Matthew 26 22

Matthew 26:22 kjv

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

Matthew 26:22 nkjv

And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"

Matthew 26:22 niv

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?"

Matthew 26:22 esv

And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"

Matthew 26:22 nlt

Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, "Am I the one, Lord?"

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 22 Meaning

Following Jesus' solemn declaration that one among them would betray Him, the disciples were plunged into profound and overwhelming grief. Their sorrow was so intense that, one by one, each of them spontaneously turned to Jesus and, with genuine introspection and deep apprehension, asked, "Lord, is it I?" This question revealed their individual self-doubt, their horror at the possibility of such a sin, and their personal search for any potential hidden flaw within themselves.

Matthew 26 22 Context

Matthew 26:22 occurs during the solemn Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples shortly before His crucifixion. This meal was specifically the Passover Seder, deeply symbolic for the Israelites, celebrating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. In this sacred setting, after Jesus instituted the New Covenant through the bread and wine, He made the startling and heartbreaking announcement that one of His chosen twelve disciples would betray Him. This declaration shattered the intimate atmosphere of fellowship and set the stage for the deeply personal, sorrowful reaction recorded in this verse, immediately preceding the more specific identification of the betrayer. The gravity of the meal, the shocking nature of the betrayal within the circle of trust, and the disciples' inability to suspect one another but only themselves, underscore the verse's profound impact.

Matthew 26 22 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple connective, joining this emotional response to Jesus's prior shocking statement about the betrayal.
• they (Implied from the verb ending): Refers to the eleven faithful disciples present at the Last Supper, excluding Judas Iscariot at this point.
• were exceeding (σφόδρα - sphodra): An adverb emphasizing the intense degree of their emotional state. It means "very much," "greatly," or "vehemently," highlighting the profound depth of their distress.
• sorrowful (ἐλυπήθησαν - elupēthēsan): The aorist passive form of lypeō, meaning "to be grieved," "to be distressed," or "to be caused pain." This indicates an inward experience of deep anguish, suggesting their hearts were pained by the shocking announcement.
• and began (καὶ ἤρξαντο - kai ērxanto): The aorist middle of archomai, indicating a spontaneous initiation of action. It conveys a sense of them starting something, almost in unison, driven by their intense sorrow.
• every one of them (εἷς ἕκαστος αὐτῶν - heis hekastos autōn): Literally "one each of them." This emphatic phrasing underscores the individual nature of their response. It highlights that the question wasn't posed by a collective spokesperson, but by each disciple personally examining his own heart.
• to say (λέγειν - legein): Present infinitive of legō, indicating an ongoing action or a series of utterances. They didn't just ask once, but continued to ask, signifying the persistent turmoil in their minds.
• unto him (αὐτῷ - autō): The dative case of "him," indicating that their words were directly addressed to Jesus. They turned to their Master for clarity and assurance.
• Lord (Κύριε - Kyriē): The vocative case of Kyrios, meaning "Lord" or "Master." This address shows their continued respect, reverence, and submission to Jesus, even amidst their turmoil. It is an acknowledgment of His authority.
• is it I? (μήτι ἐγώ εἰμι; - mēti egō eimi?): This interrogative phrase carries significant meaning.
  • μήτι (mēti): An interrogative particle introducing a question that expects a negative answer. It conveys an assumption, doubt, or hope that the answer will be "no." Thus, "Surely it isn't I, is it?" or "It's not I, is it?". It reflects their horrified apprehension that, despite their loyalty, such a terrible possibility might reside within their own hearts.
  • ἐγώ (egō): The emphatic form of "I." By placing the personal pronoun "I" in such an emphatic position, each disciple personalizes the shocking statement. It’s not just a general "who is it?" but a profound, terrifying self-inquiry: "Is it I myself?"
  • εἰμι (eimi): The simple verb "am" or "to be."

Words-group analysis

• "were exceeding sorrowful": This phrase paints a vivid picture of the disciples' emotional state. Their sorrow (λύπη) was not mild sadness but profound grief (sphodra), reflecting the devastating impact of Jesus's announcement on their deepest loyalty and trust. It indicates the magnitude of the potential betrayal.
• "began every one of them to say": This demonstrates a collective yet intensely personal and introspective reaction. The "beginning" implies an immediate, almost spontaneous response. "Every one of them" emphasizes that this self-doubt was not confined to a few, but gripped all of the true disciples, indicating their sincere, though flawed, hearts.
• "Lord, is it I?": This iconic question encapsulates their genuine humility, their desperate desire not to be the betrayer, and their painful self-assessment. The Greek particle mēti implies that they hoped for a negative answer, but simultaneously harbored a deep, fearful awareness of their own human capacity for sin and failure, a self-awareness that was notably absent in Judas. It sets their fear of potential unknown evil in contrast to Judas's known, conscious treachery.

Matthew 26 22 Bonus section

The disciples' "Is it I?" question stands in poignant contrast to Judas's likely silence at this specific moment in Matthew's account, or his later, pointed question in Matthew 26:25, "Is it I, Rabbi?" where he is directly addressed. The subtle difference in the addressing — "Lord" from the others (signifying discipleship and devotion) versus "Rabbi" from Judas (indicating mere intellectual acknowledgment of Jesus as a teacher, not Lord) — reveals the underlying spiritual divide even as the words might seem similar on the surface. The genuine horror expressed by the eleven showcases their true hearts, susceptible to sin but abhorring the thought of betraying their Lord. Their self-doubt, ironically, affirms their innocence, while the absence of true remorse or genuine inquiry distinguishes the betrayer. This moment serves as a timeless call to believers for continuous self-examination, especially in fellowship with Christ.

Matthew 26 22 Commentary

Matthew 26:22 reveals the sincere shock and deep spiritual state of the eleven loyal disciples. When confronted with the horrifying truth of an imminent betrayal from within their own intimate circle, their reaction was not to cast suspicion on each other but to turn inward with profound introspection. Their "exceeding sorrow" underscores their genuine devotion to Jesus and their abhorrence of the sin He described. The phrase "every one of them began to say, 'Lord, is it I?'" powerfully portrays their humility and recognition of their own potential fallibility. Unlike Judas, who either remained silent or posed the question deceitfully later (Mt 26:25), these disciples, despite their flaws (e.g., Peter's later denial), exhibited a crucial self-awareness and a desperate desire for a clean heart before their Master. Their question, "Surely it's not I, is it?" shows their hope, yet also their sober understanding of the human heart's deceitfulness. This genuine self-examination serves as a profound example for all believers in seeking out hidden sin and remaining humble before Christ.