Judas' Remorse and Suicide
Matthew 27:1-10
Matt.27.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πρωιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- γενομενης: VERB,pres,mid,part,gen,f,sg
- συμβουλιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ελαβον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αρχιερεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- πρεσβυτεροι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- λαου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ωστε: CONJ
- θανατωσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτον·: PRON,acc,sg,masc
Parallels
- Matthew 26:3-4 (thematic): Earlier account of the chief priests and elders assembling to plot Jesus’ arrest and death—same council intent continued into Matthew 27:1.
- Mark 14:1-2 (verbal): Parallel pre-Passover plot language: chief priests and scribes seek how to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him, echoing the Jewish leaders' murderous counsel.
- Mark 15:1 (verbal): Very close verbal/synoptic parallel: in the morning the chief priests hold consultation and deliver Jesus to Pilate—matches Matthew’s 'morning' and leaders' council to put him to death.
- John 18:28 (structural): Narrative parallel placing the Jewish leaders bringing Jesus to the governor early in the morning; emphasizes timing and the leaders’ role in handing him over.
Alternative generated candidates
- When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
- When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
Matt.27.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- δησαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- απηγαγον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- παρεδωκαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- Πιλατω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ηγεμονι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 15:1 (verbal): Mark explicitly records the same sequence—Jesus is bound, led away and delivered to Pilate—using very similar language and order of actions.
- Luke 23:1-2 (structural): Luke parallels Matthew’s scene by bringing the Jewish leaders with Jesus before Pilate, structurally matching the transfer from Jewish to Roman jurisdiction.
- John 18:28-29 (structural): John describes the Jewish authorities bringing Jesus to the Roman governor (Pilate) and delivering him over, paralleling Matthew’s account of handing Jesus to Pilate.
- Matthew 26:57 (verbal): An intra‑Gospel parallel: earlier in Matthew Jesus is bound and led away (to the high priest), repeating the motif of arrest, binding and transfer to authorities.
- John 19:16 (thematic): John later notes that Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified—the subsequent Roman handover/crucifixion stage that follows the initial delivery to Pilate described in Matthew 27:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
- And when they had bound him they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Matt.27.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τοτε: ADV
- ιδων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- Ιουδας: PROPN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- παραδιδους: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- οτι: CONJ
- κατεκριθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- μεταμεληθεις: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,m,sg
- εστρεψεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- τριακοντα: NUM,nom,sg,m
- αργυρια: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- αρχιερευσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πρεσβυτεροις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 26:14-16 (verbal): Records Judas negotiating with the chief priests to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver—the same sum returned in 27:3.
- Matthew 27:5 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: after returning the silver Judas goes away and hangs himself, linking his remorse in 27:3 to his death.
- Luke 22:3-6 (thematic): Synoptic parallel describing Satan entering Judas and his agreement with the chief priests to betray Jesus—corresponds to Matthew's account of Judas' betrayal and ensuing remorse.
- Zechariah 11:12-13 (allusion): Old Testament precedent for the thirty pieces of silver and their contemptuous use, which Matthew later cites as prophetically significant in the betrayal narrative.
- Acts 1:16-19 (thematic): Early Christian account of Judas' remorse, death, and the acquisition of a field with the betrayal money—another tradition related to Judas' return of the silver and its aftermath.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Judas, who had betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,
- Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, was seized with remorse and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,
Matt.27.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγων·Ημαρτον: PART,pres,act,nom,m,sg + VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- παραδους: PART,aor,act,nom,m,sg
- αιμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αθωον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπαν·Τι: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl + PRON,acc,sg,n
- προς: PREP
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- οψη: VERB,aor,mid,subj,2,sg
Parallels
- Matt.27.3,27:7-10 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Judas' remorse, his return of the thirty pieces, the priests' refusal and the purchase of the potter’s field (Matt. 27:3–10) directly frame his confession 'I have sinned, betraying innocent blood.'
- Luke 22:3-6 (thematic): Luke records Judas' agreement with the chief priests to betray Jesus and his seeking an opportunity to hand him over—parallel theme of Judas' betrayal leading up to remorse in Matthew.
- John 13:27-30 (verbal): John depicts the moment Judas departs to effect the betrayal (after Jesus’ bidding) and notes Satan’s role; parallels the act of betrayal that Judas later acknowledges with remorse in Matthew.
- Acts 1:16-20 (thematic): Peter recounts Judas’ betrayal and its consequences (his death and the loss of his office), treating Judas’ act of handing over 'innocent blood' as the defining transgression—echoing Matthew’s portrayal of Judas’ guilt.
- Zech.11:12-13 (quotation): Zechariah’s oracle about thirty pieces of silver and the potter’s field is explicitly cited in Matthew 27:9–10 as fulfillment connected to Judas’ betrayal and the blood-money he returned.
Alternative generated candidates
- saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' But they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it yourself.'
- saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they replied, "What is that to us? See to that yourself." And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple and went away and hanged himself.
Matt.27.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ριψας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- αργυρια: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ναον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ανεχωρησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- απελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- απηγξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 1:18-19 (verbal): Gives an alternative account of Judas' death and the aftermath—describes his demise and the field associated with the 'reward of his wickedness,' paralleling Matthew's report of Judas' end after returning the silver.
- Zechariah 11:12-13 (quotation): Speaks of thirty pieces of silver and casting them to the potter; Matthew frames Judas' return of the silver and the priests' handling of it as fulfillment of this prophecy.
- John 13:27-30 (structural): Describes Satan entering Judas and his immediate departure to carry out the betrayal; parallels Matthew's note that Judas left (and subsequently hanged himself).
- Luke 22:3-6 (thematic): Reports Satan's entry into Judas and his agreement with the chief priests to betray Jesus for money—provides background motive for Judas' actions and the silver returned in Matthew.
- Psalm 41:9 (thematic): Speaks of betrayal by a close associate ('even my close friend in whom I trusted'); thematically parallels the treachery and personal betrayal embodied in Judas' return of the silver and suicide.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and went away; and he went and hanged himself.
- The chief priests, taking the silver pieces, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money."
Matt.27.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αρχιερεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- λαβοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- αργυρια: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- ειπαν·Ουκ: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εξεστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- βαλειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κορβαναν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- επει: CONJ
- τιμη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αιματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εστιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matt.27.7-10 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: the chief priests refuse to put the 'blood-money' into the temple treasury and use it to buy the potter’s field; Matthew then cites a prophetic fulfillment (vv.9–10).
- Zech.11.12-13 (verbal): Explicit verbal parallel: Zechariah records the payment of thirty pieces of silver and the Lord’s instruction to 'throw it to the potter'—language Matthew echoes in the betrayal/price-of-blood tradition and the purchase of the potter’s field.
- Acts 1.18-19 (thematic): Accounts Judas’ fate and a field associated with the betrayal money (the 'field of blood'); offers an independent tradition about what became of the silver and the field bought with it.
- Jer.18.1-6 (allusion): Jeremiah’s potter imagery (the potter shaping clay) is likely behind Matthew’s reference to a 'potter’s field' and helps explain Matthew’s attribution of the fulfillment to 'Jeremiah' despite closer verbal ties to Zechariah.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the chief priests, taking the silver, said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.'
- So they took counsel and bought with the money the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.
Matt.27.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- συμβουλιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- λαβοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ηγορασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εξ: PREP
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Αγρον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Κεραμεως: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- ταφην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- ξενοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 27:6 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the chief priests refuse to place the thirty pieces in the temple treasury (v.6), and v.7 follows with their purchase of the potter’s field.
- Matthew 27:9-10 (quotation): Matthew explicitly cites the prophets (here attributed to Jeremiah) to explain that the thirty pieces were used to buy the potter’s field, presenting the purchase as fulfillment of prophecy.
- Zechariah 11:12-13 (verbal): Contains the image of thirty pieces of silver and throwing them to the potter—language Matthew echoes when linking the thirty pieces and the potter’s field.
- Jeremiah 32:6-9 (thematic): Jeremiah’s purchase of a field (a prophetic sign involving buying land) provides a thematic background for the motif of purchasing a field as a prophetic or symbolic act.
- Acts 1:18-19 (structural): An alternative tradition about Judas’ end and the field: Acts says Judas bought a field (Akeldama, 'Field of Blood') with the reward of his wickedness, paralleling Matthew’s account of a field associated with Judas’ thirty pieces.
Alternative generated candidates
- So they took counsel and with the money bought the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers.
- Therefore that field has been called to this day the Field of Blood.
Matt.27.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διο: CONJ
- εκληθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αγρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκεινος: PRON,dem,nom,sg,m
- Αγρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Αιματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εως: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σημερον: ADV
Parallels
- Acts 1:18-19 (verbal): Acts recounts Judas' death and states that the field bought with his reward became known as Akeldama ('Field of Blood'), using the same name and explanatory tradition as Matthew 27:8.
- Matt.27:7 (structural): The immediately preceding verse in Matthew explains that the priests used the returned thirty pieces to buy the potter's field, providing the action that leads to the field's being called the 'Field of Blood.'
- Matt.27:9-10 (quotation): These verses (immediately following 27:8) cite prophetic Scripture about the thirty pieces and the potter's field, linking the purchase and name of the field to fulfillment of prophecy.
- Zechariah 11:12-13 (allusion): Zechariah describes receiving thirty pieces of silver and throwing them to the potter—background tradition Matthew likely alludes to when associating Judas' thirty pieces and the potter's field (often cited in Matthew 27:9-10).
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
- Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
Matt.27.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- επληρωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ρηθεν: PART,aor,pass,acc,n,sg
- δια: PREP
- Ιερεμιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- προφητου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντος·Και: PTCP,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- ελαβον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- τριακοντα: NUM,nom,sg,m
- αργυρια: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- τιμην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τετιμημενου: PTCP,perf,pass,gen,sg,m
- ον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ετιμησαντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- απο: PREP
- υιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- Ισραηλ: PROPN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Zechariah 11:12-13 (verbal): Matthew's reference to 'thirty pieces of silver' and casting it to the potter closely matches Zechariah 11:12–13, which records the thirty pieces and throwing them to the potter—the most direct verbal parallel.
- Jeremiah 32:6-15 (thematic): Jeremiah's purchase of a field (32:6–15) is thematically parallel to Matthew's mention of the potter's field—both involve prophetic acts of buying land as a sign.
- Jeremiah 18:1-6 (allusion): Jeremiah's potter imagery ('go down to the potter's house') provides a likely Jeremiah motif behind Matthew's 'potter's field,' explaining Matthew's attribution to Jeremiah even though the thirty pieces echo Zechariah.
- Acts 1:18-19 (structural): Acts recounts Judas' end and the field called Akeldama bought with the 'reward of iniquity,' paralleling Matthew's account of the thirty pieces being used for a potter's field and offering an independent early tradition about the field.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him who was valued, whom some of the sons of Israel valued,'
- "They took the thirty pieces of silver—the price of him who was valued by some of the sons of Israel,"
Matt.27.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εδωκαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αγρον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κεραμεως: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- καθα: ADV
- συνεταξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Zechariah 11:12-13 (quotation): Matthew's statement about the thirty pieces and giving them for the potter's field echoes Zechariah's language about thirty pieces and throwing them to the potter, which Matthew cites as fulfillment.
- Jeremiah 18:1-6 (verbal): The image of the potter and the potter's house (potter shaping clay) provides the Old Testament background for the 'potter's field' terminology Matthew uses.
- Jeremiah 32:6-9 (thematic): Jeremiah's purchase of a field as a prophetic sign parallels the motif of buying a field in Matthew, linking prophetic action and the meaning of a field purchase.
- Acts 1:18-19 (allusion): Acts offers a related tradition about Judas, the betrayal money, and the acquisition of a field (Akeldama, 'Field of Blood'), paralleling Matthew's account of the money being used for a field.
Alternative generated candidates
- and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.
- "and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me."
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to bring about his death.
They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Then Judas, the one who had betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.
He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They replied, "What is that to us? That is your concern." And throwing the pieces of silver into the temple, he went out and hanged himself.
The chief priests, taking the silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood-money." So they took counsel and with the money bought the potter's field as a burial place for strangers.
For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
"They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."