Bible Strands
Matthew 26:23
Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples during the Passover meal after each one asks if he is the betrayer. He identifies the traitor by noting the person sharing the dish with Him at that moment.
The words — ἐμβήψας (embapsas) means "having dipped," denoting the physical act of immersing food into a common bowl. μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ (met' emou) translates to "with Me," establishing the physical proximity required for the act of betrayal.
The thread — The shared meal imagery appears in Psalms 41:9 and John 13:18, where betrayal is foretold through one who breaks bread. John 13:26 later clarifies the mechanism by specifying the dipped morsel as the identifying sign.
Why it lands — The text defines the betrayer through the act of sharing a bowl, showing that physical closeness to Jesus does not prevent treachery. It requires the reader to acknowledge that loyalty is determined by allegiance, not mere proximity.
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 he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
Cross-references
- John 13:18 I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
- Psalms 41:9 Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- John 13:26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
- Luke 22:21 Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.