Matthew 26 15

Matthew 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.

Matthew 26:15 nkjv

and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:15 niv

and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:15 esv

and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:15 nlt

and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 15 Meaning

Matthew 26:15 recounts Judas Iscariot's treacherous offer to betray Jesus Christ to the chief priests. He directly asks for a price for this betrayal, explicitly driven by covetousness. The verse then reveals the Sanhedrin's immediate response, specifying the exact payment of thirty pieces of silver, signifying a deliberate transaction for the life of an innocent man. This event marks a critical turning point towards Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, setting in motion the fulfillment of ancient prophecies regarding the betrayal of the Messiah for a slave's price.

Matthew 26 15 Context

Matthew 26:15 is situated within the Passion Narrative, specifically during the week leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. Following a discourse in Bethany where a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, sparking Judas's covetous objection (Matt 26:6-13, John 12:1-8), this verse immediately details Judas's turning point from disgruntled disciple to betrayer. The setting is critical: it is Passover week, a time of great spiritual significance and political tension in Jerusalem. The chief priests and elders, having previously decided to kill Jesus (Matt 26:3-5), sought an opportune moment to arrest him without causing a public disturbance. Judas's proposal presented them with a convenient and clandestine way to achieve their goal, away from the Passover crowds. His actions fulfill several Old Testament prophecies regarding the betrayal of an innocent figure for a specific price, setting the stage for Jesus' trial and death.

Matthew 26 15 Word analysis

• Τί (Ti): Greek for "What." This interrogative pronoun highlights Judas's direct and pragmatic approach, focused solely on material gain. It signifies the commencement of a negotiation.
• θέλετέ (thelete): From thelo, meaning "to will," "to desire," "to wish." This is a request, asking what they are willing or desirous to give him, not a demand. It suggests Judas's readiness to participate for a specific value.
• μοι (moi): Greek for "to me." A direct object showing Judas's personal motivation; the transaction is for his benefit.
• δοῦναι (dounai): Aorist infinitive of didomi, "to give." Implies the act of payment. Judas is proposing a quid pro quo: payment for a delivery.
• κἀγὼ (kagō): Contraction of kai ("and") and ego ("I"). "And I." This conjunctive emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the proposed deal from Judas's perspective; a promise of his action in return for their payment.
• ὑμῖν (hymin): Greek for "to you" (plural). Indicates that Judas is addressing the Sanhedrin members, likely chief priests and elders, showing he is striking a deal with the highest religious authorities.
• παραδώσω (paradōsō): Future tense of paradidomi, "to hand over," "to betray," "to deliver." This is a loaded term. While it can mean innocent "handing over," in this context, coupled with payment for an arrest, it definitively implies "betrayal" of a person into the hands of enemies. It's the critical action Judas offers.
• αὐτόν (auton): Greek for "Him," referring to Jesus. This singular pronoun indicates the specific and identified target of the betrayal.
• Οἱ δὲ (Hoi de): Greek for "And they," or "But they." Connects Judas's offer to the immediate response of the religious leaders, implying their quick assent.
• ἔστησαν (estēsan): From histemi, meaning "to stand," "to set," "to fix," "to weigh out." In a commercial context, it means "they fixed the price" or "they weighed out" the agreed sum. It denotes a firm, deliberate agreement.
• αὐτῷ (autō): Greek for "to him," referring to Judas.
• τριάκοντα (triakonta): Greek for "thirty." The precise number, specifically referencing the Old Testament prophetic fulfillment (Zech 11:12-13). It represents the legal price for a slave (Exod 21:32). This makes Jesus's worth equated to a common servant by the religious authorities and the betrayer.
• ἀργύρια (argyria): Plural of argyriōn, meaning "pieces of silver" or "silver coins." Specifies the currency. Silver was a common medium for exchange, indicating real, tangible payment.

Words-group analysis:

• "Τί θέλετέ μοι δοῦναι" ("What will you give me?"): This phrase encapsulates Judas's motive: a calculated pursuit of personal gain. It strips away any pretense of righteousness or religious conviction from his actions, revealing pure financial incentive for his betrayal.
• "κἀγὼ ὑμῖν παραδώσω αὐτόν" ("and I will deliver Him over to you"): This is Judas's proposition. The use of "I" (ego) emphasizes his personal agency in the betrayal. "Deliver over" (paradōsō) signifies the specific treacherous act. It indicates a pre-meditated decision to surrender Jesus to those seeking His life.
• "Οἱ δὲ ἔστησαν αὐτῷ τριάκοντα ἀργύρια" ("And they paid him thirty pieces of silver"): This phrase confirms the immediate and concrete agreement. "They paid him" highlights the swiftness and resolve of the chief priests to accept the deal. The specific amount, "thirty pieces of silver," is not random; it is heavily charged with prophetic and cultural significance as the price of a slave. It underscores both the value placed on Jesus by His betrayer and accusers, and the deliberate fulfillment of prophecy.

Matthew 26 15 Bonus section

• The value of thirty pieces of silver: While contextually it was the price of a slave, its purchasing power varied. It was a sum, but not an exorbitant fortune, reinforcing that Judas's greed overcame loyalty for a relatively modest gain, making his treachery even more profound. It implies that Jesus, by their measure, was worth very little, or simply worth enough to complete the clandestine operation.
• Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: This verse, read with other passages, prompts theological reflection on how Judas's betrayal, foretold and ordained by God for the purpose of salvation, still constitutes a reprehensible act of his free will. Judas freely chose to pursue personal gain over his relationship with Christ, despite the foreknowledge of God and the fulfilling of prophecy through his actions. He was fully accountable for his choices.
• Judas as an "instrument": While Judas freely made the choice to betray, his actions were also a part of God's redemptive plan to bring about Christ's sacrifice. However, this does not exonerate Judas's sin; rather, it highlights the mysterious interaction between divine will and human agency.

Matthew 26 15 Commentary

Matthew 26:15 unveils the shocking depth of Judas Iscariot's treachery, driven by covetousness. His direct question, "What will you give me?", immediately reveals a heart consumed by greed, demonstrating that his motive was purely financial, not ideological or spiritual disillusionment. This was not a moment of moral struggle but a calculated negotiation. The chief priests, who had been actively seeking an opportunity to arrest Jesus quietly, seized upon this unholy alliance with alacrity. The immediate agreement on "thirty pieces of silver" is highly significant. This sum directly fulfills the prophecy found in Zechariah 11:12-13, where the shepherd is valued at thirty pieces of silver, scorned, and the money is thrown to the potter. It also parallels the Mosaic law regarding the compensation for a gored slave (Exod 21:32), indicating that Jesus's life, in the eyes of his betrayer and the Sanhedrin, was valued as that of a common slave. This betrayal highlights humanity's capacity for profound darkness and foreshadows the profound injustice that Jesus would endure, fulfilling God's sovereign plan for redemption.