Matthew 26 · Verse 5

Matthew 26:5

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
Matthew 26:5, King James Version

Matthew 26:5 in other translations

BSB“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
WEBBut they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”
ASVBut they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among the people.
YLTand they said, ‘Not in the feast, that there may not be a tumult among the people.'
DARBYbut they said, Not in the feast, that there be not a tumult among the people.
BBEBut they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear of trouble among the people.
WebsterBut they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

What does Matthew 26:5 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Not on the feast day. Not during the feast. The feast lasted seven days. A vast multitude attended from all parts of Judea. Jerusalem is said to have contained at such times three millions of people. Amidst such a multitude there were frequent tumults and seditions; and the sanhedrim was justly apprehensive there would be now, if in open day, and in the temple, they took away a teacher so popular as Jesus, and put him to death. They therefore sought how they might do it secretly, and by guile.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar - It was usual for the Jews to punish criminals at the public festivals; but in this case they were afraid of an insurrection, as our Lord had become very popular. The providence of God directed it thus, for the reason given in the preceding note. He who observes a festival on motives purely human violates it in his heart, and is a hypocrite before God. It is likely they feared the Galileans, as being the countrymen of our Lord, more than they feared the people of Jerusalem.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:1-5

Our Lord had often told of his sufferings as at a distance, now he speaks of them as at hand. At the same time the Jewish council consulted how they might put him to death secretly. But it pleased God to defeat their intention. Jesus, the true paschal Lamb, was to be sacrificed for us at that very time, and his death and resurrection rendered public.

Read the full comment on Matthew 26:1-5 →

Matthew 26:5 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.

ἔλεγονelegonThey were sayingG3004
δέ·dehowever;G1161
μὴmēNot [seize him]G3361
ἐνenduringG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
ἑορτῇ,he'ortēafeast,G1859
ἵναinathatG2443
μὴmēnotG3361
θόρυβοςthorubosa riotG2351
γένηταιgenētaimay happenG1096
ἐνenamongG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
λαῷ.¶laōpeople.G2992

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

Cross references for Matthew 26:5

  • Matthew 27:24

    When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

  • Matthew 21:26

    But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

  • Isaiah 46:10

    Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

  • Mark 14:2

    But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

  • Proverbs 19:21

    There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

  • Mark 14:27

    And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

  • Mark 14:12

    And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

  • Lamentations 3:37

    Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • John 18:28

    Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Not.
Ps 76:10; Pr 19:21; 21:30; Isa 46:10; La 3:37; Mr 14:2,12,27
Lu 22:7; Joh 18:28; Ac 4:28
lest.
14:5; 21:26; Lu 20:6

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

Context

  • Matthew 26:4

    And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

  • Matthew 26:5

    But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

  • Matthew 26:6

    Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

Read all of Matthew 26

Matthew 26:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y decían: No en el día de la fiesta, porque no se haga alboroto en el pueblo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais ils disaient: Non pas pendant la fête, afin qu’il n’y ait pas de tumulte parmi le peuple.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie sagten aber: Nicht an dem Feste, auf daß nicht ein Aufruhr unter dem Volk entstehe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dicebant autem: Non in die festo, ne forte tumultus fieret in populo.