Matthew 27 · Verse 4

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.
Matthew 27:4, King James Version

Matthew 27:4 in other translations

BSB“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
WEBsaying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”
ASVsaying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.
YLT‘I did sin, having delivered up innocent blood;' and they said, ‘What--to us? thou shalt see!'
DARBYsaying, I have sinned in having delivered up guiltless blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
BBESaying, I have done wrong in giving into your hands an upright man. But they said, What is that to us? it is your business.
WebsterSaying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

What does Matthew 27:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood--What a testimony this to Jesus! Judas had been with Him in all circumstances for three years; his post, as treasurer to Him and the Twelve (Joh 12:6), gave him peculiar opportunity of watching the spirit, disposition, and habits of his Master; while his covetous nature and thievish practices would incline him to dark and suspicious, rather than frank and generous, interpretations of all that He said and did. If, then, he could have fastened on one questionable feature in all that he had so long witnessed, we may be sure that no such speech as this would ever have escaped his lips, nor would he have been so stung with remorse as not to be able to keep the money and survive his crime. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that--"Guilty or innocent is nothing to us: We have Him now--begone!" Was ever speech more hellish uttered?

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. I have sinned, I have been guilty. I have done wrong.

In that I have betrayed the innocent blood. That is, in betraying an innocent being to death. Blood is put here for life, or for the man. The meaning is, that he knew and felt that Jesus was innocent. This confession is a remarkable proof that Jesus was innocent. Judas had been with him three years, he had seen him in public and private; he had heard his public teaching and his private views; he had seen him in all circumstances; and if he had done anything evil, or advanced anything against the Roman emperor, Judas was competent to testify it. Had he known any such thing, he would have stated it. He would have appeared to vindicate himself. His testimony, being a disciple of Jesus, would have been, to the chief priests, far more-valuable than that of any other man; and he might not only have escaped the horrors of a troubled conscience, and an awful death, but have looked for an ample reward. That he did not make such a charge--that he fully and frankly confessed that Jesus was innocent--and that he gave up the ill-gotten price of treason--is full proof that, in the belief of Judas, the Saviour was free from crime, and even the suspicion of crime.

What is that to us? This form of speaking denoted that they had nothing to do with his remorse of conscience, and his belief that Jesus was innocent. They had secured what they wanted, the person of Jesus, and they cared little now for the feelings of the traitor, So all wicked men, who make use of the agency of others for the accomplishment of crime, or the gratification of passion, will care little for the effect on the instrument. They will soon cast him off and despise him; and, in thousands of instances, them instruments of villainy, and the panders to the pleasures of others, are abandoned to remorse, wretchedness, crime, and death.

(o) "innocent blood" 2Kgs 24:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Innocent blood - Αιμα αθωον, a Hebraism, for an innocent man. But instead of αθωον, innocent, two ancient MSS., Syriac, Vulgate, Sahidic, Armenian, and all the Itala; Origen, Cyprian, Lucifer, Ambrose, Leo, read δικαιον, righteous, or just. What is that to us? - What is it? - A great deal. You should immediately go and reverse the sentence you have pronounced, and liberate the innocent person. But this would have been justice, and that would have been a stranger at their tribunal.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 27:1-10

Wicked men see little of the consequences of their crimes when they commit them, but they must answer for them all. In the fullest manner Judas acknowledged to the chief priests that he had sinned, and betrayed an innocent person. This was full testimony to the character of Christ; but the rulers were hardened. Casting down the money, Judas departed, and went and hanged himself, not being able to bear the terror of…

Read the full comment on Matthew 27:1-10 →

Matthew 27:4 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.

λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
ἥμαρτονhēmartonI sinnedG264
παραδοὺςparadoushaving betrayedG3860
αἷμαhaimabloodG129
ἀθῷον.athōoninnocent.G121
οἱhoi<the>G3588
δὲdeThenG1161
εἶπαν·eipanthey said;G2036
τίtiWhat [is that]G5101
πρὸςprostoG4314
ἡμᾶς;hēmasus?G3165
σὺsuYou yourselfG4771
ὄψῃ.opsēwill see.G3708

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

Cross references for Matthew 27:4

  • Jeremiah 26:15

    But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

  • Luke 16:25-26

    But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

  • Luke 23:22

    And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

  • Titus 1:16

    They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

  • 2 Kings 24:4

    And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon.

  • Matthew 27:54

    Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

  • 1 Samuel 15:30

    Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.

  • 1 Samuel 28:16-20

    Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. …

  • 1 Kings 21:27

    And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

  • Exodus 10:16-17

    Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

  • Matthew 27:23-25

    And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 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. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I have sinned.
Ge 42:21,22; Ex 9:27; 10:16,17; 12:31; 1Sa 15:24,30; 1Ki 21:27
Ro 3:19
the innocent.
19,23,24,54; 2Ki 24:4; Jer 26:15; Jon 1:14; Lu 23:22,41,47
Joh 19:7; Ac 13:28; Heb 7:26; 1Pe 1:19
What.
25; Ac 18:15-17; 1Ti 4:2; Tit 1:16; 1Jo 3:12; Re 11:10
see.
1Sa 28:16-20; Job 13:4; 16:2; Lu 16:25,26

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

Context

  • Matthew 27:3

    Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

  • 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.

  • Matthew 27:5

    And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Read all of Matthew 27

Matthew 27:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Diciendo: Yo he pecado entregando la sangre inocente. Mas ellos dijeron: ¿Qué se nos da á nosotros? Viéras lo tú.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		disant: J’ai péché en livrant le sang innocent. Mais ils dirent: Que nous importe! tu y aviseras.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sagte: Ich habe gesündigt, indem ich schuldloses Blut überliefert habe. Sie aber sagten: Was geht das uns an? Siehe du zu.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		dicens: Peccavi, tradens sanguinem justum. At illi dixerunt: Quid ad nos? tu videris.