Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Parallel translations
- KJV And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
- BSB Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
- NKJV Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
- NASB And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
- NLT So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the 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 greets Jesus and kisses Him. The act of betrayal is completed under a mask of friendship.
Overview
With the words 'Hail, Rabbi' and a kiss, Judas hands Jesus over while pretending honor. The hypocrisy stands as a sobering warning against outward devotion that hides a treacherous heart. Yet Jesus receives the betrayer with remarkable composure, knowing this is the path the Father has appointed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 26:25Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”
- 1 Th 5:26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
- Gen 27:26His father Isaac said to him, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”
- Matt 27:29–30They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- 2 Sam 20:9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- Prov 27:6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
- Luke 7:45You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.
- Mark 15:18They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- John 19:3They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.
- Mark 14:45–46When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him.
- 1 Sam 10:1Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahweh anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.'
How Matthew 26:49 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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