Matthew 26:48

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Judas identifies the target to the armed crowd sent by the chief priests and elders. He establishes a prearranged signal before approaching Jesus in the garden.

The words — The Greek παραδιδοὺς (paradidous) literally means "betraying" or "handing over," identifying Judas as the active agent. He ἔδωκεν (edōken), "gave," a σημεῖον (sēmeion), "sign," to direct the arrest.

The thread — This coded kiss mirrors deceptive greetings in 2 Samuel 3:27 and 20:9, where false peace masks lethal intent. It also echoes the warning in Psalm 28:3 against those who speak peace while harboring malice.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that betrayal often operates through familiar gestures rather than overt violence. It requires the reader to discern the difference between a declared allegiance and a hidden agenda.

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

ὁhoThe [one]δὲdethen παραδιδοὺςparadidousbetraying αὐτὸνautonHim ἔδωκενedōkengave αὐτοῖςautoisto them σημεῖονsēmeiona sign λέγων·legōnsaying;ὃνhonWhomever ἂνanmaybe φιλήσω,philēsōI may kiss,αὐτόςautosHe himself ἐστιν·estinit is;κρατήσατεkratēsatedo seize αὐτόν.autonHim.

King James Version

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
2 Samuel 20:9 “Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
Psalms 28:3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
Psalms 55:20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
Mark 14:44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely.”