Matthew 27 · Verse 18

Matthew 27:18

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Matthew 27:18, King James Version

Matthew 27:18 in other translations

BSBFor he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
WEBFor he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
ASVFor he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.
YLTfor he had known that because of envy they had delivered him up.
DARBYFor he knew that they had delivered him up through envy.
BBEFor he saw that for envy they had given him up.
Webster(For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.)

What does Matthew 27:18 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. For he knew that for envy, etc. This was envy at his popularity. He drew away the people from them. This Pilate understood probably from his knowledge of the pride and ambition of the rulers, and from the fact that no danger could arise from a person that appeared like Jesus. If Pilate knew this, he was bound to release him himself. As a governor and judge, he was bound to protect the innocent, and should, in spite of all the opposition of the Jews, at once have set him at liberty. But the Scriptures could not then have been fulfilled. It was necessary, in order that an atonement should be made, that Jesus should be condemned to die. At the same time, it shows the wisdom of the overruling providence of God, that he was condemned by a man who was satisfied of his innocence, and who proclaimed before his accusers his full belief that there was no fault in him.

(t) "envy" Prov 27:4, Eccl 4:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 For envy - Δια φθονον, through malice. Then it was his business, as an upright judge, to have dispersed this mob, and immediately released Jesus. Seeing malice is capable of putting even Christ himself to death, how careful should we be not to let the least spark of it harbor in our breast. Let it be remembered that malice as often originates from envy as it does from anger.

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 27:18 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.

ᾔδειēdeiHe knewG1492
γὰρgarforG1063
ὅτιhotithatG3754
διὰdiathroughG1223
φθόνονphthononenvyG5355
παρέδωκανparedōkanthey delivered upG3860
αὐτόν.¶autonhim.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:18

  • Proverbs 27:4

    Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

  • Acts 5:17

    Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

  • Mark 15:10

    For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

  • Genesis 37:11

    And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

  • Acts 13:45

    But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

  • James 4:5

    Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

  • Acts 7:9

    And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

  • Psalms 106:16

    They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.

  • Isaiah 26:11

    Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • 1 Samuel 18:7-11

    And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he.
Ge 37:11; 1Sa 18:7-11; Ps 106:16; Pr 27:4; Ec 4:4; Isa 26:11
Mr 15:10; Ac 5:17; 7:9; 13:45; Jas 4:5
envy.Or, malice [phthonos ,] probably from [phthino,] to decay, wither, pine away, according to that of Solomon.
Pr 27:4

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

Context

  • 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?

  • Matthew 27:18

    For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

  • Matthew 27:19

    When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque sabía que por envidia le habían entregado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car il savait qu’ils l’avaient livré par envie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn er wußte, daß sie ihn aus Neid überliefert hatten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sciebat enim quod per invidiam tradidissent eum.