Bible Strands
Matthew 26:21
And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the twelve disciples while reclining at the evening meal. He delivers the statement during the shared meal before the disciples react with grief.
The words — ἀμὴν (amēn) translates as "Amen" or "truly," functioning as an emphatic marker of certainty. εἶπεν (eipen) is the aorist active indicative of "to say," recording the direct utterance of the warning.
The thread — The declaration runs parallel to John 13:21, where Jesus again testifies that one of the group will betray Him. It also connects to Hebrews 4:13, which notes that nothing remains hidden from God's sight.
Why it lands — The text records a direct prediction of imminent betrayal during a communal meal. It requires the reader to confront the reality of betrayal within close fellowship and acknowledge Jesus' explicit foreknowledge.
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
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Cross-references
- John 13:21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
- John 6:70 Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
- Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Psalms 55:12 For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
- Revelation 2:23 Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- Matthew 26:2 “You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
- Matthew 26:14 Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
- Luke 22:21 Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.