Matthew 27 · Verse 24

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 27:24, King James Version

Matthew 27:24 in other translations

BSBWhen Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
WEBSo when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”
ASVSo when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.
YLTAnd Pilate having seen that it profiteth nothing, but rather a tumult is made, having taken water, he did wash the hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent from the blood of this righteous one; ye--ye shall see;'
DARBYAnd Pilate, seeing that it availed nothing, but that rather a tumult was arising, having taken water, washed his hands before the crowd, saying, I am guiltless of the blood of this righteous one: see ye to it.
BBESo when Pilate saw that he was able to do nothing, but that trouble was working up, he took water and, washing his hands before the people, said, The blood of this upright man is not on my hands: you are responsible.
WebsterWhen Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, 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.

What does Matthew 27:24 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. He took water, etc. The Jews were accustomed to wash their hands when they wished to show that they were innocent of a crime committed by others. See De 21:6, Ps 26:6. They often used signs to represent their meaning. Pilate, in doing this, meant to denote that they were guilty of his death, but that he was innocent. But the mere washing of his hands did not free him from guilt, he was bound as a magistrate to free an innocent man; and whatever might be the clamour of the Jews, he was guilty at the bar of God for suffering the holy Saviour to be led to execution, to gratify the malice of enraged priests, and the clamours of a tumultuous populace.

See ye to it. That is, take it upon yourselves. Ye are responsible for it, if ye put him to death.

(x) "his hands" De 21:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Pilate - took water, and washed his hands - Thus signifying his innocence. It was a custom among the Hebrews, Greeks, and Latins, to wash the hands in token of innocence, and to show that they were pure from any imputed guilt. In case of an undiscovered murder, the elders of that city which was nearest to the place where the dead body was found, were required by the law, Deu 21:1-10, to wash their hands over the victim which was offered to expiate the crime, and thus make public protestation of their own innocence. David says, I will wash my hands in innocence, so shall I compass thine altar, Psa 26:6. As Pilate knew Christ was innocent, he should have prevented his death: he had the armed force at his command, and should have dispersed this infamous mob. Had he been charged with countenancing a seditious person, he could have easily cleared himself, had the matter been brought before the emperor. He, therefore, was inexcusable.

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 27:24 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.

ἸδὼνIdōnHaving seenG1492
δὲdenowG1161
ὁho<the>G3588
ΠιλᾶτοςPilatosPilateG4091
ὅτιhotithatG3754
οὐδὲνoudenno [thing]G3762
ὠφελεῖōpheleiit availedG5623
ἀλλὰallabutG235
μᾶλλονmallonratherG3123
θόρυβοςthorubosa riotG2351
γίνεται,ginetaiis arising,G1096
λαβὼνlabōnhaving takenG2983
ὕδωρhudōrwaterG5204
ἀπενίψατοapenipsatohe washedG633
τὰςtastheG3588
χεῖραςcheirashandsG5495
ἀπέναντιapenantioppositeG561
τοῦtoutheG3588
ὄχλουochloucrowdG3793
λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
ἀθῷόςathōosGuiltlessG121
εἰμιeimiI amG1510
ἀπὸapoofG575
τοῦtoutheG3588
αἵματοςaimatosbloodG129
τοῦtou<the>G3588
δικαίουdikaiourighteous [one]G1342
τούτου·toutouof this;G3778
ὑμεῖςhumeisFor yourselvesG4771
ὄψεσθε.¶opsestheyou will behold.G3700

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:24

  • Matthew 27:4

    Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • Psalms 26:6

    I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:

  • John 19:4

    Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

  • Job 9:30-31

    If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

  • Matthew 26:5

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

  • Deuteronomy 21:6-8

    And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

  • Jeremiah 2:35

    Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

  • Acts 3:14

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

  • Jeremiah 2:27

    Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

  • Matthew 27:9

    Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and washed.
De 21:6,7; Job 9:30,31; Ps 26:6; Jer 2:27,35
just.
4,9,54; Joh 19:4; Ac 3:14; 2Co 5:21; 1Pe 3:18

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

Context

  • Matthew 27:23

    And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

  • 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 27:25

    Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y viendo Pilato que nada adelantaba, antes se hacía más alboroto, tomando agua se lavó las manos delante del pueblo, diciendo: Inocente soy yo de la sangre de este justo: veréis lo vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Pilate, voyant qu’il ne gagnait rien, mais que plutôt il s’élevait un tumulte, prit de l’eau et se lava les mains devant la foule, disant: Je suis innocent du sang de ce juste; vous, vous y aviserez.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber Pilatus sah, daß er nichts ausrichtete, sondern vielmehr ein Tumult entstand, nahm er Wasser, wusch seine Hände vor der Volksmenge und sprach: Ich bin schuldlos an dem Blute dieses Gerechten; sehet ihr zu.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Videns autem Pilatus quia nihil proficeret, sed magis tumultus fieret: accepta aqua, lavit manus coram populo, dicens: Innocens ego sum a sanguine justi hujus: vos videritis.