Devine Scripture

Matthew 27:5

What does Matthew 27:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:5 means

Judas throws the thirty pieces of silver into the sanctuary and then departs to hang himself. His tragic suicide shows the depth of his despair and inability to find forgiveness or restoration. Casting the money into the sanctuary is an act of horror and symbolic rejection—he rejects the price of blood even as the leaders accept it. His self-inflicted death fulfills the outcome of despair but offers no redemption, marking a grim epilogue to his betrayal and underlining the moral seriousness of sin.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he put down the silver in the Temple and went out, and put himself to death by hanging.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having cast down the silverlings in the sanctuary, he departed, and having gone away, he did strangle himself.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed and went and hanged himself with an halter.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And having cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, he left the place, and went away and hanged himself.

Context

Verse 5 concludes the brief but poignant account of Judas’ remorse and suicide (vv. 3–5). Placed before Jesus’ trial before Pilate, it shows personal tragedy amid the broader legal and political events. The scene also prompts the priests’ purchasing of the potter’s field, which follows and ties Judas’ end to the leaders’ actions and decisions.

v.4saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.

v.5This passage

v.6And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Kings 16:18

    And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

  • 2 Samuel 17:23

    And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

  • Psalms 55:23

    But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.

  • Acts 1:18

    (Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

  • Job 2:9

    Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die.

  • Judges 9:54

    Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

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