Devine Scripture

Matthew 27:26

What does Matthew 27:26 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:26 means

Pilate releases Barabbas to the crowd but has Jesus scourged and hands him over to be crucified. The exchange captures a grim injustice: a guilty rebel goes free while the innocent Messiah suffers the brutal Roman punishment. Scourging before crucifixion was a degrading, painful ordeal that weakens the condemned. Pilate’s act shows his final, compromised decision—yielding to public pressure while attempting to follow some legal formality. The verse highlights substitutionary suffering and the cruelty of the process Jesus endured.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then he let Barabbas go free: but after having Jesus whipped, he gave him up to be put to death on the cross.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Then did he release to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered <FI>him<Fi> up that he may be crucified;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus, having scourged [him], he delivered up that he might be crucified.

Context

This verse follows the crowd’s acceptance of responsibility (v. 25) and is the practical outcome of the previous exchanges. Having symbolically absolved himself, Pilate executes the crowd’s demand by releasing Barabbas and condemning Jesus to scourging and crucifixion. The scene moves into Roman soldiers’ mockery and the physical abuse Jesus will experience (vv. 27–31).

v.25And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

v.26This passage

v.27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Prætorium, and gathered unto him the whole band.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 18:32

    For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon:

  • John 19:1

    Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

  • Matthew 20:19

    and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.

  • Mark 10:34

    and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again.

  • Luke 23:16

    I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

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