past form.
He rose early yesterday.
Risen is the past participle.
He has risen early today.
Risen vs Raised
Risen comes from rise.
The prices have risen.
Raised comes from raise.
The company has raised its prices.
Final Verdict
If you’re asking which phrase is standard modern English, choose “he has risen.” It follows the normal present perfect structure: has + risen. This is the form you should generally use when describing someone or something that has moved upward, stood up, or increased.
However, “he is risen” is not simply wrong. It is a well-established traditional expression, especially in Christian and Easter language. If your writing refers to the Resurrection and you want a traditional biblical or religious tone, “He is risen” is perfectly appropriate.
FAQs
Is “He is risen” grammatically correct?
Yes. “He is risen” is a recognized traditional expression, particularly in Christian language. In everyday modern English, however, “He has risen” is generally the more conventional grammatical construction.
Is “He has risen” correct?
Yes. “He has risen” is grammatically correct and uses the present perfect tense: has + risen.
What is the difference between “He is risen” and “He has risen”?
“He is risen” is a traditional or religious expression, while “He has risen” is the standard present-perfect construction used in modern English.
Which is correct for Easter: “He is risen” or “He has risen”?
“He is risen” is the traditional Easter expression, especially in Christian worship and greetings. “He has risen” is also grammatically correct and can be used when making a modern statement about the Resurrection.
Is “risen” the past tense of “rise”?
No. Rose is the simple past form, while risen is the past participle.
- Present: rise
- Past: rose
- Past participle: risen
Can I say “He has rose”?
No. The correct form is “He has risen.” After has, you need the past participle risen, not the simple past rose.
Why does the Bible say “He is risen”?
“He is risen” reflects traditional and historical English usage and has become a fixed religious expression associated with the Resurrection. Its wording is more traditional than ordinary modern conversational English.
Conclusion
The choice between “he is risen” and “he has risen” depends largely on context. “He has risen” follows the standard present perfect structure and is the natural choice in modern English when describing a completed act of rising. Remember the verb forms rise, rose, risen to avoid common grammar mistakes.
“He is risen,” meanwhile, has a special place in Christian and Easter language. Its traditional tone is why it remains familiar and meaningful even though modern English would normally use “has risen.” So, neither expression needs to be treated as universally wrong—the context determines which one fits best.
Remember This
He has risen = standard modern English.
He is risen = traditional/religious expression.
Rise → Rose → Risen.
I’m Micah Wheeler, a passionate author who enjoys exploring matching words, grammar, and language. I create clear, helpful content to make word choices and grammar easier for everyone.
