Bible Strands
Mark 15:10
For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Pilate speaks to the chief priests and the gathered crowd during his interrogation of Jesus, immediately after asking whether he should release the King of the Jews. The narrator records this moment as Pilate evaluates the charges brought against him.
The words — The Greek phrase διὰ φθόνον (dia phthonon) translates literally to "because of envy." This term identifies the chief priests' true motive for delivering Jesus to Roman authority.
The thread — This pattern of religious leaders destroying a righteous figure out of envy appears in 1 Samuel 18:8 and aligns with the warning against jealousy in Proverbs 27:4.
Why it lands — The text states that Pilate recognized the chief priests acted from envy rather than legitimate guilt. Readers must acknowledge how jealousy corrupts judgment and drives unjust condemnation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
- Genesis 4:4 while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
- 1 Samuel 18:8 And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”
- Matthew 27:18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Genesis 37:11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4 I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
- James 3:14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- James 4:5 Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?