Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The most striking thing here is that Matthew attributes this quote to Jeremiah, but it's actually found in Zechariah. This isn't an error, but likely a deliberate choice to invoke Jeremiah, who began the collection of prophetic books, as a way to refer to the entire prophetic section of Scripture, highlighting how the entire prophetic message pointed to Christ.
Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just betrayed Jesus and received his payment of thirty silver coins, Judas Iscariot is now consumed by guilt. He returns the blood money to the chief priests and elders who orchestrated Jesus's arrest and condemnation, but they refuse to take it back. In their callous pragmatism, they use the coins to purchase a potter's field for burying strangers, fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy.
Matthew quotes a prophecy about thirty pieces of silver. But wait, wasn't that Zechariah, not Jeremiah?
This verse presents a fascinating puzzle! Matthew quotes a prophecy about the thirty pieces of silver, attributing it to Jeremiah. However, the passage most clearly matching these words is found in Zechariah 11:12-13. How do we reconcile this?
Matthew's focus isn't on scholarly accuracy of attribution but on the fulfillment of prophecy. The words, wherever they originated, described the very events unfolding.
Ask a follow-up
Thirty pieces of silver – it sounds like a lot, but what does this specific amount truly signify in this context?
The amount, thirty pieces of silver, is incredibly significant and points to the utter contempt with which Jesus was treated.
Understand the original words
prophētou · Greek Noun
One who acts as the mouthpiece of God, receiving and declaring divine revelation. Matthew invokes this role to demonstrate how Old Testament prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
eplērōthē · Greek Verb
A divine intervention or event that completes or brings to pass what was foretold in Scripture. It underscores that Jesus' sufferings were not accidental but part of a sovereign, pre-ordained plan.
The identification of the prophet as Jeremiah, rather than Zechariah, likely stems from the ancient Jewish arrangement of Scripture where Jeremiah began the 'Prophets' section, leading to his name sometimes representing the entire collection.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
As part of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Judah, many prominent citizens, including the prophet Ezekiel, were exiled to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.
c. 587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the kingdom of Judah and intensifying the exile. Many prophecies from this era reflect the devastation and longing for restoration.
c. 520 BC
Zechariah's Ministry and Visions
Zechariah prophesied to the returning exiles in Jerusalem, encouraging them to rebuild the Temple. His book contains prophetic oracles, including the passage about the thirty pieces of silver.
c. 400 BC - 1 BC
Compilation of the Hebrew Canon
Over centuries, the books of the Old Testament were collected and recognized as Scripture. The order of books, particularly within the Prophets section, varied, with Jeremiah often placed first.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Betrayal
Jesus' public ministry reached its climax with his betrayal by Judas Iscariot, who was paid thirty pieces of silver by the chief priests for his part in Jesus' arrest.
c. AD 30
Purchase of the Potter's Field
Judas, filled with remorse, returned the thirty pieces of silver. The chief priests, unwilling to add it to the temple treasury, used it to buy a potter's field as a burial place for strangers.
This passage is the direct source of the prophecy quoted in Matthew, describing the shepherd (a Messianic figure) being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver and the money being cast to the potter.
Exodus 21:32This Old Testament law shows that thirty pieces of silver was the established price for a slave, highlighting how the nation of Israel treated their Messiah as less than valuable.
Jeremiah 18:1-6While the quote is from Zechariah, Matthew might have linked it to Jeremiah due to Jeremiah's vision of the potter shaping clay, which speaks to God's sovereignty and judgment, themes resonating with Jesus' betrayal.
Psalm 109:1-2This psalm speaks of enemies speaking falsely against the righteous, which foreshadows the false accusations and unjust pricing of Christ by the religious leaders.
bensonMatthew 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;"
Matthew 27:9 . Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy — The words here quoted are not in any copy of Jeremiah extant. But they bear a strong resemblance to the words of Zechariah 11:12-13 . One MS., not of great account, has Ζεχαριου , of Zechariah. Another adds no name to t…
henryMatthew 27:1-10: "When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:"
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 departe…
The most striking thing here is that Matthew attributes this quote to Jeremiah, but it's actually found in Zechariah. This isn't an error, but likely a deliberate choice to invoke Jeremiah, who began the collection of prophetic books, as a way to refer to the entire prophetic section of Scripture, highlighting how the entire prophetic message pointed to Christ.
Having just betrayed Jesus and received his payment of thirty silver coins, Judas Iscariot is now consumed by guilt. He returns the blood money to the chief priests and elders who orchestrated Jesus's arrest and condemnation, but they refuse to take it back. In their callous pragmatism, they use the coins to purchase a potter's field for burying strangers, fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy.
Having just betrayed Jesus and received his payment of thirty silver coins, Judas Iscariot is now consumed by guilt. He returns the blood money to the chief priests and elders who orchestrated Jesus's arrest and condemnation, but they refuse to take it back. In their callous pragmatism, they use the coins to purchase a potter's field for burying strangers, fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy.
"Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel," — The most striking thing here is that Matthew attributes this quote to Jeremiah, but it's actually found in Zechariah. This isn't an error, but likely a deliberate choice to invoke Jeremiah, who began…
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Last reviewed October 2026