Betray

Betray - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

BETRA'Y, v.t. [L.traho.]

1. To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; as, an officer betrayed the city.

The son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men. Mat 17.

2. To violate by fraud, or unfaithfulness; as, to betray a trust.

If the people of America ever betray their trust, their guilt will merit even greater punishment than other nations have suffered, and the indignation of heaven.

3. To violate confidence by disclosing a secret, or that which was intrusted; to expose; followed by the person, or the thing; as, my friend betrayed me, or betrayed the secret.

4. To disclose, or permit to appear, what is intended to be kept secret, or what prudence would conceal.

Be swift to hear, but cautions of your tongue, lest you betray your ignorance.

Hence,

5. To mislead or expose to inconvenience not foreseen; as, great confidence betrays a man into errors.

6. To show; to discover; to indicate what is not obvious at first view, or would otherwise be concealed.

Nor, after length of years, a stone betray

The place where once the very ruins lay.

This river betrays its original in its name.

All the names in the country betray great antiquity.

7. To fail, or deceive.

But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me.

be-tra' (ramah; paradidomi): In the Old Testament only once (1Ch 12:17). David warns those who had deserted to him from Saul: "If ye be come to betray me to mine adversaries .... the God of our fathers look thereon." The same Hebrew word is elsewhere translated "beguile" (Ge 29:25; Jos 9:22), "deceive" (1Sa 19:17; 28:12; 2Sa 19:26; Pr 26:19; La 1:19).

In the New Testament, for paradidomi: 36 times, of the betrayal of Jesus Christ, and only 3 times besides (Mt 24:10; Mr 13:12; Lu 21:16) of kinsmen delivering up one another to prosecution. In these three places the Revised Version (British and American) translates according to the more general meaning, "to deliver up," and also (in Mt 17:22; 20:18; 26:16; Mr 14:10,21; Lu 22:4,6) where it refers to the delivering up of Jesus. The Revisers' idea was perhaps to retain "betray" only in direct references to Judas' act, but they have not strictly followed that rule. Judas' act was more than that of giving a person up to the authorities; he did it under circumstances of treachery which modified its character:

(a) he took advantage of his intimate relation with Jesus Christ as a disciple to put Him in the hands of His enemies;

(b) he did it stealthily by night, and

(c) by a kiss, an act which professed affection and friendliness;

(d) he did it for money, and

(e) he knew that Jesus Christ was innocent of any crime (Mt 27:4).

T. Rees

Definition

The term “betray” means to act in a way that deceives and harms someone. A “betrayer” is a person who betrays a friend who was trusting him.

• Judas was “the betrayer” because he told the Jewish leaders how to capture Jesus.
• The betrayal by Judas was especially evil because he was an apostle of Jesus who received money in exchange for giving the Jewish leaders information that would result in Jesus’ unjust death.

Translation Suggestions

• Depending on the context, the term “betray” could be translated as “deceive and cause harm to” or “turn over to the enemy” or “treat treacherously.”
• The term “betrayer” could be translated as “person who betrays” or “double dealer” or “traitor.”

(See also: Judas Iscariot, Jewish leaders, apostle)

Bible References

• Acts 7:52
• John 6:64
• John 13:22
• Matthew 10:4
• Matthew 26:22

Examples from the Bible stories

• __21:11 Other prophets foretold that those who killed the Messiah would gamble for his clothes and he would be betrayed by a friend. The prophet Zechariah foretold that the friend would be paid thirty silver coins as payment for betraying__ the Messiah.
• __38:2 After Jesus and the disciples arrived in Jerusalem, Judas went to the Jewish leaders and offered to betray__ Jesus to them in exchange for money.
• __38:3 The Jewish leaders, led by the high priest, paid Judas thirty silver coins to betray__ Jesus.
• __38:6 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “One of you will betray me.” \ \ 38:6 Jesus said, “The person to whom I give this piece of bread is the betrayer__.”
• __38:13 When he returned the third time, Jesus said, “Wake up! My betrayer__ is here.”
• __38:14 Then Jesus said, “Judas, do you betray__ me with a kiss?”
• __39:8 Meanwhile, Judas, the betrayer__, saw that the Jewish leaders had condemned Jesus to die. He became full of sorrow and went away and killed himself.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H7411, G38600, G42730