What Does Matthew 27:26 Mean in the King James?
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse makes release and handover one scene: Barabbas goes free as Jesus is given over to bodily violence.
THE MEANING
Barabbas, Βαραββᾶς (Barabbas), a name commonly understood from Aramaic בר אבא (bar ʾabbā, “son of the father”), is free while Jesus is scourged and handed over to crucifixion. The sentence holds those outcomes together, so release does not make the violence disappear. It speaks now wherever one person’s freedom stands beside another person bearing harm.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the lie that release is always costless: here Barabbas is freed while Jesus is scourged and handed over to crucifixion.
THE ROOT
ἀπέλυσεν
apelysen
GROWS FROM
λύω
To loose or unbind; by extension, to release.
Matthew’s word for “released” belongs to the Greek family of λύω (lyō), “to loose.” The English “released” and “delivered” can sound alike, but the Greek sets λύω beside a different root for Jesus being handed over, making the contrast sharper.
ALSO GROWS
lysis: A loosening, release, or dissolution.
λύσις
It keeps the physical image of loosening that lies beneath the release given to Barabbas.
apolysis: Release, dismissal, or divorce.
ἀπόλυσις
This noun from the same verb family shows release as a setting loose from a prior bond or claim.
παρέδωκεν
paredōken
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
To give or grant; in compounds, to hand or give over.
παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi), the verb behind “delivered,” is formed with δίδωμι (didōmi), “to give.” Here the giving over is concrete: Jesus is placed into others’ power, and the scourging and crucifixion name what follows.
ALSO GROWS
dosis: Giving or a gift.
δόσις
This noun shares the give-family and keeps the act of handing something across visible in the verse’s “delivered.”
dōron: A gift or offering.
δῶρον
It belongs to the same Greek give-family, showing the wider reach of δίδωμι behind the handover verb.
THE PATTERN
Scripture places deliverance beside the suffering or loss borne by another.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:THE THREAD
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.“Delivered” in Matthew and Romans translates forms of the same Greek verb, παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi), “to hand over.” Romans adds the raising to the handover, extending Matthew’s stark scene while leaving its violence in view.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us