Matthew 27 9

Matthew 27:9 kjv

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

Matthew 27:9 nkjv

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced,

Matthew 27:9 niv

Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel,

Matthew 27:9 esv

Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,

Matthew 27:9 nlt

This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says, "They took the thirty pieces of silver ?
the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 9 Meaning

Matthew 27:9 records how the thirty pieces of silver, returned by Judas Iscariot after betraying Jesus, were used by the chief priests and elders to purchase the potter's field. This act, the verse declares, fulfilled an ancient prophecy attributed to Jeremiah the prophet. It highlights God's sovereignty over human actions, even those born of wickedness, ensuring the precise unfolding of divine plans for the Messiah's suffering and redemption.

Matthew 27 9 Context

Matthew 27:9 is nestled within the vivid passion narrative of Jesus. It follows Judas's desperate act of returning the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders after seeing Jesus condemned (Mt 27:3-5). Consumed by remorse, Judas confesses his sin, but the religious leaders, caught in their own hypocrisy, declare the money "blood money" (Mt 27:6) and unfit for the temple treasury. Their solution is to use it to buy the potter's field "to bury strangers in" (Mt 27:7-8). This action, performed unwittingly by those who rejected Jesus, serves as the immediate historical context for Matthew's prophetic fulfillment declaration in verse 9.

From Matthew's broader literary perspective, this verse is one in a series of "fulfillment formulas" (often beginning with "that it might be fulfilled") designed to demonstrate Jesus's messianic identity by showing how His life, death, and resurrection perfectly align with the ancient prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. The chief priests' seemingly practical decision to purchase a burial ground becomes, in Matthew's theological framework, a divinely orchestrated act, demonstrating God's sovereign hand guiding history toward His redemptive purpose, even through the betrayal and actions of His enemies.

Matthew 27 9 Word analysis

• Then was fulfilled (τότε ἐπληρώθη - tote eplērōthē): This common Matthean fulfillment formula underscores the theological significance of the event. It's not a mere coincidence, but the outworking of God's sovereign plan. "Fulfilled" implies a completion or bringing to pass what was declared beforehand, indicating divine foreknowledge and purpose. It reinforces Matthew's primary theme: Jesus is the Messiah, the one through whom God's ancient promises are realized.
• that which was spoken (τὸ ῥηθὲν - to rhēthen): Refers to the specific prophetic utterance. Matthew presents these events not as random occurrences but as direct echoes of God's voice through His prophets.
• by Jeremiah the prophet (διὰ Ἱερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου - dia Ieremiou tou prophētou): This attribution is a key point of discussion. The most direct prophetic source for the "thirty pieces of silver" and "the potter" is Zec 11:12-13. However, elements from Jeremiah's prophecy also resonate:
  • Jeremiah 32:6-15 describes Jeremiah buying a field as a symbolic act of future hope.
  • Jeremiah 19:1-13 speaks of a potter and a broken vessel, judgment, and the Valley of Hinnom (where the "potter's field" was located), which became known as a place of defilement and burial.Matthew may be using a broader reference, a common practice in his day, where a major prophet (Jeremiah) might stand for a section of the prophetic books (like the 'former prophets' or the 'twelve minor prophets' of which Zechariah is one). Another view is that he weaves together themes from both prophets, seeing a larger pattern of divine intention related to the Messiah's betrayal and rejection. It highlights the profound interconnectedness of Old Testament themes leading to Christ.
• saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver (λέγοντος, καὶ ἔλαβον τὰ τριάκοντα ἀργύρια - legontos, kai elabon ta triakonta argyria): This exact phrase isn't found verbatim in Jeremiah, but it aligns precisely with Zec 11:12. The number "thirty pieces of silver" is highly symbolic, being the standard price for a slave injured by an ox (Ex 21:32). This price ironically and powerfully highlights the contemptuous value placed upon the King of glory, treating Him as mere chattel by His own people.
• the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value (τὴν τιμὴν τοῦ τετιμημένου, ὃν ἐτιμήσαντο ἀπὸ υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ - tēn timēn tou tetimēmenou, hon etimēsanto apo huiōn Israēl): This emphasizes the irony and tragedy. The Messiah, the ultimate "Valued One" from God's perspective, was appraised by "the children of Israel," His own people, at the price of a slave. The verb "to value" or "to set a price on" signifies a deliberate assessment of worth, here tragically low and contemptuous.
• and gave them for the potter's field (καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτὰ εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν τοῦ κεραμέως - kai edōkan auta eis ton agron tou kerameōs): This aligns with Zec 11:13, where the Lord commands the prophet to "cast it [the 30 pieces of silver] unto the potter." The potter's field (Akeldama in Acts 1:19), located near the Hinnom Valley, was likely an undesirable piece of land, used by a potter for clay extraction, then depleted and fit only for a graveyard for "strangers" or foreign pilgrims. The purchasing of this desolate field with the price of Jesus symbolizes the defiled and rejected nature of the money, as well as the eventual outreach of Christ's salvation to outsiders.
• as the Lord appointed me (καθά συνέταξέν μοι Κύριος - katha synetaxen moi Kyrios): This phrase indicates divine direction and command. While "me" might initially seem to refer to Jeremiah as the one receiving the prophetic command, in the context of Zec 11:13, it's the Lord directing Zechariah to cast the money to the potter. In Matthew's usage, "appointed me" implies divine ordination over the entire sequence of events—the betrayal, the return of the money, and its use by the chief priests—all orchestrated by God to fulfill prophecy. It removes any notion of accidental fulfillment, affirming God's meticulous sovereign control over all human actions, even the darkest of betrayals.

Matthew 27 9 Bonus section

The method Matthew employs here, sometimes called a "recapitulation citation" or "synthetic quotation," is typical of ancient Jewish interpretive techniques. It allows him to combine or allude to multiple prophetic passages that speak to the same overarching theme, attributing the composite prophecy to the most prominent prophet of that general section of Scripture (Jeremiah as a significant "major prophet"). This hermeneutic shows that Matthew saw the Old Testament as a cohesive narrative of God's redemptive plan, fulfilled definitively in Jesus, rather than a mere collection of isolated predictions. The deliberate use of "blood money" for a burial plot further emphasizes the moral corruption of the religious leaders who rejected the true life-giver and valued Him lower than a slave, unknowingly making themselves complicit in the divine scheme to redeem a lost humanity.

Matthew 27 9 Commentary

Matthew 27:9 presents a profound theological statement: even the betrayal of God's Son and the subsequent actions of His enemies are orchestrated within the sovereign plan of God. The seemingly arbitrary decision by the chief priests to buy the "potter's field" with the blood money becomes a divinely necessitated fulfillment of ancient prophecy. By attributing the prophecy to Jeremiah, while drawing heavily from Zechariah, Matthew demonstrates a deeper interpretative lens, seeing interconnected prophetic themes woven together from various prophetic voices (potter, field, judgment, blood money, price of a slave, ultimate rejection of God's chosen shepherd) all pointing to Jesus.

The choice of the "thirty pieces of silver," the ignominious price of a slave, highlights the supreme insult and devaluation of Jesus by those who should have recognized Him as Messiah. Yet, through this very contempt, a barren "potter's field" is purchased, a burial ground for "strangers." This subtly hints at the universal scope of Christ's redemption: rejected by His own, He nevertheless secures a resting place even for those considered outsiders. It's a vivid demonstration of God turning human evil into a channel for His eternal good, ultimately leading to the full accomplishment of His saving purpose. The verse is a powerful reminder that divine sovereignty prevails, ensuring all things, including the most heinous sins, work toward the foreordained plan of God for His Messiah.