14Then one of the Twelve, the one being named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests [26:15] and said: "What are you willing to give me, and I myself will hand him over to you?" And they appointed to him thirty pieces of silver. [26:16] And from that time he was seeking an opportunity that he might hand him over.
MAT 26:14-16
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Judea, the chief priests held significant religious and political power, often collaborating with Roman authorities to maintain order. They were part of the Temple aristocracy, overseeing rituals and finances, and were deeply invested in preserving the status quo. Judas’s approach to them reflects a transactional mindset common in a society shaped by patronage and honor-shame dynamics. The term (‘to hand over’) carries legal connotations, suggesting Judas viewed his act as a formal or official betrayal. The thirty pieces of silver evoke Exodus 21:32, where this sum is the price of a slave, subtly framing Jesus’s betrayal in terms of devaluation. Judas’s search for an (‘opportune moment’) underscores his calculated intent, aligning with the broader cultural emphasis on timing and strategy in political or personal dealings. For the original audience, this act would have been seen as a profound violation of trust and loyalty, deeply rooted in their social and religious expectations.
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How other translations render this
MAT 26:14
- KJV
- Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
- BSB
- Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
- Koinōnos
- Then one of the Twelve, the one being named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
MAT 26:15
- KJV
- And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
- BSB
- and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
- Koinōnos
- and said: "What are you willing to give me, and I myself will hand him over to you?" And they appointed to him thirty pieces of silver.
MAT 26:16
- KJV
- And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
- BSB
- So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- And from that time he was seeking an opportunity that he might hand him over.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 26:14
- chief priests:The term translated 'chief priests' refers to the heads of the priestly families, who were often wealthy and politically influential, holding significant power within Jewish society beyond their religious duties.
MAT 26:15
- will betray:The word translated 'will betray' carries the sense of handing someone over, often to an enemy or to authorities, implying a deliberate act of delivery rather than just a simple act of treachery.
- pieces of silver.:The phrase 'pieces of silver' refers to a specific amount of currency, likely silver shekels or tetradrachms, which represented a significant sum of money, not just any silver coins.
MAT 26:16
- an opportunity:The word translated 'an opportunity' suggests a favorable or opportune moment, a 'good time' that is sought out and seized for a particular purpose, rather than just any chance.