Matthew 26 · Verse 48

Matthew 26:48

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
Matthew 26:48, King James Version

Matthew 26:48 in other translations

BSBNow the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”
WEBNow he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”
ASVNow he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.
YLTAnd he who did deliver him up did give them a sign, saying, ‘Whomsoever I will kiss, it is he: lay hold on him;'
DARBYNow he that delivered him up had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, he it is: seize him.
BBENow the false one had given them a sign saying, The one to whom I give a kiss, that is he: take him.
WebsterNow he that betrayed him, gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.

What does Matthew 26:48 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 48. Gave them a sign. That is, told them of a way by which they might know whom to apprehend, i.e., by his kissing him. It was night. Jesus was, besides, probably personally unknown to the Romans,perhaps to the others also. Judas, therefore, being well acquainted with him, to prevent the possibility of mistake, agreed to designate him by one of the tokens of friendship.

John tells us, that Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him, when they approached him, asked them whom they sought? and that they replied, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus informed them that he was the person they sought. They, when they heard it, overawed by his presence, and smitten with the consciousness of guilt, went backward, and fell to the ground. He again asked them whom they sought. They made the same declaration--Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus then, since they professed to seek only him, claimed the right that his disciples should be suffered to escape;-- "that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none," Jn 18:9. See also Jn 17:12.

(s) "saying" Ps 38:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 48 Gave them a sign - How coolly deliberate is this dire apostate! The man whom I shall kiss - how deeply hypocritical! That is he, hold him fast, seize him - how diabolically malicious! Hail, Master - A usual compliment among the Jews. Judas pretends to wish our Lord continued health while he is meditating his destruction! How many compliments of this kind are there in the world! Judas had a pattern in Joab, who, while he pretends to inquire tenderly for the health of Amasa, thrust him through with his sword; but the disciple here vastly outdoes his master, and through a motive, if possible, still more base. Let all those who use unmeaning or insidious compliments rank for ever with Joab and Judas. And kissed him - And tenderly kissed him - this is the proper meaning of the original word κατεφιλησεν, he kissed him again and again - still pretending the most affectionate attachment to him, though our Lord had before unmasked him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:47-56

No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to…

Read the full comment on Matthew 26:47-56 →

Matthew 26:48 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.

ὁhoThe [one]G3588
δὲdethenG1161
παραδιδοὺςparadidousbetrayingG3860
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἔδωκενedōkengaveG1325
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
σημεῖονsēmeiona signG4592
λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
ὃνhonWhomeverG3739
ἂνanmaybeG302
φιλήσω,philēsōI may kiss,G5368
αὐτόςautosHe himselfG846
ἐστιν·estinit is;G1510
κρατήσατεkratēsatedo seizeG2902
αὐτόν.autonHim.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 26:48

  • 2 Samuel 3:27

    And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

  • Psalms 55:20-21

    He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

  • 2 Samuel 20:9-10

    And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

  • Psalms 28:3

    Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

  • Mark 14:44

    And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Whomsoever.
2Sa 3:27; 20:9,10; Ps 28:3; 55:20,21
hold.
Mr 14:44

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

Context

  • Matthew 26:47

    And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

  • Matthew 26:48

    Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

  • Matthew 26:49

    And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Read all of Matthew 26

Matthew 26:48 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el que le entregaba les había dado señal, diciendo: Al que yo besare, aquél es: prendedle.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et celui qui le livrait leur donna un signe, disant: Celui que j’embrasserai, c’est lui; saisissez-le.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der ihn aber überlieferte, hatte ihnen ein Zeichen gegeben und gesagt: Welchen irgend ich küssen werde, der ist es; ihn greifet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui autem tradidit eum, dedit illis signum, dicens: Quemcumque osculatus fuero, ipse est, tenete eum.