and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to see Judas's betrayal as a simple transaction for cash, but the text subtly reveals the deep contempt the religious leaders had for Jesus. They didn't just offer a sum of money; they "weighed out" thirty pieces of silver, the exact price of a slave, implying they saw Jesus as less valuable than a free person, reducing the Savior of the world to mere property.
and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Freshly warned by Jesus not to betray him, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, immediately goes to the chief priests and strikes a bargain for thirty pieces of silver. This treacherous exchange sets the stage for the Passover meal, during which Jesus will reveal his impending betrayal to his bewildered disciples.
Judas asked, 'What will you give me?' and was handed thirty pieces of silver. What does this specific amount signify?
The thirty pieces of silver weren't just random cash; they held a chilling significance.
The Cost of a Slave
This amount was the legal price for a slave in ancient Israel, as stated in Exodus 21:32. When the religious leaders paid Judas thirty pieces of silver, they were essentially valuing Jesus no more than a common slave. It was a deliberate act of contempt, showing how little they thought of Him and His mission.
A Calculated Insult
Scholars point out that this sum also echoes a prophecy in Zechariah 11:12, where the prophet is undervalued at thirty pieces of silver. By offering this specific amount, the chief priests likely fulfilled this prophecy, not out of divine foresight, but as a cynical calculation to belittle Jesus. It was a scornful offer, designed to reveal their disdain and Judas's willing participation in their low estimation of the Son of God.
Judas, one of the twelve, betrayed Jesus. How did greed and possibly something darker lead him to this point?
Judas's betrayal wasn't a sudden whim; it was rooted in a deep-seated issue and potentially amplified by external forces.
The Allure of Avarice
Commentaries suggest that Judas was primarily driven by greed, often called the 'root of all evils.' Even after Jesus's loving correction, pointing to the sacredness of the anointing at Bethany, Judas remained unmoved. His desire for money had hardened his conscience, making him blind to the immense spiritual significance of Jesus's actions and words. This illustrates how persistent greed can warp our judgment and lead us down a path of profound error.
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A Spiritually Dangerous State
Luke's Gospel specifically notes that 'Satan entered into Judas.' While not necessarily a physical possession in the way we might imagine, it speaks to a state where Judas was completely given over to evil. His fear of God was extinguished, his reason clouded, and his shame destroyed. This is a stark warning: when we allow sin, like avarice, to gain a strong foothold, we become vulnerable to darker influences, moving from ordinary sin to extraordinary wickedness.
Understand the original words
paradidomi · Greek Verb
The act of turning someone over to authorities, often involving betrayal. In a theological context, it points to Christ's voluntary submission to the divine plan to suffer and die for the sins of the world.
argyrion · Greek Noun
A standard monetary unit, specifically referring to silver coins (often associated with the price of a slave in the Old Testament). In this context, it represents the corrupt price paid for the betrayal of Jesus.
The thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas were not just a random sum but a price echoing ancient prophecy, highlighting the profound contempt with which Jesus was treated, being valued at the price of a mere slave.
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Zechariah
The prophet Zechariah foretells a time when the shepherd (representing a leader) will be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, a price indicating worthlessness.
c. 20-17 BC
Coinage of Shekels in Judea
Silver shekels, standardized by weight and bearing religious symbols, were minted in Judea, making them suitable for temple transactions.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Judas's Bargain with Religious Leaders
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus's twelve disciples, goes to the chief priests and agrees to betray Jesus for a sum of thirty pieces of silver.
c. AD 30 (Nisan 13)
Jesus's Last Passover Meal
Jesus shares the Passover meal with his disciples, knowing his betrayal is imminent and his crucifixion is near.
c. AD 30 (Nisan 14)
Jesus's Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified on the day of the Passover sacrifice, fulfilling the symbolic meaning of the Passover lamb.
c. AD 30-33
Judas's Death and the Blood Money
After Jesus's crucifixion, Judas attempts to return the thirty pieces of silver, but the priests refuse to put it back into the temple treasury, eventually using it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners.
This passage is a prophecy directly quoted in Matthew's account, detailing the prophet being valued at thirty pieces of silver, mirroring Judas' betrayal for the same amount.
Exodus 21:32The thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas was the legal price for a slave under the Mosaic Law, highlighting how Jesus, the Son of God, was treated as less valuable than a common servant.
Psalm 41:9This Old Testament psalm speaks of a close friend raising his heel against the one he trusted, which Jesus quotes in John 13:18 to refer to Judas' impending betrayal, showing the deep personal wound of this act.
Acts 1:18Peter recounts Judas' betrayal and subsequent death, noting that the 'reward for his wickedness' was used to buy the potter's field, further emphasizing the ignominious end to this treacherous bargain.
calvinMatthew 26:14-20: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,"
- Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15. And said to them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they appointed to him thirty pieces of silver. 16. And from that time he sought an opportunity to betray him. 17. Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where dost thou wish us to prepare fo…
henryMatthew 26:14-16: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,"
26:14-16 There were but twelve called apostles, and one of them was like a devil; surely we must never expect any society to be quite pure on this side heaven. The greater profession men make of religion, the greater opportunity they have of doing mischief, if their hearts be not right with God. Observe, that Christ's own disciple, who knew so well his doctrine and manner of his life, and was false t…
It's easy to see Judas's betrayal as a simple transaction for cash, but the text subtly reveals the deep contempt the religious leaders had for Jesus. They didn't just offer a sum of money; they "weighed out" thirty pieces of silver, the exact price of a slave, implying they saw Jesus as less valuable than a free person, reducing the Savior of the world to mere property.
Freshly warned by Jesus not to betray him, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, immediately goes to the chief priests and strikes a bargain for thirty pieces of silver. This treacherous exchange sets the stage for the Passover meal, during which Jesus will reveal his impending betrayal to his bewildered disciples.
Freshly warned by Jesus not to betray him, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, immediately goes to the chief priests and strikes a bargain for thirty pieces of silver. This treacherous exchange sets the stage for the Passover meal, during which Jesus will reveal his impending betrayal to his bewildered disciples.
"and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver." — It's easy to see Judas's betrayal as a simple transaction for cash, but the text subtly reveals the deep contempt the religious leaders had for Jesus. They didn't just offer a sum of money; they "wei…
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Last reviewed October 2026