Devine Scripture

Matthew 27:25

What does Matthew 27:25 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:25 means

The crowd answers Pilate, declaring, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children,’ accepting blame for Jesus’ death and wishing its consequences upon themselves and their descendants. This striking statement expresses collective responsibility and foreshadows judgment language. It is a tragic profession rather than an informed theological verdict. The phrase demonstrates how public will can embrace guilt, and Matthew records it soberly, not as incitement but as historical witness to the community’s choice and its heavy implications.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And all the people made answer and said, Let his blood be on us, and on our children.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and all the people answering said, `His blood <FI>is<Fi> upon us, and upon our children!'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and upon our children.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And all the people answering said, His blood [be] on us and on our children.

Context

This verse immediately follows Pilate’s symbolic washing of hands (v. 24) and records the crowd’s chilling acceptance of responsibility. Their pronouncement contrasts with Pilate’s attempt to disclaim guilt and leads to the actual execution: Barabbas released and Jesus condemned (v. 26). The verse displays the public nature of the condemnation and its long-term gravity.

v.24So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.

v.25This passage

v.26Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Kings 2:32

    And Jehovah will return his blood upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, and my father David knew it not, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

  • 2 Samuel 1:16

    And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah’s anointed.

  • Hebrews 10:28

    A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:

  • Ezekiel 24:7

    For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the bare rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust.

  • Deuteronomy 19:13

    Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

  • 2 Kings 24:3

    Surely at the commandment of Jehovah came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,

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