Matthew 26 · Verse 20

Matthew 26:20

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

Matthew 26:20, King James Version

Matthew 26:20 in other translations

BSB	When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples.
WEB	Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
ASV	Now when even was come, he was sitting at meat with the twelve disciples;
YLT	And evening having come, he was reclining (at meat) with the twelve,
DARBY	And when the evening was come he lay down at table with the twelve.
BBE	Now when evening was come, he was seated at table with the twelve disciples;
Webster	Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve.

What does Matthew 26:20 mean?

Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. When the even was come. The lamb was killed between the evenings, Ex 12:6, (Hebrew) that is, between three o'clock P.M. and nine in the evening. The Jews reckoned two evenings, one from three o'clock P.M. to sunset, the other from sunset to the close of the first watch in the night, or nine o'clock. The paschal supper was commonly eaten after the setting of the sun, and often in the night, Ex 12:8.

He sat down. At first, the supper was eaten standing, with the loins girded and their staff in their hand, denoting the haste with which they were about to flee from Egypt. Afterwards, however, they introduced the practice, it seems, of partaking of this as they did of their ordinary meals. The original word is, he reclined; i.e., he placed himself on the couch in a reclining posture, in the usual manner in which they partook of their meals. Mt 23:6. While sitting there at the supper, the disciples had a dispute which should be the greatest. Lk 22:24 and Lk 22:25-30. At this time also, before the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, to teach them humility. Jn 13:1 and Jn 13:2-20.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. - It is a common opinion that our Lord ate the passover some hours before the Jews ate it; for the Jews, according to custom, ate theirs at the end of the fourteenth day, but Christ ate his the preceding even, which was the beginning of the same sixth day, or Friday; the Jews begin their day at sunsetting, we at midnight. Thus Christ ate the passover on the same day with the Jews, but not on the same hour. Christ kept this passover the beginning of the fourteenth day, the precise day and hour in which the Jews had eaten their first passover in Egypt. See Exo 12:6-12. And in the same part of the same day in which the Jews had sacrificed their first paschal lamb, viz. between the two evenings, about the ninth hour, or 3 o'clock, Jesus Christ our passover was sacrificed for us: for it was at this hour that he yielded up his last breath; and then it was that, the sacrifice being completed, Jesus said, It Is Finished. See Exo 12:6, etc., and Deu 16:6, etc. See on Joh 18:28 (note), and the Treatise on the Eucharist, referred to Mat 26:19; and see the notes on Mat 26:26 and following verses.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:17-25

Observe, the place for their eating the passover was pointed out by Christ to the disciples. He knows those hidden ones who favour his cause, and will graciously visit all who are willing to receive him. The disciples did as Jesus had appointed. Those who would have Christ's presence in the gospel passover, must do what he says. It well becomes the disciples of Christ always to be jealous over themselves, especially…

Read the full comment on Matthew 26:17-25 →

Matthew 26:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὈψίαςOpsiasAs eveningG3798

δὲdenowG1161

γενομένηςgenomenēshaving arrivedG1096

ἀνέκειτοanekeitoHe was recliningG345

μετὰmetawithG3326

τῶνtōntheG3588

δώδεκαdōdekatwelveG1427

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 26:20

Mark 14:17-21
And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. …
John 13:21
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Song of Solomon 1:12
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
Luke 22:14-16
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Exodus 12:11
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

when.
Mr 14:17-21; Lu 22:14-16; Joh 13:21
he.
Ex 12:11; So 1:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 26:19
And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
Matthew 26:20
Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
Matthew 26:21
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Read all of Matthew 26

Matthew 26:20 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y como fué la tarde del día, se sentó á la mesa con los doce.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et le soir étant venu, il se mit à table avec les douze.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als es aber Abend geworden war, legte er sich mit den Zwölfen zu Tische.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Vespere autem facto, discumbebat cum duodecim discipulis suis.