Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”
- KJV Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
- NKJV Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”
- NASB Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him.”
- NLT The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Judas arranges to identify Jesus by a kiss. He turns a sign of affection into the mark of betrayal.
Overview
Judas prearranges a kiss, a customary greeting of respect, as the signal to the arresting party. The perversion of a loving gesture into treachery deepens the horror of his act. It reveals how sin corrupts even tokens of friendship, and how Jesus was betrayed by one who feigned devotion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Ps 55:20–21My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
- Mark 14:44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely.”
- 2 Sam 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
- Ps 28:3Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
- 2 Sam 20:9–10“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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