Bible Strands
Matthew 27:4
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Judas addresses the chief priests and elders immediately after seeing Jesus condemned, returning the thirty pieces of silver he received for the betrayal. The religious leaders respond by dismissing his guilt and declaring him responsible for his own actions. The words — ἥμαρτον (hēmarton) literally means "I sinned," and ἀθῷον (athōon) literally means "innocent," directly framing Judas’s confession as an admission of moral guilt regarding an unjust execution. The thread — This pattern of acknowledging sin after witnessing consequences appears in Genesis 42:21 when Joseph’s brothers confront their past cruelty, and in Exodus 9:27 and 10:16 when Pharaoh admits his wrongdoing after divine judgments. Why it lands — The text demands recognition that verbal confession without repentance or restitution remains incomplete, leaving the speaker to face the consequences of his own actions.
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
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Cross-references
- Genesis 42:21 Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
- Exodus 9:27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
- Exodus 10:16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.
- Exodus 12:31 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.
- 1 Samuel 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
- 1 Samuel 15:30 “I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”
- 1 Samuel 28:16 “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?
- 1 Kings 21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
- 2 Kings 24:4 and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.
- Job 16:2 “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.