For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
- BSB For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
- NKJV For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
- NASB For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.
- NLT (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
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
Pilate realizes the leaders handed Jesus over out of envy. He sees through their motives.
Overview
Matthew reveals that Pilate discerned the true cause behind the charges: the religious leaders' envy of Jesus' influence and popularity. This insight makes Pilate's later capitulation all the more culpable, for he knew Jesus was innocent. The note also exposes the corrupt heart behind the prosecution of the Messiah.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
- Mark 15:10For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
- Acts 5:17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
- Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
- Jas 4:5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
- Gen 37:11And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
- Acts 7:9And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
- Eccl 4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Ps 106:16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
- Isa 26:11LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.
- 1 Sam 18:7–11And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 27:18 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.