Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”
- BSB Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”
- 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 55:20–21He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
- Mark 14:44And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
- 2 Sam 3:27And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
- Ps 28:3Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
- 2 Sam 20:9–10And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
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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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