Matthew 27 · Verse 16

Matthew 27:16

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Matthew 27:16, King James Version

Matthew 27:16 in other translations

BSBAt that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.
WEBThey had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.
ASVAnd they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
YLTand they had then a noted prisoner, called Barabbas,
DARBYAnd they had then a notable prisoner, named Barabbas.
BBEAnd they had then an important prisoner, whose name was Barabbas.
WebsterAnd they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

What does Matthew 27:16 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. A notable prisoner. The word notable means one that is distinguished in any way, either for great virtues, or great crimes. In this place, it evidently means the latter. He was perhaps a leader of a band who had been guilty of sedition, and had committed murder in an insurrection, Lk 23:19.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 A notable prisoner - Barabbas - This person had, a short time before, raised an insurrection in Jerusalem, in which it appears, from Mar 15:7, some lives were lost. In some MSS., and in the Armenian and Syriac Hieros., this man has the surname of Jesus. Professor Birch has discovered this reading in a Vatican MS., written in 949, and numbered 354, in which is a marginal note which has been attributed to Anastasius, bishop of Antioch, and to Chrysostom, which asserts that in the most ancient MSS. the passage was as follows: - Τινα θελετε απο των δυω απολυσω υμιν, ΙΝ τον βαραββαν, η ΙΝ τον λεγομενον ΧΝ: Which of the two do ye wish me to release unto you, Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? As Jesus, or Joshua, was a very common name among the Jews, and as the name of the father was often joined to that of the son, as Simon Barjonah, Simon, son of Jonah; so it is probable it was the case here, Jesus Barabba, Jesus, son of Abba, or Abbiah. If this name were originally written as above, which I am inclined to believe, the general omission of Jesus in the MSS. may be accounted for from the over zealous scrupulosity of Christian copyists, who were unwilling that a murderer should, in the same verse, be honored with the name of the Redeemer of the world. See Birch in New Test.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 27:11-25

Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear himself, and laboured to get him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving checks to sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us…

Read the full comment on Matthew 27:11-25 →

Matthew 27:16 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.

εἶχονeichonThey were holdingG2192
δὲdenowG1161
τότεtoteat that timeG5119
δέσμιονdesmiona prisonerG1198
ἐπίσημονepisēmonnotableG1978
λεγόμενονlegomenonbeing namedG3004
ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424
Βαραββᾶν.BarabbanBarabbas.G912

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:16

  • Mark 15:7

    And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

  • Luke 23:18-19

    And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

  • Luke 23:25

    And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

  • John 18:40

    Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

  • Acts 3:14

    But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

  • Romans 1:32

    Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a.
Mr 15:7; Lu 23:18,19,25; Joh 18:40; Ac 3:14; Ro 1:32

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

Context

  • Matthew 27:15

    Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

  • Matthew 27:16

    And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

  • Matthew 27:17

    Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tenían entonces un preso famoso que se llamaba Barrabás.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il y avait alors un prisonnier fameux, nommé Barabbas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie hatten aber damals einen berüchtigten Gefangenen, genannt Barabbas.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		habebat autem tunc vinctum insignem, qui dicebatur Barabbas.