God’s Word Translation
Matthew 27:24
24Pilate saw that he was not getting anywhere. Instead, a riot was breaking out. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, “I won’t be guilty of killing this man. Do what you want!”
Matthew 27:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."
- New King James Version (NKJV)When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
Context of Matthew 27:24
22Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” “He should be crucified!” they all said. 23Pilate asked, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they began to shout loudly, “He should be crucified!” Pilate saw that he was not getting anywhere. Instead, a riot was breaking out. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, “I won’t be guilty of killing this man. Do what you want!” 25All the people answered, “The responsibility for killing him will rest on us and our children.” 26Then Pilate freed Barabbas for the people. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.
Read all of Matthew 27Matthew 27:24 word by word
Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Πιλᾶτος ὅτι οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον θόρυβος γίνεται, λαβὼν ὕδωρ ἀπενίψατο τὰς χεῖρας ἀπέναντι τοῦ ὄχλου λέγων· ἀθῷός εἰμι ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τούτου· ὑμεῖς ὄψεσθε.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whenδέde · thenG1161
- Pilateὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos · PilateG4091
- sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- he could prevailὠφελέωōpheleō · to helpG5623
- nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- a tumultθόρυβοςthorubos · commotionG2351
- was madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- he tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- waterὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
- and washedἀπονίπτωaponiptō · to wash offG633
- handsχείρcheir · handG5495
- beforeἀπέναντιapenanti · oppositeG561
- the multitudeὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- innocentἀθῷοςathōos · innocentG121
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
- of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- just personδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- yeσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for Matthew 27:24
- Deuteronomy 21:6All the leaders from the city which was nearest the murder victim must wash their hands over the dead heifer.
- Job 9:30If I wash myself with lye soap and cleanse my hands with bleach,
- Psalms 26:6I will wash my hands in innocence. I will walk around your altar, O Lord,
- Jeremiah 2:27You call wood your father. You call stone your mother. You’ve turned your backs, not your faces, to me. But when you’re in trouble, you ask me to come and rescue you.
- Matthew 27:4He said, “I’ve sinned by betraying an innocent man.” They replied, “What do we care? That’s your problem.”
- John 19:4Pilate went outside again and told the Jews, “I’m bringing him out to you to let you know that I don’t find this man guilty of anything.”
- Acts 3:14You rejected the man who was holy and innocent. You asked to have a murderer given to you,
- 2 Corinthians 5:21God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God’s approval through him.
- 1 Peter 3:18This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit.
Commentaries on Matthew 27:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Pilate - 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, Deuteronomy 21:1-10, to wash their hands over the victim which was offered to expiate…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24He took water - The Jews were accustomed to wash their hands when they wished to show that they were innocent of a crime committed by others. See Deuteronomy 21:6; Psalm 26:6. 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-25Verses 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, when we are entering into…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24You bear the responsibility: The priests told Judas the same thing (Matthew 27:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 27:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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